MARIA KALESNIKAVA to deliver the opening address at the Salzburg Festival 2026

“Maria Kalesnikava is proof that it is art that gives us courage and support in life. The language of music and poetry will always be stronger than violence, tyranny and arbitrariness. That Maria Kalesnikava will deliver the opening address at this year’s Salzburg Festival should give us confidence in these difficult times.”

– Karin Bergmann, Interim Artistic Director of the Salzburg Festival

Maria Kalesnikava is a Belarusian flautist, conductor and cultural manager whose artistic work unfolds at the intersection of music, art and public discourse. She studied in Minsk and Stuttgart, graduating with two master’s degrees in Early Music and Contemporary Music. As co-founder of the InterAKT Initiative and Artistic Director of the cultural hub OK16 in Minsk, she developed a number of pioneering international projects in the fields of culture, education and social innovation. Her work combines contemporary music with questions of cultural identity, social responsibility and political reflection.

She became internationally known in 2020 as one of the leading voices of Belarusian civil society. For her commitment, she has received numerous honours, including the International Charlemagne Prize. Following several years of imprisonment, Maria Kalesnikava has continued her artistic and public work and is regarded as an outstanding example of the connection between artistic excellence and civic courage.

Maria Kalesnikava is an honorary professor at the University of Salzburg and an honorary doctorate holder of the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz.

The opening ceremony will take place on 26 July 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at the Felsenreitschule.