2028

44 new ensembles selected for MERITAcubed

The MERITA Platform has selected 44 new ensembles for MERITAcubed, the second edition of the European collaboration project that supports young chamber music ensembles in developing their international careers.

From 113 applications representing 39 different nationalities, the MERITA Artistic Committee made the final selection. The committee consists of Jonathan Aner, Simone Gramaglia, Viviane Hagner, Hila Karni, Bjørg Lewis and Alexander Pavlovsky.

At the String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam, we are particularly delighted about the selection of the Dutch Otilka Quartet.

2026

No flowers, but trees

As a major festival, we are mindful of our ecological footprint. That is why we do not give flowers to musicians after the concerts. Instead, we invest in a lasting gesture by taking part in the European Festivals Forest. Together with other European festivals, we contribute to the planting of new forests. For this initiative, we work in collaboration with Land og Skógur, the Icelandic Forest Service. A sustainable alternative to the traditional moment of applause — with long-term impact and positive effects on climate and biodiversity.

2026

Visit our festival restaurant

Located in the Atrium – upper floor of the Muziekgebouw – our festival catering part¬ner Keukengeheimen prepares delicious, healthy dishes with love during the whole fes¬tival. Here, you’ll also meet all our quartet musicians, other music addicts and the festi¬val team. The menu changes every day. Just drop in for a quick lunch, a relaxed dinner, or a shot of coffee from De Koffiekar with a slice of homemade cake. Open daily from 10.30 - 20.30

2026 Fr 30 Jan

GRASS ROOTS

Curious about the up-and-coming string quartets? Meet the three 1st prize winners at our GRASS ROOTS programme on 30 January: Poiesis Quartet (Banff International String Quartet Competition), Opus13 Quartet (Wigmore Hall String Quartet Competition) and Erinys Quartet (Trondheim String Quartet Competition).

2026

Enjoy the festival for a couple of days...

Are you planning to visit the upcoming String Quartet Biennale with a Day Pass? Attending one of the Late Beethoven concerts? Or making your visit to the Biennale a multi-day experience? We’ve partnered with three beautiful Amsterdam hotels to offer you an exclusive 10% discount. Take advantage of our special hotel deals now!

2026 Extending String Quartet Fr 30 Jan

The ultimate language of music

A sunny, crisp November day, trees glowing in autumn colours, a city centre bustling with shoppers, and a café tucked into the side of a concert hall: this is where we meet violinist Olivia Scheepers, founder of the Belinfante Quartet. After nearly ten years of carving out their musical path, this quartet — with members from all corners of Europe — has become an indispensable part of Dutch musical life. Their hallmark: concerts built around a theme that touches the listener’s soul. Alongside works by composers from the traditional quartet canon, they always cherish attention for “forgotten” composers — often women, and sometimes from unexpected corners of the world where one would not immediately expect the inventor of a string quartet, such as Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

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Signum Quartett violist Xandi van Dijk on Bridge the chasms that divide

On Sunday, 25 January at 20:15, the Signum Quartett will perform the evening concert at the fifth String Quartet Biennale. Violist Xandi van Dijk of the quartet introduces the special programme Bridge the chasms that divide, which they have put together for this occasion.

2026

Festive 5th edition of String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam

The world's best performers played their hearts out for eight days at the fifth edition of the String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam. With 15,000 visitors, more than 30 string quartets from around the world, 12 world premieres and 3 Dutch premieres, it was a huge celebration for string quartet fans and curious listeners alike. Save the date for the next edition: 29 January to 5 February 2028. Sign up for the newsletter and follow us on social media!

2026

The line-up for 2026 is set

The fifth edition of the String Quartet Biennale will take place from January 24th through January 31st, 2026. That may seem far away, but it’s closer than you think. The programming for this jubilee edition has now been completed and the brochure texts have been written. Preparations for the start of ticket sales on Tuesday, March 25th, 2025, are already in full swing. We can’t wait to share all our plans with you. We’ve already taken the first step: the line-up for our next festival is set. Let the anticipation begin!

Merita

MERITA Concerts

Our SQBA Residency is a leading partner of the European Union-supported MERITA platform. MERITA is an initiative founded by Le Dimore del Quartetto aiming to nurture and promote young Europe-based string quartets while promoting cultural heritage. During the first half of 2025 we present ten concerts by young European string quartets in historic venues spread throughout the Netherlands. We are delighted to share these concerts with you.

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Featured: Early Haydn

Every morning at 9:30 a.m. you can listen to one of the six amazing opus 20 quartets by Joseph Haydn at the Muziekgebouw. The morning ritual lasts up to 45 minutes. During that time, you'll listen to a Haydn string quartet and a piece by a contemporary composer, wildly exciting.

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For the newcomer

Don't know the String Quartet Biennale yet? If so, an hour of music by the Marmen Quartet is an absolute must. These players are researchers on their instruments and tell a true musical story.

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Featured: Danish String Quartet

Four friends with great talent and an insatiable hunger for music: the players of the Danish String Quartet. Their sublime ensemble playing is gaining intensity up to this day. We are immensely proud that the Danish will perform the opening concert on January 27!

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Beethoven’s late quartets

In the media retrospect

Kronos' 50 for the Future(2023) in the media

Every article about Kronos' 50 for the Future Weekend in one place.

Video

Kronos' 50FTF Video Series

In celebration of Kronos’ 50 for the Future Weekend, the String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam has produced a mini-series dedicated to the string quartet and Kronos’ revolutionary 50 for the Future project.

Video

MUSA Presentation Event

In September, we were guests at the festive conclusion of the MUSA project: a European talent development programme for young string quartets aimed at developing business knowledge and skills that are essential for their professional careers but are often lacking in their general curriculum. It is a programme that we at the String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam fully support!

50FTF

Kronos' 50 for the Future

In 2015, the Kronos Performing Arts Association launched 50 for the Future: The Kronos Learning Repertoire, an education and legacy project that has commissioned—and distributed for free—the first learning library of contemporary repertoire for string quartet. Designed expressly for the training of students and emerging professionals, fifty new works have been commissioned, and scores and parts, as well as supplemental learning materials that include recordings, videos, performance notes, and composer interviews, are available on the projects' website. Lead partner Carnegie Hall and an adventurous group of partners, including String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam, have joined forces with KPAA to support this exciting program. In collaboration with the Muziekgebouw and the Ragazze Quartet and Kronos Performing Arts Association, the String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam proudly presents Kronos' 50 for the Future Weekend on May 6 & 7 2023. An entire weekend dedicated to the embodiment of Kronos' 50 for the Future in Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ and BIMHUIS. Ten extraordinary quartets will perform all fifty new pieces in one weekend, a unique experience only available in Amsterdam.

Learning

Merita

The SQBA Residency is part of a partnership called MERITA, supported by the European Union and initiated by Le Dimore del Quartetto. MERITA is an online and offline platform that increases the visibility and circulation of emerging European string quartets while promoting European cultural heritage.

Looking back

Looking back SQBA 2022

In 2022, the largest string quartet festival in the world took place in its smallest form. With live radio broadcasts, a live stream from New York and a last minute live concert, the third edition of the String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam - The Pandemic Edition - will have its place in history as the most memorable. With warm feelings we look back at all the things that did happen.

practical information

Alternative programme

The largest string quartet festival in the world w in its smallest form - on Sunday 30 January and Sunday 6 February we will bring (live) radio broadcasts in collaboration with Dutch NPO Radio 4 / NTR.

2022

2022 Festival Cancelled

With pain in our hearts, we have decided to cancel the String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam 2022.