The programme was presented with a press conference held at La Nau, attended by Albert Moncusí, vice-rector for Culture, Sports and Society of the Universitat de València; Álvaro López-Jamar, general director for Culture from the Institut Valencià de Cultura and José Luis Moreno, councillor for Cultural Action of València’s city council.

During the event, representatives of the three institutions highlighted the “satisfaction” of working together to make the festival possible. As the festival approaches its 40th anniversary, it has become one of the most outstanding cultural events of the Valencian summer. They have also emphasised the high artistic quality of the programme, one of the distinctive features of a contest that, since the beginning, has combined excellence and closeness with the audience. Created to share music composed and performed by Valencian artists, the festival met its ideal venue in the historic senate of the University. Since its first editions, audience support has remained constant, with a loyal audience that continues to embrace the initiative. Moreover, the programme maintains a strong commitment to Valencian creativity, emerging talent, university ensembles, stylistic diversity and the incorporation of new artistic proposals, while preserving the rigour and excellence that have contributed to its prestige.

As the festival approaches its 40th anniversary, it has become one of the most outstanding cultural events of the Valencian summer.

The Serenades festival, organised by the Universitat de València and the Institut Valencià de Cultura, is sponsored by the Diputación de Valencia and the city council of València –València Music city. Important culture entities will also participate, such as the Palau de la Música de València, the College of Art and Design of València and the General Foundation of the Universitat de València.

The opening concert of the Serenades will be broadcast by the European channel ARTE.

2026 Serenades will have a total of 12 concerts and, this year, it will come early, on Saturday 20 June, coinciding with the celebration of the Fête de la Musique, a cultural initiative that every 21 June brings free concerts to the streets and public spaces around the world.

The opening will have the Valencian Orchestra, directed by Alexander Liebreich and with the pianist Mao Fujita as a soloist. The concert, which will be broadcast by the European channel ARTE, will include works of Mozart and Martín i Soler, and will initiate an edition characterised by the coexistence of classical repertoire, contemporary music, and innovative stage proposals. 

The Valencian pianist Elena Font will perform on Sunday, 21 June with Els somnis de Ravel, a proposal built around the musical universe of Maurice Ravel in the year marking the 150th anniversary of his birth. The recital will also explore the music of Claude Debussy and Manuel de Falla, tracing a journey through some of the most influential languages of the European music at the beginning of the 20th Century.

On Wednesday, 24th June, the Orquestra Filharmònica de la Universitat de València will present Fanfàrries per a rituals I litúrgies, a performance that combines live symphonic music with lightning designed by LABLUZ. The proposal will feature works by Copland, Joan Tower, Henri Tomasi and Janáček in a musical exploration of the ceremonial and symbolic character of brass music.

The singer Christina Rosenvinge will arrive to Serenates on Thursday, 25 June to present Los versos sáficos in a trio format, accompanied by Amaia Miranda and Magalí Datzira. The concert will reinterpret Sappho verses through contemporary pop and songs composed for the stage production of the same name, combining Mediterranean sounds, folk influences and electronic elements.

The programme will have, on Friday 26 June, the film-concert Les aventures del príncep Achmed, considered one of the foundational works in the history of animated films. The film of Lotte Reiniger, created with animated silhouettes, will be shown with live music composed and performed by Jorge Gil Zulueta, Paco Alonso and an instrumental ensemble.

During the weekend, on Saturday morning, 27 June, and with free admission, the company Entrelazados will present Descalços, a dance-theatre production linked to La Nau Social programme of the Universitat de València. The performance reflects on empathy, diversity, and the need to pause and view the world from other people’s perspective.

At the same day, at 10:00pm, the Orfeó Universitari de València will present (No) Res?, a concert focused on contemporary choral music and the spiritual reflection. The programme will include the world premiere of Calix Maudit, by the Valencian composer Joan Gómez-Alemany, alongside works by Rakhmàninov, Tavener, Vasks or Barber. 

Jazz and flamenco will take place on Sunday, 28 June with Roneando, a project by Perico Sambeat along with his Quinteto Flamenco. The ensemble will perform original compositions that explore new musical languages between contemporary jazz and traditional flamenco styles such as bulerías, alegrías, and tanguillos. 

The Banda Simfònica Unió Musical l’Horta de Sant Marcel·lí will perform on 29 June with Ecos de l’horta i la metròpoli: paisatges, festa i tradició. The repertoire will offer a musical tribute to the duality between urban València and the traditional landscape of the surrounding orchards, with works of Manuel Palau, Rafael Talens, Merche Femenía and Franco Cesarini. This concert is organised with the collaboration of the oldest music festival of the city: el Certamen Internacional de Bandes Ciutat de València.

On 30 June, the women’s choir A cau d’orella will celebrate its 20th anniversary with the show Dona i veu: 20 anys cantant. The concert will have the collaboration of Quintet Casulana and will highlight women’s role in musical creation and performance through a repertoire focused on female voices.

The programme will continue on 1 July with a performance by Tonina, singer, composer, and double bass player born from San Diego, known for blending jazz, soul, and Latin-American music. Her artistic proposal stands out for mixing cultural influences and a staging focused on voice and rhythm.  

2026 Serenades will come to an end on 2 July with Passió barroca, by Harmonia del Parnàs, an interdisciplinary production that combines Baroque music with dance. The performance, directed by Marian Rosa Montagut, will begin with excerpts from the Alcina opera, by Händel, to explore human emotions through musical interpretation and stage movement. 

The tickets for the concerts will cost 5 euros, and can be purchased from 2 June, at 2:00pm, on www.latenda.es/entrades and at La Tenda (La Nau shop) of La Nau cultural centre, except the tickets for the opening concert of the Orquestra de València that will be available on http://www.palauvalencia.com and at the ticket office of the auditorium. The performance Descalços, by Entrelazados, will be free of charge.

The poster of this 39th edition has been designed by Samuel Llopis Alonso, third year student of Graphic Design from the College of Art and Design of València (EASD). He was born in Sagunto and is 23 years old. His graphic proposal is based on the concept of “from within” representing how music emerges from La Nau Cultural Centre, both in a figuratively and literally, through visual lines, symbolising sound, that come from the building that hosts the festival.