Bludenz (German pronunciation: [ˈbluːdɛnt͡s] ⓘ; Alemannic: Bludaz) is a town in the westernmost Austrian state of Vorarlberg with around 15,000 inhabitants.

Bludenz lies at the meeting point of five valleys: Walgau and Montafon (Ill), Brandnertal, Klostertal up to Arlberg Pass, and Großes Walsertal.

[4] Archaeological finds indicate that settlement in the area of Bludenz began in the Bronze Age,[5] and continued throughout the La Tène era.

A stay by the Habsburg Duke Frederick IV of Austria, who had just received an imperial ban at the Council of Constance, is documented from 30 March 1416.

It was founded by Hans Peter Frick, later artistic directors were Georg Friedrich Haas, Wolfram Schurig and Alexander Moosbrugger and the young Italian composer, Clara Iannotta, who been responsible for the programme since 2014.