Oxford Piano Festival 2026: Preview Pt. 2

The Oxford Piano Festival is back for its 27^th year. As always, established and respected pianists are arriving from all over the world to deliver mesmerising recitals and expert masterclasses for observers and participants.

This is part two of three.

With three days down and Paul Lewis’s renditions of Mozart, Poulenc and Debussy still reverberating in our minds, the pianist joins us again for his masterclass, first thing on day four, 28 July. Stephen Kovacevich takes the afternoon masterclass slot, the American pianist and conductor bringing a wealth of experience performing alongside leading orchestras, conductors and fellow performers across a career of over 70 years.

In the evening, a recital from the incredible pianist and festival favourite Isata Kanneh-Mason, previously described by Classic FM as ‘one of today’s most in-demand classical musicians.’ In Merton College Chapel, she performs Beethoven’s iconic Moonlight and Waldstein sonatas, Gaspard de la nuit by Ravel and two pieces from Bulgarian-British composer Dobrinka Tabakova.

Day five begins with a masterclass from Momoro Ono. A renowned concert pianist and music educator based in the USA, Ono is originally from Yokohama, Japan. Next, the first masterclass with Rustem Hayroudinoff, who joins us for another teaching session and a recital later in the festival. Our recital for day five comes from the esteemed Elisabeth Leonskaja, long been among the most celebrated pianists of our time, who takes to the Sheldonian Theatre with a programme of Schubert Sonatas and Impromptus.

Day six, 30 July: Leonskaja returns for a masterclass in the morning. Later on, a masterclass with Ian Jones, British pianist and Professor of Piano at the Royal College of Music in London.

Rounding out the day, alongside Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Marios Papadopoulos, the festival is thrilled to present one of the most exciting emerging instrumental talents, Greek pianist Theodosia Ntokou, in the Sheldonian Theatre. With performances of Shostakovich’s second Piano Concerto and Rachmaninov’s second Symphony, it promises to be a night to remember.

You can book tickets for individual events here, or perhaps consider an Observer Pass here.