‘As long as historical works by deceased male composers constitute approximately 90% of all music performed in the publicly funded music scene, efforts at gender-based and cultural equality remain merely cosmetic.’ (Declaration Academy Second Modernism)

What shapes our cultural identity? How are musical languages influenced by cultural context and how can they connect?
Taking the theme of ‘Considering Appropriation’, the 2026 summit addresses aspects of cultural appropriation. The two-day summit extends a public invitation to reflect on transcultural music culture together with this year’s womxn composers and renowned international experts, to reflect on a transcultural musical culture and to explore ways of transformation, both in word and deed. This year’s leading question is: What kinds of institutional and artistic programming and representation does it take to minimise the power mechanisms of appropriation and to maximise mechanisms of global appreciation?

View the graphic recording of the 2026 summit

A project of the Vienna Festival (Wiener Festwochen) | Free Republic of Vienna
In cooperation with the ORF Radiokulturhaus and Ö1