The Verbier Festival has announced its 28th year.

The season will take place over the course of 17 days and will feature concerts, masterclasses, talks, and education events in the picturesque setting of the Swiss Alps.

Following the virtual edition and limited live performances, the festival will put together protocols and enhancements in consultation with medical professionals to ensure a live Festival edition. The complete schedule will be announced on Jan. 28, 2021.

Verbier Festival Founder & Director, Martin T:son Engstroem said, “We were among the first major festivals in Switzerland to call off its 2020 edition, knowing that if we had gone ahead it would have put our family of audiences, artists and team members at risk. And while it’s clear we are not out of the woods yet, we are now optimistic that once the clouds part, we will once again come to together in Verbier for our 28th edition.”

The 2021 Festival will be opened by Verbier Festival Orchestra Music Director Valery Gergiev and Festival favorites Evgeny Kissin and Mischa Maisky return. The festival will also include Other highlights include two Puccini operas, “La Fanciulla del West” and “La Bohème” and the second act of Wagner’s “Tristan and Isolde.”

The season will also feature recent Academy alumni Mao Fujita, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Anastasia Kobekina, and Kian Soltani. James Gaffigan will also conduct the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra in his first year as the ensemble’s Music Director.

The festival is set to take place on July 16 through August 1, 2021.