Ultima 2026: Over 20 world premieres and commissions in the programme

Unexpected. Uncharted. Unheard.

Ultima 2026 presents a rich programme of newly created music and sound art from Norway and around the world.

A total of 22 works and productions will receive their world premiere during the festival, while many others will be presented in Norway for the very first time. From performance and sound installations to instrumental music, music theatre, dance and film, the programme offers a wide range of ways into contemporary music.

Opening Ultima 2026

The festival opens with the Oslo Philharmonic and conductor Ilan Volkov in Magic Fantastic, featuring the Norwegian premieres of two new orchestral works: Øyvind Torvund’s Two Pieces for Orchestra and Electronics and Kristine Tjøgersen’s Wolpertinger. Both works were commissioned by Ultima and the Oslo Philharmonic in collaboration with Norwegian and international partners, including IRCAM/Centre Pompidou, WDR and Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra.

Together with Stravinsky’s Le chant du rossignol, the works transform the orchestra into a fantasy machine — reminding us that imagination is not a luxury, but a necessity.

New commissions

The festival also presents new works by François Sarhan, Beatrice Dillon, Lasse Marhaug, Hanna Hartman, Olivia Køppe, Camille Norment, Nils Henrik Asheim, Simon Løffler, Lukas De Clerck & Marcin Pietruszewski, Alberto Bernal, Tanja Orning, Marte Gunnufsen, and many more.

These commissions have been developed through national and international collaborations with partners including Liquid Music, Atelier Nord, Barbican, Rewire, Sonic Acts, Mixtur Festival, Münchener Biennale, Klang, SWR, NOTAM, Oslo Sinfonietta, Black Box teater, CTM, nyMusikk, MUNCH and the Oslo Philharmonic. Several of the productions have been made possible through the generous support of Arts and Culture Norway.

For the first time in Norway

Among this year’s highlights are the Norwegian premiere of Historia, a special production featuring Karl Ove Knausgård and Glenn Kotche; a performance for guitar and tap dance by Nina Garcia and Anna Gaïotti in Against Hard Matter; and Gisle Kverndokk’s newly arranged song cycle Autumn Caravan.

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Remember, as an ultiMATE member you receive 35 percent off tickets to more than 20 festival events.

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Ultima 2026 takes place across Oslo from 10–19 September. Explore the full programme at ultima.no.