Entertainment
24 July, 2026
Talented muso back ‘home’
INTERNATIONALLY- acclaimed pianist Piers Lane returns to Far North Queensland as the Australian Festival of Chamber Music begins its first year in Cairns.
Raised in Queensland with family connections to Innisfail, Mr Lane will perform across the festival from 24 July to 1 August, marking what organisers describe as a homecoming after a career that has taken him to some of the world’s leading concert halls.
He is a professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London, an Officer of the Order of Australia, artistic director of the Sydney International Piano Competition and a former artistic director of the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, leading the event for 11 years.
His career has included performances at London’s Wigmore Hall, five appearances at the BBC Proms, concerts at New York’s Carnegie Hall and performances in more than 40 countries. He has also recorded more than 70 albums and presented more than 100 programs for BBC Radio 3.
Festival audiences will see Mr Lane perform in a range of concerts throughout the week, including ‘A Tale of Two’, where he will join current artistic director Jack Liebeck in a recital celebrating friendship, legacy and the transition between artistic directors.
He will also appear in ‘Epoch Echoes’, the ‘Ray Golding Sunset Series’, ‘Festival Conversations’ and a series of chamber music performances.
Artistic director Jack Liebeck said welcoming Mr Lane back to the festival was one of the highlights of the 2026 program.
“Piers is woven into the fabric of this festival. His vision helped shape AFCM into one of the world’s great chamber music festivals, and his artistry continues to inspire audiences and musicians alike. To have him return as the festival begins its exciting new chapter in Cairns is incredibly special.”
The festival says the move to Cairns will see the city host musicians from around the world, with performances staged during the nine-day event.
The festival runs from 24 July to 1 August across three venues in the Cairns CBD.
