The Salzburg Festival has announced that Artistic Director Markus Hinterhäuser will leave his position effective immediately.

According to a statement the festival said, “Due to irreconcilable differences of opinion and disagreements, the Salzburg Festival and Artistic Director Markus Hinterhäuser are parting ways effective immediately.”

The statement also note that it has mutually agreed that Hinterhäuser will be on leave until the end of his current contract on Sept. 30, 2026. No reason was given for the decision but in recent days it was announced that Hinterhäuser would step after failing to sign an extension.

In the absence of an Artistic Director, President Kristina Hammer and Commercial Director Lukas Crepaz will lead the 2026 festival.

The Salzburg Festival opens on July 17 and runs through August 30, 2026 with productions of “Carmen,” “Ariadne auf Naxos” and “Così fan tutte.”