Carinthian Summer festival opens in Austria with presidential ceremony

The Carinthian Summer cultural festival was inaugurated on 4 July 2026 in Villach, Austria. The opening ceremony was led by former Federal President Heinz Fischer and attended by state officials including State Secretary Sepp Schellhorn, Governor Daniel Fellner and Intendant Nadja Kayali. The program, running until 2 August, features music, literature and dialogue under the theme “fern & nah”, aiming to use art as a bridge between cultures.

Performances included Petra Morze, artist Golnar Shahyar, Mahan Mirarab and the ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Markus Poschner. Officials highlighted the festival’s role in fostering international understanding, noting that artists from Iran, Syria, Israel, China and Taiwan also participate. Sepp Schellhorn described cultural exchange as “the softest form of diplomacy”, while Kayali emphasized the blending of Eastern and Western traditions.

The event is presented as a symbol of solidarity and hope, with speeches stressing the importance of freedom, democracy and human connection through art.