ROOTS
Janáček Brno 2026 is to be a jubilee festival, as this will be the tenth time that Brno has immersed itself over the course of a number of weeks in Janáček’s music, his inspirations, his life story and the influence he had on his contemporaries and those who came after him. This time, the festival motto is to be ROOTS, because what we grow from influences each and every one of us. In the work of artists, no matter whether they are composers, visual artists or performers, their roots are reflected throughout their lives; they may be more evident at some times, less so at others, but they never disappear. In the festival’s jubilee year we would, for this reason, like to show what Janáček’s work is rooted in, what it grew from, and how far it progressed.
The principal focus of the festival is to be the performance of all nine of Janáček’s operas as staged by the Janáček Opera Company at National Theatre Brno. Not only is the Brno ensemble to be joined in this endeavour by extraordinary soloists in leading roles, but outstanding foreign orchestras and conductors are also to take part in the productions.
JANÁČEK TO THE START LINE!
What other events, concerts, ensembles and solo performers await visitors to the Janáček Brno 2026 festival? We will be revealing all this on 31 October 2025 at a gala concert to be held at the Mahen Theatre. You can look forward not only to the presentation of the festival programme, but also to the principal stars of the concert, violinist Josef Špaček and pianist Miroslav Sekera, and their joint recital. There is also to be something of a foretaste of the festival in the form of a performance of Janáček’s Jenůfa on 22 November conducted by chief conductor Robert Kružík with Kateřina Kněžíková in the title role. Revivals of successful productions of Janáček’s operas Destiny and Káťa Kabanová have also been prepared for our audience as a preview to the festival.