Founded by the Hungarian pianist and music professor György Sebők in 1974, it is held annually in summer between June and August.
The idea of a summer music village came about when György Sebők was travelling on holiday with his wife through the Valais Canton.
Enamored of the region, Sebök began to spend more time there, and two years later he hosted the first masterclass (Meisterkurs) for piano and chamber music.
Similarly, the festival actively promotes and supports young artists and has featured a number of recipients of the Concours Géza Anda award, a prize for emerging pianists.
Musikdorf Ernen regularly commissions compositions from composers such as Philip Glass, Alfred Zimmerlin, Ivan Jevtić, Violeta Dinescu and Helena Winkelman.