2026 Utah Liszt Festival and Competition

The 2026 Utah Liszt Festival and Competition kicks off on November 1 at Libby Gardner Hall, with a performance that evening at 7:30 PM. It's a multi-day event, so that's just the start of it. The whole thing is run by the University of Utah School of Music in collaboration with the American Liszt Society, and it's built around the work of Franz Liszt.

What makes this more than just a series of concerts is how it's put together. The program mixes masterclasses, competitions, and performances, and it's not all solo stuff—there are ensemble pieces in the mix too. The masterclasses are a good place to see the process behind the music, and the competition brings in performers who'll be playing for a prize. Between those and the performances, you get to hear Liszt from a few different angles over the course of the festival.

If you're just coming for the music, the best part is that admission to all the masterclasses and performances is free. You don't have to pay for a ticket to sit in on a class or catch a show, so it's an easy way to spend a few evenings with a lot of piano music without spending anything.

Everything takes place at Libby Gardner Hall, which is part of the University of Utah campus at 1375 East Presidents Circle in Salt Lake City. The first performance is November 1 at 7:30 PM, and there are additional dates throughout the festival.