MAfestival / Flanders Festival Bruges was founded in 1963 and is now one of world's most famous early music festivals. It focuses on the historical informed practice of early music and is currently leading in terms of renewing and extending the concept. Besides an international ten-day festival marked by a selection of the world's most exciting performers, MAfestival Bruges also organizes lectures and classes about the subject, a competition for young musicians and an exposition that focuses on historical instruments, instruments made to historical examples and musical accessories.