Elgar Festival 2026: Sat 23 May – Sun 31 May
Save the dates!
The 2026 Elgar Festival sees us truly reaching for the stars. To see what’s on offer and save the dates click here.
Full details and booking coming soon.
‘Every year, on the weekend closest to the date of his birth, we celebrate the life and music of Britain’s greatest composer, Sir Edward Elgar, with an immersive, accessible and engaging week of concerts, exhibits, talks, films and more. Our motto is “Elgar for Everyone”, and from relaxed concerts to family events, free performances in iconic building and walks on the Malverns, to world-class performances by our resident orchestra, the English Symphony Orchestra in Worcester Cathedral. There’s also plenty of opportunity to take part – Come and Play Elgar, join the Elgar Festival Chorus, be coached in our Young Strings Masterclass or enter our renowned young Composer Competition – the Elgar Festival has something for everybody in our community.
Our featured composer this year is 97-year-old icon of British music, Thea Musgrave, whose music abounds in colour, emotion, drama and impact. We hear Elgar’s last major orchestral work, the beloved Cello Concerto, alongside his first, The Black Knight. As always we welcome a team of some of the best musicians in the world to Worcester for the week, including Robert Hollingworth and I Fagiolini, oboist Nicholas Daniel, pianist and composer Huw Watkins, violist Rosalind Ventris alongside classic FM presenter Zeb Soanes, world renowned Elgar record producer Andrew Keener and many more. I can’t wait to give that first upbeat – please join us!’
Kenneth Woods, Artistic Director
Take Part!
Young Composers' Competition
We have launched the 2026 Elgar Festival Young Composers’ Competition, and we want your entries!
This is a fabulous opportunity for young composers to have their music played at next year’s festival in May; perfect for students studying GCSE or A Level music or for any young entrepreneurial composers out there!
Elgar Festival Chorus
Calling all singers! Would you like to join the 2026 Elgar Festival Chorus to perform Elgar’s symphony/cantata The Black Knight on Sat 30 May at the festival Gala concert in Worcester Cathedral?
For more information, rehearsal dates and details of how to apply click below.
Come and Play
Love to play Elgar? Following the success of our previous Come and Play events, we’re once more welcoming amateur musicians from all over the country on Sat 9 May for a day of rehearsals and an informal performance in Malvern. This year we turn to two of Elgar’s most loved and challenging overtures, ‘In The South’ and ‘Froissart’.
Young Strings Masterclass
This free public masterclass, held in the inspirational surroundings of Elgar’s Birthplace, offers 6 talented young string players the opportunity to work with Nick Trygstad (Head of Strings at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire), with focus on technique and interpretation.
© Michael Whitefoot
Past Festival Highlights
2023
2022