December 18, 2025

Vancouver, WA. December 18 – The 2026 Vancouver USA Arts & Music Festival (VAMF) will celebrate arts, culture, and community as part of #America250, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, with three free evening concerts by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA (VSO-USA) celebrating the creative possibility and enduring legacy of American music across generations and genres. Featured soloists include world-renowned violinist Pinchas Zukerman, acclaimed pianist Shelly Berg, and celebrated cellist Julian Schwarz, performing under the direction of Music Director & Conductor Maestro Salvador Brotons and Maestro Gerard Schwarz. The programs include an evening celebrating great film music including a Star Wars tribute to John Williams and favorite selections from Disney’s Fantasia. Produced in partnership with the City of Vancouver, the three-day, multidisciplinary festival will take place August 7–9, 2026.

In just four years, VAMF has established itself as Vancouver's signature cultural event, bringing together music, dance, visual art, and interactive experiences performed and presented by artists who reflect the many cultures, stories, and creative voices that shape the region. Each evening culminates with a free VSO-USA concert held at the historic Esther Short Park in downtown Vancouver.

“The Vancouver Arts and Music Festival reflects the shared commitment of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the City of Vancouver to serving the Pacific Northwest by weaving culture, arts, and heritage into everyday life,” says Dr. Igor Shakhman, Chief Executive Officer of Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA. “Enjoying world-class classical music with thousands of people in such a meaningful setting is truly remarkable. It’s both the ultimate summer experience and an exquisite reminder of how the arts help us to flourish together.”

The Vancouver Arts & Music Festival has grown to feature more than 60 performances across multiple stages. Its Festival Art Exhibit showcases hundreds of visual artists from the Pacific Northwest and beyond, and the fun continues with family activities, street performances, and a wide range of food and art vendors. The 2025 event was named Southwest Washington Event of the Year by the Washington Festivals and Events Association, and generated an estimated $1.8 million in business sales for the community, according to Visit Vancouver.

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA VAMF Concert Schedule

Friday, August 7 | 7 pm
The festival opens with a celebration of iconic American film music. Led by Maestro Salvador Brotons, the VSO-USA performs John Williams’s Star Wars Suite, along with beloved selections from Disney’s animated masterpiece Fantasia (1940), including Dukas’ The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain, and Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1. Following the concert, the festival will offer a screening of Fantasia (1940), as part of its Friday night movie series.

Saturday, August 8 | VSO USA Youth Virtuosi at 5:30 pm | VSO-USA performance at 7 pm
Under the baton of Maestro Gerard Schwarz, legendary violinist Pinchas Zukerman performs Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1. The program also includes Beethoven’s Egmont Overture and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. Prior to the evening’s VSO-USA performance, the music begins with the VSO Youth Virtuosi, an all-star ensemble of exceptional student musicians from across Southwest Washington, conducted by Maestro Schwarz and Maestro Ken Selden.

Sunday, August 9 | 6 pm
Maestro Schwarz leads the orchestra in a program celebrating American musical voices. Pianist Shelly Berg performs Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, which Gershwin described as “a musical kaleidoscope of America.” Cellist Julian Schwarz presents Arthur Foote’s romantic and expressive Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in G minor, a work he and his father painstakingly reconstructed from the composer’s handwritten manuscript. The concert also features Valerie Coleman's Umoja: Anthem of Unity and Gershwin’s An American in Paris.

“Maestro Zukerman is an absolute virtuoso—his expressive lyricism and extraordinary musicianship will take your breath away. Shelly Berg’s mastery of both classical and jazz traditions makes his performance of Rhapsody in Blue unforgettable. Julian Schwarz is restoring a great American work to its rightful place. Across all three concerts, we celebrate the American promise through defining composers, extraordinary repertoire, and remarkable performers, including emerging young artists,” says Shakhman.

Additional festival details will be announced in 2026. Sponsorship opportunities are still available to be part of this exciting cultural event in 2026.

For updates and full festival information, visit vancouverartsandmusicfestival.com. For orchestra and artist information, visit vancouversymphony.org.

About the Vancouver USA Arts and Music Festival
The Vancouver Arts & Music Festival is a celebration of culture, community, and the unbridled joy of experiencing the arts together. This free, community-focused event is coming to Vancouver, Washington, August 7-9, 2026, and will feature award-winning musicians, visual artists, and performers from Vancouver, the Northwest region, and around the world. The festival is presented by Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA and the City of Vancouver. For more information visit www.vancouverartsandmusicfestival.com.

About Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA
The VSO, now in its 47th season, has been a cornerstone of Southwest Washington’s arts community, providing symphony music of the highest caliber in live performances and through music education in schools, concert halls, and throughout the community. For more information, please visit www.vancouversymphony.org.

About the City of Vancouver
The City of Vancouver is building a community of the future on the Columbia River through a shared commitment to equity, stewardship, resilience, and public safety. Vancouver, Washington combines the excitement of a major metropolitan area with small-town charm and abundant recreational opportunities. For more information, please visit www.cityofvancouver.us.

For more information about the Vancouver Arts & Music Festival, visit www.vancouverartsandmusicfestival.com.

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Allison Van Etten
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8VA Music Consultancy
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