Early Music Summit - What we stand for
The 3rd edition of the Early Music Summit will take place from 24 to 27 November 2026, in the Concertgebouw Brugge, the Orpheus Instituut and De Bijloke. Four days to connect, exchange ideas and move the sector forward together.
Organised by REMA, this 3rd edition of the Early Music Summit centres on a theme that is as essential as it is inspiring: What we stand for. An invitation to return to what unites us, to what underpins our commitment, and to the ways in which our values resonate in the world – and engage meaningfully with it.
In a rapidly evolving context, where cultural challenges call for collective responses, the Early Music Summit 2026 is conceived as a dynamic space for reflection and action around the cultural value of early music. Designed as a genuine laboratory, this edition will foster interaction, co-creation and the sharing of experiences among all participants.
On the programme: panels and discussions bringing together voices from across the early music ecosystem; parallel courses running throughout the four days, focusing on research, education, repertoire and performance practice; project presentations, pitches and speed meetings to spark connections and generate fresh ideas; masterclasses led by experts from the cultural sector; and participatory workshops placing collective experience at the heart of the event…
Programme
EFA and its members will be active throughout the Summit. Here's an overview of the sessions in which EFA is involved:
24 November
- 14.30-15.30 | Early Music on the main stage
Sophie Detremmerie, EFA Vice-President and Business Director at Flanders Festival Ghent, and Joost Fonteyne, Policy Coordinator at AMUZ will take part in the panel discussion “Early Music on the main stage”. The session will dig into the following questions: What is the place of Early Music in generalist concert halls, programmes and festivals? What experience does it offer to today’s audiences? - 16.00-17.00 | EFA networking event
Meet-up for Early Music promoters, including project presentations. Moderation by Donika Rudi Berishaj (Project Director of European Festivals Fund for Emerging Artists - EFFEA), Ward Bosmans (Kunstenpunt, EFFE Hub Belgium) and Richard Heason (REMA-EEMN Vice-President and Director of the Music Summer School and Festival).
25 November
- 13.30-14.45 | Emerged and thriving: building sustainable career paths
This session will include a presentation from Joost Fonteyne, Policy Coordinator at AMUZ.
Early Music Summit 2026
Credits
The Early Music Summit is organised by REMA – the European Early Music Network – in collaboration with Concertgebouw Brugge, De Bijloke Muziekcentrum, the Orpheus Instituut and Kunstenpunt. REMA is funded by the European Union, with support from the French Ministry of Culture.