Apr 1, 2026

Running Aug. 21–29, 2026, the festival’s sixth season brings world-class masterpieces of the classical music repertoire to Prince Edward County.

WELLINGTON, Ont. - April 1, 2026 - BIGLAKE Festival today unveiled the lineup for its upcoming season, CLASSICS, which once again welcomes internationally acclaimed classical musicians from around the world to Prince Edward County. Audiences are invited to experience masterpieces of the classical repertoire that have stood the test of time, performed by some of the world’s leading musicians. The festival runs from Aug. 21–29 and features 10 exciting concerts and events during its annual week-long festival.

Elissa Lee and Johannes Debus, co-founders and directors of BIGLAKE, are set to bring the festival’s sixth season to life across a range of venues throughout Prince Edward County, featuring playful, dynamic performances by renowned artists. Known for its intimate and uniquely approachable environment, - a truly uncommon quality for a festival of this calibre - BIGLAKE offers audiences a rare sense of proximity to both the music and the performers.

The main stage is set at Wellington Music Hall, a historical building dating back to 1885. Additional venues include Maison Millefleurs, with its lavender garden located on the shores of Lake Ontario, as well as The Eddie Hotel & Farm, The Andrew, and the Wellington United Church.

“We created BIGLAKE to be different. Our vision is to bring world-class music into unique spaces where audiences can experience and connect with performers in an approachable way,” says co-founder and director Elissa Lee. “CLASSICS will bring some of the world’s most beloved musical works to the intimate stages of Prince Edward County. We’re excited to celebrate the magic that unfolds when exceptional artistry meets a vibrant community.”

This year, BIGLAKE is proud to present two feature artists of international renown: Kerson Leong and Philharmonisches Streichquartett Berlin. The festival opens with Leong’s violin recital, described by the Toronto Star as “not just one of Canada’s greatest violinists but one of the greatest violinists, period.” Through Leong’s commanding musicianship and remarkable technical mastery, audiences are guided through these contrasting forces in a performance that offers a rare opportunity to experience the internationally acclaimed artist in an intimate setting. Making their Canadian debut, the Philharmonisches Streichquartett Berlin brings a program of three beloved quartet works: Barber’s Adagio, Dvo?ák’s “American” Quartet, and Schubert’s Death and the Maiden.

2026 Festival Programming

Kerson Leong | Opening Night
Renowned violinist Kerson Leong explores darkness and light, angels and devils, and passion and ethereality in this opening night programme. Be transported by these powerful forces of life through Kerson’s magnetic musicianship and breathtaking mastery on the violin in an intimate setting.

Philip Chiu | Up Close
JUNO Award-winning pianist Philip Chiu performs beloved piano masterworks, including Chopin nocturnes, Debussy’s Clair de Lune, Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata and works by Rachmaninoff.

The Goldberg Variations | Bach Then and Now
Pianist and harpsichordist Ilya Poletaev offers a rare perspective on Bach’s Goldberg Variations, performed on the instrument for which it was originally composed, as well as on the modern piano.

Philharmonisches Streichquartett Berlin | Canadian Debut
Members of the Berlin Philharmonic make their Canadian debut performing famous string quartets by Barber, Dvo?ák and Schubert.

A Musical Friendship | Schumann and Brahms
Ensemble Made In Canada celebrates the special friendship between the most well-known romantic composers Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms.

KaffeeKuchen | Haydn and the Viennese Court
Presented with The Renaissance Farm and Maison Millefleurs, this afternoon concert pairs chamber music with coffee and cakes inspired by Haydn’s Viennese court.

Candlelight Concert | Beethoven Then and Now
A candlelit salon experience featuring Beethoven’s piano music performed on a fortepiano, the period instruments which existed in Beethoven’s time.

Kerson Leong & Philip Chiu | Dorman and Chausson
Two riveting concertos in a chamber music format. Feel the energy of a large orchestra in an intimate setting!

Medieval Songs | Impact Concert
Ensemble Comtessa performs Florilegium, a vibrant program of medieval songs supporting the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory (PEPtBO).

Festival Finale | Vivaldi and Bach
The BIGLAKE Festival Ensemble performs beloved Baroque concertos in a lively closing celebration. Bursting with energy and cheer, this finale offers the perfect, unforgettable send-off to the 2026 festival.

Kicking off the summer season, BIGLAKE hosts its annual fundraising event, the Summer Solstice Garden Party and Gala, on June 25 at The Eddie Hotel & Farm. Inspired by pagan traditions and a spirit of magic and celebration, the evening features a special performance by Polish-Canadian soprano Karoline Podolak, alongside offerings from a lineup of acclaimed chefs, the event promises to be one of the season’s most memorable. Ticket details will be announced in the coming weeks.

Tickets for BIGLAKE Festival 2026 are available now. For more information, ticket purchasing details, and a full schedule of events, visit www.biglakearts.com. Bundle pricing is available.

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About BIGLAKE:
A dynamic cultural institution co-founded and co-directed by Juno Award-winning and internationally renowned violinist, Elissa Lee and critically acclaimed and esteemed Music Director for the Canadian Opera Company, Johannes Debus. Through diverse programming and year-round initiatives, BIGLAKE fuses tradition and innovation by weaving a variety of musical genres, cultural influences and modern elements to curate unique, diverse and intimate musical experiences in Wellington, Prince Edward County, Canada.