The classical Summer Festival
in the heart of Tuscany

29 - 31 July 2026

Collegium Vocale
Crete Senesi

Join the festival

Presented by Collegium Vocale Gent

❋

Join the waitlist for early access

|

2026 edition confirmed

|

29 - 31 July 2026

|

Full program to be announced in late January

|

Join the waitlist for early access | 2026 edition confirmed | 29 - 31 July 2026 | Full program to be announced in late January |

Discover Crete Senesi

Collegium Vocale Crete Senesi is a summer festival rooted in the artistic vision of Collegium Vocale Gent, presenting classical music at its finest - now celebrating its 26th edition.

Join the festival

*Full program to be announced by the end of January

About Collegium Vocale Gent

People gathered outdoors at a social event or party, standing around tables and conversing with a scenic hilly landscape in the background.

People attending a concert or event inside a church with ornate interior, high ceilings, and religious artwork, facing the altar at the front.

Set in the Tuscan landscape of Crete Senesi, the festival brings together leading international musicians to explore vocal and chamber music repertoire from the Renaissance to the Romantic era, in an atmosphere of intimacy, clarity and artistic depth.

Feel Crete Senesi

Join the festival

Meet Philippe Herreweghe

Philippe Herreweghe is one of the most influential conductors of our time, celebrated for his clarity of vision, sensitivity to text and deeply human approach to music. Born in Ghent, he founded Collegium Vocale Gent in 1970, an ensemble that soon became a leading reference for vocal music from the Renaissance to the Romantic period.
Over the years, he has expanded his work to the great symphonic repertoire, founding ensembles such as La Chapelle Royale and the Orchestre des Champs-Élysées, and collaborating with many of the world’s leading orchestras. With an extensive discography and numerous international distinctions, Philippe Herreweghe remains a central figure in musical life, guided by a lifelong pursuit of musical truth and expressive depth.

“The concerts take place in small but marvellous churches, chosen for their acoustics and their dialogue with the repertoire.”

Philippe Herreweghe, 
conductor & artistic director

Location

Crete Senesi · Tuscany

The festival takes place in the heart of Crete Senesi, a landscape shaped by silence, stone and centuries of history.
Concerts are held in and around Asciano, Pienza and Sant’Anna in Camprena, where architecture, acoustics and music form a unique dialogue.

Rolling hills with dry, golden grass and scattered trees, including a line of tall cypress trees lining a road leading to a farmhouse.

Asciano

Asciano serves as the main gathering place of the festival.
Its historic streets and churches offer an intimate framework in which music unfolds in dialogue with stone, silence and local life. During the festival week, Asciano turns into a point of convergence, where artists and audiences naturally meet.

People dining at outdoor tables under string lights at night, in a garden setting.

People walking up a road toward an old stone church with statues on its roof, surrounded by trees and bushes, in black and white.

A narrow European street with old buildings, flower pots, and a clock tower in the background.

Sant’Anna in Camprena

Surrounded by olive groves and open countryside, the former monastery of Sant’Anna in Camprena offers a space of remarkable calm and acoustic clarity.
Its secluded atmosphere invites attentive listening and reflection, making it a singular place for musical experience, where landscape, architecture and sound converge.

Inside a grand hall with high arched ceilings, filled with an audience seated facing a stage. The stage has microphones and water bottles, with chairs and music stands. The walls are decorated with ornate frames and religious or historical paintings. Light enters from a circular window near the ceiling, illuminating the room.

Festival dinners

A woman in a black top with red patterned pants converses with a waitress holding a tray at an outdoor event, with a stone building and other people in the background.

People socializing outdoors at a gathering with tables holding drinks, bright sunlight, and trees in the background.

People seated at a long outdoor dinner table at night, with trees and warm lighting in the background, some waitstaff serving drinks.

Before selected concerts, guests are welcomed with an open-air aperitif, offered by local gastronomic partners. Featuring regional specialties, these moments invite guests to ease into the atmosphere of the festival, creating a gentle transition into the musical journey ahead.

