Chelsea Music Festival Artistic Directors Melinda Lee Masur and Ken-David Masur announce that tickets and season passes are now on sale for the 2026 Festival—titled Every Story Counts—which takes place in New York City, from June 20–27.

Called a “gem of a series” by The New York Times, this acclaimed summer festival presents a week of concerts, receptions, visual art, and family and community events exploring American stories through classical music, jazz, and the visual and culinary arts. The 2026 season features an exceptional 17 New York Premieres and 1 World Premiere.

This season, our theme “Every Story Counts” draws inspiration from the phrase “Every Vote Counts,” where each person’s vote is dignified and counted in a democracy. We celebrate the power of music and storytelling to preserve and elevate the voices of people from all walks of life in America,” said Festival Artistic Directors Melinda Lee Masur and Ken-David Masur. “As we contemplate America’s 250th anniversary, we welcome the voices of composers, musicians, artists, chefs, and creators who contribute to the cultural fabric of this country and strive to elevate our shared humanity. Our hope is to continue providing a stage and safe haven for the exchange of ideas and differences, and a fertile ground for artistic collaborations between the performing, visual, and culinary arts. This season, Every Story Counts, will be an uplifting feast for the ears, eyes and palate, and a welcome place for audiences of all ages and backgrounds.”

Highlights of the 2026 Festival include Copland & Twain on June 25— a theatrical concert directed by Bill Barclay (former Director of Music at Shakespeare’s Globe) and produced by Concert Theatre Works, weaving Aaron Copland’s incidental music with the writings of Mark Twain, performed by five actors with the Festival Chamber Orchestra conducted by Ken-David Masur. Masur will also conduct Ania Vu’s Water Realms later in the week.
The Verona Quartet performs at Poet’s House in a program featuring MoonStrike, a dramatic work by composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate drawing on American Indian legends.

Pianists Min Kwon, Timo Andres, and pianists from Rutgers University are featured in a special piano salon concert of Kwon’s America/Beautiful project, which commissioned 70+ composers to write variations on America the Beautiful; the program includes NY Premieres by Samuel Adler and Stewart Copeland, to name a few.
Mezzo-soprano Clara Osowski opens the Festival on June 20 with Steven Ward’s song cycle An Invitation to Love based on poems by Paul Laurence Dunbar.

The World Premiere of William Susman’s Clouds and Flames on June 26 honors the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and commemorates Philippe Pettit’s 1974 tightrope walk between the World Trade Center Towers.

The Festival’s Jazz Finale on June 27 features acclaimed vibraphonist Warren Wolf and pianist Alex Brown with the Ivalas Quartet performing the New York Premiere of Chick Corea’s Lyric Suite for Sextet.

Culinary highlights include a curated Sunday Brunch inspired by Mark Twain at Pier 57’s City Winery Bistro and an evening featuring street foods from around the world with Chef Hinnerk von Bargen, inspired by his book Street Foods.

Visual Artists include photographer Park Joon featuring selections from his book, America the Beautiful: An Outsider’s Perspective, Derek Fordjour whose mural Backbreaker Double on The High Line will feature in a Festival art walk and whose artwork will be on screen at the Festival’s Jazz Finale, and Paul Collins whose exhibition of selected books from his Unbannable Library project will be on display at our Family Event and select NYC locations.

Festival Season Passes and individual Festival tickets are now on sale via the Festival’s website.