Formula 1 and opera come together at the Red Bull Ring: In 2026, the highest echelon of motorsport and the pinnacle of musical culture will combine to create a unique audience experience. Jonas Kaufmann will perform live in front of F1 fans at Spielberg.
The drivers contesting this year’s Austrian Grand Prix will line up on the start-finish straight behind internationally acclaimed star tenor Jonas Kaufmann as he sings the Austrian national anthem – Land der Berge – accompanied by the talented East Tyrolean ensemble Musicbanda Franui.
German-Austrian opera star at Spielberg
Having performed at all the world’s major opera houses and concert halls, Munich-born Jonas Kaufmann is one of the world’s most sought-after singers. During the current season, his major roles have included the painter Mario Cavaradossi in Puccini’s ‘Tosca’ in Zurich and Paris. In early 2026, he made his stage debut at the Vienna State Opera as Eisenstein in Johann Strauss’s ‘Die Fledermaus’. The German-born adoptive Austrian has been living in Salzburg since 2022 and has been artistic director of the Tyrolean Festival Erl since 2024.
East Tyrolean ensemble set to make big impression on world stage
Hailing from the small East Tyrolean village of Innervillgraten, the ten-piece Musicbanda Franui has been performing for 33 years with a virtually unchanged line-up at venues throughout Europe, including the Berlin State Opera, the Salzburg Festival and the Philharmonie de Paris. The ensemble has gained international renown for its reinterpretations of classical music. On 28th June, the musicians will be blending Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the national anthem and the ‘World Voice’ of Jonas Kaufmann.