After some evening concerts, a fine dinner is offered in carefully chosen locations near the concert venues. Together, these moments extend the festival beyond the concert hall, fostering conversation, conviviality and exchange, and allowing artists, guests and audience to share time in a festive yet intimate atmosphere.

Details and reservations will be communicated together with the 2026 programme.

An outdoor evening banquet with numerous guests seated at round tables, decorated with tableware and wine glasses, under string lights in front of a historic stone building.

© Collegium Vocale Gent, Photography by Pablo Menjibar

FAQs

The 2026 edition of Collegium Vocale Crete Senesi will take place in between 29 and 31 July.
More information about the concerts, events and tickets will be available soon.
You can subscribe to our newsletter to receive first-hand information.
Concerts and dinners take place in the Crete Senesi region of Tuscany, primarily in and around Asciano, as well as at Sant’Anna in Camprena and other historic venues selected for their acoustic and architectural qualities.
The festival focuses on vocal and orchestral repertoire ranging from the Renaissance to the Romantic period. Programmes are performed by ensembles and musicians closely connected to the artistic world of Collegium Vocale Gent.
Ticket information will be published together with the 2026 programme.
Details regarding individual tickets and possible subscriptions will be communicated via the website and newsletter.
Accommodation is available in Asciano and the surrounding area.
Please note that the festival does not organise or manage accommodation bookings. Practical information and general guidance will be provided closer to the festival dates.
The Crete Senesi region is accessible by car from Florence, Siena and Pisa.
More detailed transport information will be shared once the 2026 programme and venues are confirmed.
Collegium Vocale Crete Senesi exists thanks to the support of patrons, partners and institutions.
Information about ways to support the festival will be made available soon.
Collegium Vocale Crete Senesi is an initiative of Collegium Vocale Gent, an internationally renowned ensemble founded in 1970 by Philippe Herreweghe.

Early bird waitlist

By joining the Early Bird list you will be able to:

Receive the full Crete Senesi artistic program by the end of January
Reserve a spot at our dinners
Receive the extended cultural program offered by our befriended Italian organisations.

*Be among the first to receive information about ticket availability and special conditions.

A classical music concert in an ornate hall with four musicians playing string instruments on stage, illuminated by warm stage lighting, with an audience seated facing the performers.

The classical Summer Festival in the heart of Tuscany

29 - 31 July 2026

Collegium Vocale Crete Senesi

❋

Join the waitlist for early access

|

2026 edition confirmed

|

29 - 31 July 2026

|

Full program to be announced in late January

|

Join the waitlist for early access | 2026 edition confirmed | 29 - 31 July 2026 | Full program to be announced in late January | Join the waitlist for early access | 2026 edition confirmed | 29 - 31 July 2026 | Full program to be announced in late January |

Discover Crete Senesi

Collegium Vocale Crete Senesi is a summer festival rooted in the artistic vision of Collegium Vocale Gent, presenting classical music at its finest - now celebrating its 26th edition.

Set in the Tuscan landscape of Crete Senesi, the festival brings together leading international musicians to explore vocal and chamber music repertoire from the Renaissance to the Romantic era, in an atmosphere of intimacy, clarity and artistic depth.

Feel Crete Senesi

Meet Philippe Herreweghe

“The concerts take place in small but marvellous churches, chosen for their acoustics and their dialogue with the repertoire.”

Location

Crete Senesi · Tuscany

Festival dinners

FAQs

When will the 2026 festival take place?

Where does the festival take place?

What kind of music is performed?

How can I purchase tickets?

Is accommodation organised by the festival?

How can I travel to the festival locations?

How can I support the festival?

Who organises Collegium Vocale Crete Senesi?

Early bird waitlist

The classical Summer Festival
in the heart of Tuscany

Collegium Vocale
Crete Senesi

Join the waitlist for early access | 2026 edition confirmed | 29 - 31 July 2026 | Full program to be announced in late January |