Festival week is underway

The annual celebration of the life and music of Worcestershire’s most famous composer is now underway, after months of planning.

The 2026 Elgar Festival is now in full swing, running until Sunday 31 May.

The festival – which was launched in 2018 – was established by decree of Worcester City Council and is traditionally held on the weekend closest to Elgar’s birthday, 2 June 1857.

The music of the festival’s namesake is the centrepiece of a busy programme of 27 events across 15 different venues with 3 pre-festival events including the relaxed concerts already having taken place. The full breadth of Elgar’s work is now being showcased, including songs, miniatures, chamber music and choral anthems alongside his most beloved orchestral masterpieces.

Kenneth Woods, Artistic Director of the Elgar Festival said : “We are delighted and excited that this year’s Elgar Festival is now here, a week of the best of British music, played in the heart of Elgar country.  The 2026 Elgar Festival really is a once in a lifetime celebration.  Come along and enjoy it with us!

Some of the highlights for 2026 include:

• At the heart of the festival is the Gala Concert by the English Symphony Orchestra and the Elgar Festival Chorus at Worcester Cathedral on Saturday 30 May at 7.30pm;
• Throughout the festival, The Guildhall in Worcester, has an exhibition on display of Elgar memorabilia on loan from prestigious private collections;
• Performances by Chamber Orchestras;
• Recitals by world renowned performers including April Fredrick;
• Several participatory events including ‘Come and Play Elgar’ and a Young Singers Masterclass;
• There are several free events, relaxed concerts, choral events, a film screening, Q and As, a guided walk and a performance partnership with students from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

Set in the composer’s hometown and surrounding areas the festival is an annual celebration of Elgar’s music spanning symphonic and string orchestra concerts by the resident English Symphony Orchestra, along with chamber concerts, choral concerts, recitals, workshops, masterclasses, street performances, a young composers competition, exhibits, tours and talks.

Since its inauguration in 2018, when it was a Critic’s Pick in both The Guardian and The Times, the festival has doubled in size and scale and continues to grow annually through an innovative development programme of appealing and accessible events, working with hundreds of both internationally renowned professional artists and amateur musicians and performers of all ages to ensure Elgar really is for everyone.

This year’s festival will bring together world-class professional musicians and artists alongside local choirs and ensembles placing the music of Worcester’s most famous son alongside that of his contemporaries and some of today’s leading composers and arrangers.

For a full list of events, costs and booking information, please visit www.elgarfestival.org.