Biennale Musica

Biennale Musica is La Biennale di Venezia’s International Festival of Contemporary Music. Established in 1930, it extended the institution beyond the visual arts before the creation of its cinema and theatre festivals. Initially held every two years, the music festival became annual in 1937, and its history includes premieres of works by Stravinsky, Britten and Prokofiev. Its programme changes with the artistic direction, encompassing concerts, new commissions, installations and performances created for particular spaces in Venice. Biennale College Musica supports the development of work by emerging composers and artists, while the Golden and Silver Lions recognise contributions to contemporary music. The 2025 edition, directed by Caterina Barbieri, brought electronic and acoustic practices into the same programme, with listening sessions at the Arsenale and club events at Forte Marghera alongside concerts and site-specific projects.