The Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Culture and Environment, through the Regional Directorate for Culture, is organizing the Madeira International Organ Festival. The 15th edition will take place from October 16 to 25, featuring 11 concerts across Funchal, Machico, and Ponta do Sol.
Under the theme “Madeira and the World,” the 2026 edition marks the 50th anniversary of Autonomy, evoking the Madeiran diaspora and the archipelago's historical connections. The program includes performers from Portugal, Brazil, the United States of America, Australia, and Spain.
During the festival's presentation, the Regional Secretary for Tourism, Environment and Culture, Eduardo Jesus, highlighted the event's importance in valuing the Region's organ heritage and in establishing Madeira on national and international cultural itineraries.
Eduardo Jesus also mentioned that the festival's territorial reach brings classical music closer to the local public and leverages investments in the restoration and maintenance of existing historic organs in various municipalities.
A notable highlight is the premiere of the work "Insulana" on October 24, at the Sé Cathedral of Funchal. This piece, commissioned by the DRC and inspired by the epic poem by Manuel Tomás, brings together four Portuguese composers.
Eduardo Jesus also extended public recognition to the festival's artistic director, professor João Vaz, praising the rigor and scope of the curation.
João Vaz emphasized that the festival and the rich diversity of Madeira's organ heritage, featuring 18th-century organs and unique historical instruments, would not have been possible without Autonomy, which allowed the Madeiran public to recognize these instruments as their own.
The full program is available on the event's official website.
