Keys of Gold 2026

Keys of Gold returns with international stars, massed choir and a dual-global premiere in Bendigo and Germany: 16 concerts, 12 venues, 32 instruments and 250 performers over the 4 weekends in July as Bendigo Fine Music joins with audiences to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the discovery of gold in Australia and the founding of Bendigo.

The 2026 festival will again offer a series of destination-style musical experiences across Bendigo and neighbouring towns featuring internationally-acclaimed performers, the Australian Boys Choir, Melba Opera Trust Artists and much more, all in the beautiful surroundings of historic venues - all built on gold in this 175th anniversary year. 

The 2026 program will feature two solo organ concerts - one, with Thomas Heywood, marking the final completion of the St Paul's Cathedral organ over 140 years later, placing that instrument now in the top five Anglican cathedral organs in Australia! - and the other at Sacred Heart Cathedral with the internationally acclaimed French organist Johann Vexo, former organist of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.

A defining highlight of the 2026 festival will be the dual-global premiere of a newly-commissioned work by Australian composer Gordon Kerry for Trumpet and Organ. Based on musical themes by the legendary 19th-century Bendigo identity Fr Henry Backhaus, this will be premiered at St Kilian's Church, Bendigo (where Backhaus paid for the organ in 1872) and then - 72 hours later - at the closing event for the famous Libori Festival in Paderborn, Germany - one of Germany's largest and oldest public festivals attracting over 1.5 million visitors annually. 

An exciting addition to the 2026 festival is the Christmas in July celebration, featuring brass, grand organ, soprano soloist and a massed choir of 120 voices drawn from across Victoria performing at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Bendigo - Australia's third largest cathedral after Melbourne and Sydney.

Two of the weekends include special double-concert opportunities in Castlemaine and an Inglewood double bill designed to encourage visitors to make a full day of their festival experience while exploring regional hospitality and attractions.

Tickets on sale now - come to one, multiple or all concerts!