In July Festival Napa Valley captivated audiences with a harmonious blend of world class music, exceptional wine, culinary excellence, and vibrant community engagement. With over 70 events presented throughout Napa Valley and a mission of bringing the arts to all, the festival’s 2025 season offered something for everyone.
The festival’s summer season, presented by J.P. Morgan, brought together more than 350 internationally renowned and emerging artists for a celebration of artistic excellence.
Highlights included unforgettable performances by Jon Batiste, Joyce DiDonato, Tessa Lark, and Tiler Peck. Festival programming spanned opera, jazz, ballet, symphonic music, film, and wellness.
This season’s Olivia Decker Power of Music concert featured Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 and Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake Suite, performed by the Pacific Symphony and pianist Tianxu An. Conducted by Gavriel Heine and presented as part of the Festival’s China Cultural Exchange, the concert highlighted Festival Napa Valley’s role in fostering international artistic collaboration.
The festival’s signature celebration of food and wine—Taste of Napa—brought together 100 wineries, breweries, and culinary artisans at The Meritage Resort and Spa. Over 1,000 guests enjoyed a festive afternoon of wine tastings, gourmet bites, music, and interactive experiences that showcased the best of Napa Valley’s hospitality.
The Versailles Royal Opera made its North American debut with Donizetti’s Fille du régiment on the Festival Napa Valley Stage at Charles Krug. Directed by Jean-Romain Vesperini, the production received multiple standing ovations.
The Versailles Royal Opera Orchestra also performed at Tatiana and Gerret Copeland’s Olive Hill Estate, providing the occasion for the festival’s 2025 Opus One Premiere, Embarquement pour Cythère, composed by Forrest Eimold.
The season concluded with a dazzling symphonic finale featuring Festival Orchestra Napa and conductor Stéphane Denève in a program of Berlioz, Mendelssohn, and Prokofiev. The performance was brought to life with original artwork created by students and seniors during the festival’s year-round How I See Musicworkshops.
Audiences of all ages were welcomed at family-friendly programs, including a screening of Walt Disney’s Fantasia with live orchestra, two Novack Concerts for Kids, and a new Family Zone at Charles Krug that offered creative activities for children each evening.
The Frost School of Music at Festival Napa Valley’s Blackburn Music Academy hosted 60 emerging instrumentalists for an intensive three-week residency, with performances, master classes, and mentorship by faculty from leading orchestras and the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music.
The Manetti Shrem Opera Program welcomed 13 vocalists and collaborative pianists, offering high-level training tuition-free as part of the festival’s commitment to nurturing the next generation.
The Bouchaine Young Artist Series spotlighted pianists Harmony Zhu, Jaeden Izik-Dzurko, and Maxim Lando in intimate, admission-free recitals that showcased extraordinary rising talent.
The festival also launched its new music and wellness program with a day-long symposium at the CIA at Copia, exploring the transformative power of music on health and well-being. The event featured a keynote by neuroscientist and bestselling author Dr. Daniel J. Levitin, expert-led panels on brain health, stress reduction, and youth mental health, a Festival Live! performance, and a screening of Ennio, celebrating the life and legacy of Ennio Morricone. Morricone’s music was also honored during Maria Manetti Celebrates La Dolce Vita! at Charles Krug and Castello di Amorosa.
Festival Napa Valley’s 20th anniversary season next summer promises to be even more spectacular. Passes for the Patron Experience (July 10-19, 2026) are on sale and will sell out quickly. Reserve your spot now!