About

Since its inception in 2018, the Elgar Festival has grown from a weekend to a 12 day celebration of Worcester’s most famous son set in his hometown and surrounding areas. Held annually over the week closest to Elgar’s birthday (2 June 1857) the festival combines symphonic, string orchestra and chamber concerts by the festival’s orchestra-in-residence, the English Symphony Orchestra, with choral and ensemble concerts by world renowned visiting artists, outdoor events, talks, masterclasses, film and exhibitions and the chance for hundreds of people to participate – we believe that Elgar is for everyone.

The festival provides exceptional performance opportunities for hundreds of children, young people and adults through initiatives including the Elgar for Everyone Family Concert, Young Composers Competition, Elgar Festival Chorus, and through participation in masterclasses and workshops. In addition, each year the festival celebrates the work of a featured living British composer – these have included David Matthews, Steve Elcock, Donald Fraser, Eric McElroy, and in 2025 Ian Venables – and commissions and world premieres form an important part of the programming.

There are few composers whose sense of home, community and place was as closely connected to their creative work as Elgar and it’s easy to understand how the beauty of Elgar Country – Worcestershire and the Malverns – inspired him. The Festival continues to maintain those connections, inhabiting many venues that Elgar knew well as performance spaces including Worcester Cathedral, Worcester Guildhall, Royal Porcelain Works and Museum of Royal Worcester, St. Martin in the Cornmarket, Huntingdon Hall, Cathedral Square, St Geroge’s RC, St. Martin’s London Road, Malvern Priory, and The Firs – Elgar’s Birthplace at Lower Broadheath. All our festival venues are accessible but please contact them directly if you would like to discuss specific requirements.

The Elgar Festival was The Guardian’s Crtic’s Pick in 2018 and in 2022 featured as one of the top 20 Jubilee events.