Jeremy Jordan, Lawrence Brownlee and More to Perform at Newport Classical Music Festival

From July 2-19, 2026, the Newport Classical Music Festival will again turn this “City by the Sea” into a summer destination for music lovers, featuring 30 concerts across 11 unforgettable venues, from cliffside lawns to gilded mansions, including the stunning interiors of The Breakers, The Elms, Castle Hill Inn, Blithewold Mansion, Rosecliff Mansion, Redwood Library and Athenæum, and more. For 57 years, Newport Classical has showcased classical music as a living art form, presenting artists and programs that are diverse and ever-evolving in intimate and iconic venues that make every performance one of a kind. The 2026 Festival will again offer audiences the opportunity to discover new composers, revisit beloved works, and experience timeless works offered from a fresh perspective.

Festival Highlights

Highlights of the 2026 Festival include Opening Night with chamber orchestra Delirium Musicum; a celebration of the Golden Age of Opera with Lawrence Brownlee and Erin Morley; solo piano performances by Michelle Cann and Dmitry Shishkin, as well as a two-piano recital with Pavel Kolesnikov and Samson Tsoy; a new work by Vivian Fung, co-commissioned by Newport Classical, performed by Sandbox Percussion and violinist Kristin Lee; performances by violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing, VOCES8, Apollo's Fire, Trio Karénine, WindSync, Cerus Saxophone Quartet, Beijing Guitar Duo, Parker Quartet, and more; two evenings with Broadway star Jeremy Jordan, known for his lead role in Newsies and most recently The Great Gatsby; and Closing Night with the GRAMMY Award-winning Harlem Quartet, joined by Newport Classical's Resident Festival Artists.

Community and Festival Experiences

Other highlights of the 2026 Newport Classical Music Festival include the beloved Sunrise Concerts at 5:15am; a concert inspired by nature at Norman Bird Sanctuary; a free Fourth of July concert at King Park; and this year's young professional Newport Classical Resident Festival Artists in eight performances.

Oliver Inteeworn

Executive Director Oliver Inteeworn says, “For 57 years, the Newport Classical Music Festival has transformed July in Newport into something truly magical: a vibrant gathering where world-class artistry, the intimate beauty of the city's historic venues, and the unique enthusiasm of a dedicated community of music lovers come together in perfect harmony. This summer, we're proud to present 30 concerts that illuminate the enduring power of classical music, forging powerful connections between performers and audiences. We look forward to sharing these unforgettable experiences with you at the 2026 Newport Classical Music Festival."

Newport Classical Resident Festival Artists

Now in its fifth year, Newport Classical's Festival Artists Residency Program brings together five professional musicians at the early stages of their careers for an intense period of rehearsal and music-making during the Festival. This diverse group of emerging talents live, work, and play together, becoming engaged members of the community during their extended time in Newport. Each of these exceptionally gifted musicians are selected for their experience working in fast-paced chamber music settings and comfort tackling a wide range of repertoire. This summer, Newport Classical welcomes Nathan Amaral (violin); Joshua Brown (violin); Joseph Skerik (viola), Leland Ko (cello), and Janice Carissa (piano).

Press photos available in high resolution here. Photographs by Lisette Rooney.

Delirium Musicum

Newport Classical Music Festival's Opening Night concert on Tuesday, July 2 at 8pm at The Breakers features Delirium Musicum, a fiery, self-conducted chamber orchestra. Described as “ferocious and rhythmically mesmerizing” by the San Francisco Classical Voice, the ensemble is known for challenging expectations and redefining classical music as a red-hot concert experience. In a program featuring masterworks from the Baroque era to the music of today, Delirium Musicum will deliver a fierce concert experience against the gilded glamour of The Breakers. The concert will include music by Saint-Saëns, Gabriella Smith, Satie, Max Richter, Philip Glass, Schubert, Jessie Montgomery, and Vivaldi.

Dmitry Shishkin

On Friday, July 3 at 8pm at The Breakers, pianist Dmitry Shishkin will bring the artistry that has earned him international acclaim to Newport audiences in a program featuring Schubert, Prokofiev, and Tchaikovsky. Regarded as one of the most compelling pianists of his generation, Shishkin is a prizewinner of the International Tchaikovsky and Geneva International Music Competitions, and has been praised by Gramophone for his “imaginative pointing to his phrasing.” He has appeared on major international stages and with leading orchestras around the world, including the Tokyo Symphony, Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, Warsaw Philharmonic, National Orchestra of Belgium, Staatskapelle Weimar, and the Russian National Orchestra, among others.

Fenway Brass & Percussion

On Saturday, July 4 at 8pm, the Newport Classical Music Festival presents a free, outdoor Fourth of July Patriotic Pops concert preceding the fireworks at King Park featuring Fenway Brass & Percussion, one of Boston's most esteemed professional brass ensembles, in a joyous program celebrating America's birthday. This family-friendly concert, with views of the Pell Bridge, is part of the 2026 BankNewport Community Concerts Series. Audience members are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the performance and fireworks.

