In 2026, the Arcus Temporum Pannonhalma Art Festival will be held for the 22nd time, creating a living dialogue between art and spirituality within the unique spaces of the thousand-year-old Benedictine Monastery of Pannonhalma from 21 – 23. August. This year's festival marks the beginning of a three-year preparatory journey toward the 1500th anniversary of the Benedictine Order, focusing on Saint Benedict’s timeless vision of the monastery as “a school for the service of the Lord.”

 

The theme of the School shapes the entire three-day interdisciplinary festival. The music programme is led by András Keller, Kossuth Prize–winning violinist, and centres on works by J. S. Bach and György Kurtág, who will celebrate his 100th birthday. Performers include the Keller Quartet, Kurtág’s students, and outstanding figures of the international music scene. Literature comes to the fore with Lajos Parti Nagy, while the visual arts are represented by contrmporary exhibitions and performative works. The dimension of spirituality is deepened through conversations, prayers, and personal reflections guided by Benedictine monks.

 

The mission of Arcus Temporum is to build bridges between tradition and contemporary art while actively supporting emerging talents. Arcus Temporum is more than a three-day event: throughout the year it fosters an values-based cultural presence, community building, and dialogue extending the cultural mission of Pannonhalma to a wider audience. Alongside the Benedictine monastic community, our host this year is Pál Mácsai.