The Principality will resonate with the sound of its historic organs as the 20th Festival International d’Orgue de Monaco takes place from 4 to 18 October 2025…
This milestone edition offers four free evening concerts across Monaco’s churches, each highlighting a different facet of the organ’s expressive power and its place in European heritage.
The festival opens on Saturday 4 October at the Cathédrale de Monaco with Olivier Vernet, titular organist, performing Bach’s major works in a concert tied to the triple jubilee of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Audiences will also be able to view an exhibition of the saint’s relics specially displayed for the occasion.
As the festival’s guest of honour, American virtuoso Cameron Carpenter will take to the cathedral’s organ on Friday 10 October. Known for his flamboyant style, genre-bending transcriptions and pioneering approach to performance, Carpenter has helped redefine the public perception of the organ, transforming each recital into a dynamic, theatrical experience.
On Saturday 11 October at the Sacré-Cœur Church, Swedish organist Gunnar Idenstam and violinist Lisa Rydberg will blend Bach with traditional Scandinavian melodies, creating an evocative mix of sacred and folk music. The festival closes on Saturday 18 October at Saint-Charles Church with the trio Pêr-Vari Kervarec, who will transport listeners to the historic Grimaldi sites of Brittany through a performance steeped in living memory and cultural continuity.
From sacred repertoire to contemporary and folkloric sounds, this 20th edition invites the public to rediscover the organ’s breadth and emotional range. All concerts begin at 8:30 p.m. and are free of charge, subject to seating availability. Full programme details: festivalorguemonaco.com.
