The 69th International Festival of Contemporary Music

The 69th International Festival of Contemporary Music, titled “The Star Within”, takes place in Venice from 11 to 25 October 2025. Directed by Caterina Barbieri, the Festival explores the theme of cosmic music, not as a specific genre, but as a poetic and generative force capable of creating new worlds and dissolving boundaries between time, space, and identity. Rooted in electronic music and minimalism, the programme spans ancient and contemporary traditions, connecting disparate eras and geographies through a rich, inclusive vision of today’s musical landscape. Highlights include site-specific works and world premieres by artists such as Chuquimamani-Condori, William Basinski, Yosuke Fujita, Laurie Spiegel, Suzanne Ciani with Actress, Kamigaku Ensemble, Moritz Von Oswald, Ellen Arkbro, Agnese Menguzzato, Maxime Denuc, Bendik Giske, Enrico Malatesta, Abdullah Miniawy, Perälä, Christian Fennesz, Sunn O))), and Grandelavoix. The programme also features tributes to pioneers like Éliane Radigue, Catherine Christer Hennix, and Giacinto Scelsi, as well as explorations of Afrofuturism by artists including DeForrest Brown Jr., Nkisi, Actress, and Carl Craig. Site-specific performances by Mabe Fratti and Rafael Toral, and a closing set by Ecco2k, further expand the Festival’s immersive and multidimensional scope. The Biennale College Musica, which received 235 applications from 35 countries, culminates in the debut of five selected projects developed under the mentorship of leading figures in experimental music and sound art.