Ibiza is preparing to trade its famous electronic beats for something very different, as Bach, Vivaldi and Brazilian samba come together in the historic heart of Dalt Vila.

The eighth edition of Ibiza Conciertos International Classical Music Festival will take place from August 29 to 31 at the Dominican Cloister, bringing internationally acclaimed musicians to one of the island’s most atmospheric historic settings.

This year’s festival has been built around an unusual musical dialogue between European classical tradition and the rhythms of Brazil.

At the centre of the programme is German violinist Linus Roth, founder and artistic director of Ibiza Conciertos, who will perform alongside the Johann Sebastian Rio Orchestra from Rio de Janeiro. Roth will also bring an extraordinary instrument to Ibiza: a 1703 Stradivarius known as the “Dancla”.

Bach meets Brazilian samba

The festival opens on Saturday, August 29, with SamBach: From Bach to Brazilian Sambas.

The project takes Johann Sebastian Bach’s classical compositions and places them alongside Brazilian musical influences including samba and bossa nova.

One of the highlights will be Bach’s Violin Concerto, reinterpreted through arrangements inspired by Brazilian musical traditions.

Rather than simply combining two styles, the project aims to show the connections between Baroque music and Brazil’s rhythmic traditions, creating a conversation between two very different musical worlds.

Vivaldi gets a Brazilian twist

On Sunday, August 30, the focus shifts to Antonio Vivaldi and his famous The Four Seasons.

The work will share the programme with compositions from Brazilian composers including Heitor Villa-Lobos, César Guerra-Peixe, Ernani Aguiar, Sivuca and Gadelha.

The result is a musical journey stretching from 18th-century Venice to the sounds and traditions of Brazil.

The festival will then conclude on Monday, August 31, with a Brazilian Night.

The Johann Sebastian Rio Orchestra will take centre stage for a programme featuring works by Villa-Lobos, Cláudio Santoro, Ernani Aguiar and César Guerra-Peixe, alongside popular melodies and music influenced by choro and samba. Some of the arrangements have been created specifically for this Ibiza edition.

Classical music under the Ibiza sky

The location is almost as important as the music.

Rather than taking place inside a conventional concert hall, the festival will unfold in the Dominican Cloister in Dalt Vila, giving audiences the chance to experience classical music surrounded by centuries-old architecture and the atmosphere of Ibiza's historic old town.

Dalt Vila is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the setting gives the festival a distinctly Ibizan identity — combining music, heritage and cultural tourism in a part of the island rarely associated with its international party scene.

It is also a reminder that Ibiza's cultural identity extends far beyond its famous clubs.

While the island is internationally recognised for electronic music and nightlife, events such as Ibiza Conciertos are helping showcase another side of the destination, attracting audiences interested in classical music, heritage and international culture.

A 1703 Stradivarius comes to Ibiza

For Linus Roth, one of the most remarkable parts of the festival will be performing on the 1703 “Dancla” Stradivarius.

The violin, more than three centuries old, is loaned by the L-Bank Baden-Württemberg Musical Foundation and will be played by Roth during the festival.

Roth is a two-time ECHO Klassik Award winner and has become particularly known for his work bringing overlooked classical composers and repertoire back to international audiences.

He has also dedicated significant work to the music of Polish-Soviet composer Mieczysław Weinberg and founded the International Weinberg Society in 2015.

Music with a purpose

The festival also has a community dimension.

The Ibiza Conciertos Association works with the Ibiza and Formentera Association Against Cancer to bring free concerts to hospitals and nursing homes, allowing patients and their families to experience live music away from the festival setting.

It adds another layer to an event that is positioning music as more than entertainment — using international artists and Ibiza’s cultural profile to create connections with the local community.

Three nights, three different experiences

The 2026 programme offers three distinct evenings:

• August 29: SamBach — From Bach to Brazilian Sambas

• August 30: Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons alongside Brazilian composers

• August 31: Brazilian Night featuring samba, choro and Brazilian classical music

Concerts begin at 9 PM.

Tickets are priced at €40, with reduced prices available for Balearic residents and children. A three-night festival pass is also available. A shuttle service will operate from Passeig de Vara de Rey to Dalt Vila before the concerts.

For three nights, one of Ibiza’s most historic locations will therefore become the meeting point of two very different musical traditions.

Bach and Vivaldi may be a long way from Ibiza’s famous dancefloors, but the festival proves that the island can offer something just as memorable after sunset: centuries-old classical music, Brazilian rhythms and a 1703 Stradivarius beneath the Ibiza sky.