In addition to his Professorship at the world-renowned Moscow Conservatory, Bashmet's teaching and master-class activities extend throughout Europe. He traditionally spends ten days in Siena each August as Professor of Viola at the Music Academy there. In addition he has - when time has permitted - given master-classes throughout the world.

Bashmet is involved annually in two major festivals.  The first, which has been going since 1997, is a September festival on the island of Elbe - the Elbe Isola Musicale d'Europa - based around Portoferraio's Teatro Napoleonico dei Vigilante.

This festival has been so successful that Bashmet's commitment to the island was recognised in 2002 when he was made an Honorary Citizen. He brings the Moscow Soloists to the island for each festival, where they are joined by major soloists, such as violinist Gidon Kremer and cellists Mario Brunello and Natalia Gutman. In addition, Bashmet is able to bring great wind players from across Europe. 

Over 12 days there are chamber and instrumental concerts, as well as orchestral concerts. The Elbe Orchestra is created by combining the Moscow Soloists together with all the visiting instrumentalists.

At the end of the year, Bashmet is director of an equally distinctive festival in Moscow: December Nights.  

After Richter died I was asked to continue December Nights as director. It is a unique festival, as it always explores connections with pictures. We take a painting and play music from the same period, often by composers who knew the artist. We have this possibility - and to invite some great soloists - because the concerts are in the Pushkin Museum, and they can bring any painting to the hall where we play.