The decision on the directorship of the Salzburg Festival from October 1, 2026 is likely to be made soon. The hearing with the candidates will take place this week. Eight candidates applied – one woman and seven men, three interested parties came from Germany and the remaining five from other European countries.
Back houses among applicants
Among the candidates is the incumbent director Markus Hinterhäuser, who has not yet publicly commented on whether he would like to extend the contract once more. Hinterhäuser has been the artistic director of the festival since October 2016. In May 2019, his contract was extended by the Board of Trustees until September 2026.
In the advertisement by the Board of Trustees of the Salzburg Festival, a director was sought “for a maximum of five years”, as a member of the board of directors and “in agreement with the other members, to manage the business of the Salzburg Festival Fund in accordance with the rules of procedure in artistic, commercial and organizational terms responsible in this respect,” it said in the tender.
