70th International Festival of Contemporary Music Concludes with Increased Attendance

The 70th International Festival of Contemporary Music, titled A Child of Sound, concluded on Saturday, 24 October 2026. The festival reported a 4% increase in audience attendance, with 40% of attendees coming from abroad, reflecting its international reach.

Festival director Caterina Barbieri described the “child of sound” as a symbol of both revolution and healing, attributing to music a power of communion and spiritual elevation.

Among the festival’s events was Musica Libera, held in the cloister of the Casa di reclusione femminile Giudecca, the women’s detention centre in Venice. This event focused on the therapeutic value of music and resulted from workshops where women from the centre collaborated with young musicians from Biennale College Musica and their mentors.

Another featured work was Canons, which is based on the musical technique where a melody is successively imitated by different voices. This approach creates overlapping lines and evolving polyphonic textures, contributing to the festival’s exploration of contemporary music forms.

The festival’s conclusion with increased attendance and diverse programming highlights its ongoing relevance in the contemporary music landscape and its ability to attract a global audience.