Opening Night: Afiara Quartet with Mahan Esfahani

Harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani presents the Canadian premiere of a newly commissioned work by Gavin Bryars, along with a work by composer-in-residence Mark Applebaum and a performance with Afiara Quartet.

Banff International String Quartet Festival is an intimate weekend concert experience that offers beautifully curated opportunities to hear laureates from the competitions in unique collaborations with other world-renowned musicians. BISQFest 2026 features an exceptional lineup, including Calgary-born pianist and Banff Centre alumnus Jan Lisiecki with the Banff Festival Orchestra, Grammy Award-winning cellist Steven Isserlis, BISQC laureates Afiara Quartet (2016) and Opus13 (2022), and the Dalí Quartet.

Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity is excited to bring together world-renowned musicians, artists, and writers, as well as passionate audiences for the 2026 Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival. Running throughout May to September, the 2026 festival invites audiences to experience a season of artistic discovery of over 100 free and ticketed events. Tickets are now available for the 2026 Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival!