The Florida State University College of Music is proud to present the 22nd biennial Festival of New Music, taking place from January 29–31, 2026. This prestigious three-day event is a cornerstone of new music, offering a vibrant schedule of concerts, masterclasses, and lectures that push the boundaries of modern musical expression.
This year’s festival features two of the most influential forces in the contemporary scene: Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Julia Wolfe and the world-renowned Bang on a Can All-Stars.
Wolfe, a 2016 MacArthur Fellow and Musical America’s 2019 Composer of the Year, is celebrated for music that blends the raw energy of rock and folk with classical sophistication. As a co-founder of the legendary Bang on a Can collective, Wolfe’s work—including recent high-profile premieres with the Berlin and New York Philharmonics—addresses themes ranging from environmental crises to the history of women’s rights.
The Bang on a Can All-Stars, an amplified six-member ensemble known for shattering genre definitions, will perform a free guest artist concert on Friday, January 30, at 7:30 p.m. in Opperman Music Hall. Their program will feature iconic works by Wolfe, David Lang, and Michael Gordon.
The festival also showcases a diverse array of 28 contemporary composers, many of whom will be in attendance to engage with audiences and students. Performances range from intimate solo works to large-scale orchestral pieces, featuring FSU’s esteemed faculty and students as well as the University Symphony Orchestra, University Wind Orchestra, and FSU’s New Music ensemble, Polymorphia.
Schedule:
Thursday, Jan. 29
Opening Concert
7:30 p.m. | Opperman Music Hall
Friday, Jan. 30
Matinee Concert (a):
10:10 a.m. | Opperman Music Hall (OMH)
Matinee Concert (b)
11:15 a.m. | Opperman Music Hall (OMH)
Polymorphia New Music Ensemble Concert
2:00 p.m. | Opperman Music Hall (OMH)
Guest Artist Masterclass with Julia Wolfe
4:00 p.m. | Dohnányi Recital Hall (DRH)
Guest Artist Concert: Bang on a Can All-Stars
7:30 p.m. | Opperman Music Hall
Saturday, Jan. 31
Electroacoustic Concert
1:00 p.m. | Opperman Music Hall (OMH)
Guest Artist Masterclass with Julia Wolfe
4:00 p.m. | Dohnányi Recital Hall (DRH)
Closing Concert (ticketed)
7:30 p.m. | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
All festival events are free and open to the public, with the exception of the Closing Concert Saturday night. Tickets for the finale can be purchased at tickets.music.fsu.edu.
More information at 2026 Festival of New Music.
