Culture Ireland is returning to Classical:NEXT this week, supporting a showcase and delegation from Ireland to attend the prestigious event taking place in Budapest, Hungary this year. Classical:NEXT is the global networking and exchange hub dedicated exclusively to classical and art music.
The four-day networking event includes a conference, showcase concerts, trade Expo and networking opportunities. Culture Ireland has awarded six delegate bursaries to industry professionals with a track record of achievement in the classical and contemporary music genre. The six delegates attending this year are:
- Jonathan Grimes
- Sinead Hayes
- Fergus Johnston
- David Ernest McCarthy
- Anselm McDonnell
- Karen Power
Culture Ireland will have a presence at the Classical:NEXT trade Expo taking place at the Millenáris in Budapest from 8 – 11 April 2026 (Exhibition stand 9). The full Culture Ireland programme at Classical:NEXT can be viewed here.
Later in the month, Culture Ireland is supporting an incoming delegation of programmers to attend New Music Dublin eXchange (NMDX), a high-impact international networking programme embedded within the New Music Dublin festival and hosted by the Contemporary Music Centre (CMC). It is designed to showcase the work of artists active in Ireland to a delegation of strategically selected international music presenters, broadcasters, and festival directors. The NMDX 2026 programme facilitates international delegates to immerse themselves in the festival and participate in a curated networking schedule.
New Music Dublin is Ireland’s foremost contemporary music festival, taking place in Spring each year within the National Concert Hall and other venues throughout Dublin.
The festival will run this year from 15–19 April 2026. Full details are available here.