Parker Quartet

Internationally acclaimed for their “fearless, yet probingly beautiful” performances (The Strad), the GRAMMY Award-winning Parker Quartet returns to Newport to perform at The Breakers on Sunday, July 5 at 8pm, in a vibrant program featuring Beethoven, Paul Wiancko, and Schubert. Renowned for their fresh interpretations of canonical works, the Quartet continues to chart a dynamic artistic path rooted in both tradition and innovation, having captivated audiences on the world's premier stages for over two decades.

Resident Festival Artists

In celebration of America's 250th birthday, the 2026 Resident Festival Artists invite audiences to immerse themselves in the lush, evocative sound world of American Impressionism on Monday, July 6 at 4pm at the Newport Art Museum. Highlighting three visionary American composers, the program explores the American answer to the Impressionist movement, emphasizing the subtle textures, nuance, and distinctive spirit of early 20th century American music through the works of Arthur Foote, Charles Tomlinson Griffes, and Florence Price. Ticket holders can arrive early to explore the Newport Art Museum for a truly enriching afternoon.

Cerus Saxophone Quartet

Spend a beautiful morning on the outdoor grounds of Blithewold Mansion on Tuesday, July 7 at 11am, with the Cerus Saxophone Quartet. Named for the mythical wild bull tamed by Persephone, Cerus brings the same spirit to the stage, blending works from the traditional classical cannon and new contemporary works with energy, precision, and playful imagination. From Glazunov and Bach to living composers like Karalyn Schubring and Joan Pérez-Villegas, the quartet's program spans centuries and styles, showcasing the saxophone quartet as a dynamic voice in 21st-century chamber music.

Michelle Cann

“A pianist of sterling artistry” (Gramophone), GRAMMY Award-winning pianist Michelle Cann makes her Newport debut with a picturesque concert at Castle Hill Inn on Tuesday, July 7 at 7:30pm. A recipient of both the Sphinx Medal of Excellence and the Andrew Wolf Chamber Music Award, Cann has established herself as one of the most sought-after artists of her generation. Her program includes music by Brahms, Robert Schumann, and Clara Schumann – three composers whose lives were intertwined through friendship and love. Ticket holders can enjoy complimentary desserts and coffee during intermission, with drinks available for purchase, all set against the stunning backdrop of a Newport summer sunset over the water.

The Sonata

The 2026 Resident Festival Artists present a concert titled The Sonata, celebrating the beloved form on Wednesday, July 8 at 11am at The Elms, featuring music by Mozart, Beethoven, Clarke, and Debussy. The program takes the audience on a journey through musical history, moving from the elegance of the Classical period, the expressive heights of the Romantic era, and into the modern and Impressionist sounds of the early 20th century. Set within the elegance and charm of one of Newport's most charming mansions, this morning concert offers an intimate musical conversation through time.

Stella Chen, Matthew Lipman, and Brannon Cho

Violinist Stella Chen, violist Matthew Lipman, and cellist Brannon Cho join forces for an evening of chamber music trios on Wednesday, July 8 at 8pm. These three powerhouse musicians have each garnered international acclaim and have performed on prestigious stages worldwide with some of the world's top orchestras. They come together to present a program pairing beloved Classical trios by Mozart and Dohnányi with a contemporary work by Andreia Pinto-Correia inspired by the individual voices of the ensemble, set against the glamorous backdrop of The Breakers.

James Baik

After a sold-out performance with the Galvin Cello Quartet in 2025, cellist James Baik returns to Newport for a morning recital at The Elms mansion on Thursday, July 9 at 11am. First Prize Winner of the 2023 Young Concert Artists Susan Wadsworth International Auditions and recipient of the Paul A. Fish Memorial Prize and the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Prize, Baik brings what The Strad calls “a musical fabric bejeweled with the precision and beauty of [his] sound” to a program featuring Mendelssohn, Shostakovich, Fauré, and more. This concert offers an enchanting journey through time, set against the elegance of The Elms.

Kristin Lee and Sandbox Percussion

Violinist Kristin Lee, praised in The Strad for her “elegance” and “vivacity and electric energy,” and the “utterly amazing” (Guardian) GRAMMY-nominated ensemble Sandbox Percussion, give the regional premiere of Goddess//Insect – a new work composed for them by JUNO Award-winning composer Vivian Fung – on Thursday, July 9 at 8pm. The piece is co-commissioned by a national consortium of presenters, including Newport Classical. “Goddess//Insect is derived from the term 'God-Bug Syndrome' where a 'god complex' (inflated self-importance) acts as a defense against deep-seated feelings of worthlessness,” says Fung. “I believe our world right now is facing these conflicting emotions.” Exploring the vibrant dialogue between violin and percussion, Lee and Sandbox Percussion bring this dynamic new work to The Breakers, along with music by two other women composers, Gabriella Smith and Joan Tower.

Sunrise Meditations

Attendees will start their day with a breathtaking sunrise over Newport's iconic Cliff Walk and the sparkling Atlantic Ocean as the Resident Festival Artists embark on a serene musical journey, on Friday, July 10 at 5:15am. Set on the terrace of Rosecliff mansion, with its sweeping views and peaceful ambiance, Sunrise Meditations offers a rare opportunity to experience music in harmony with the day's first light. The program features a thoughtfully curated selection, including Mozart's String Quartet No. 21, Schubert's String Quartet No. 12, Viéxtemps' Capriccio for solo viola, and more. Complimentary coffee and pastries will be served before and after the concert.

Apollo's Fire