Southwell Music Festival returns for four days of world-class music in August, with Isata Kanneh-Mason as 2026 Artist-in-Residence
Southwell Music Festival returns this August, filling the Nottinghamshire town with music for all to enjoy from Friday 28 – Monday 31 August.
A mainstay in the Nottinghamshire cultural calendar, the Festival welcomes professional musicians and performers from across the UK as well as shining a spotlight on the best of Nottinghamshire’s home-grown talent.
The full four-day Festival line-up will be revealed at a free Launch Concert on Friday 15 May at Southwell Minster. The concert is open to everyone. Reserve your free tickets online
In the meantime, here’s a preview of some of this year’s highlights.
Isata Kanneh-Mason – Artist-in-Residence
Acclaimed pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason will be the Festival’s 2026 Artist-in-Residence. An artist in demand across the world, there will be multiple opportunities to hear Isata perform across the weekend.
On the Friday evening, Isata joins the Festival Sinfonia for a performance of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 27. This masterpiece of elegance and charm will be performed in the awe-inspiring setting of the Southwell Minster Nave.
Isata will also be performing in the more intimate setting of Southwell Minster’s State Chamber, with two opportunities to enjoy this concert on both Saturday and Sunday. Thanks to recent funding from Newark and Sherwood District Council through the UK government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund, the Festival has been able to purchase a new grand piano for the Minster’s State Chamber, and Isata will be one of the first of many artists to put the piano through its paces.
A Night at the Opera
Favourites from the opera and theatre repertoire take centre stage on Saturday night, as audiences are invited to join the Festival Voices and Artistic Director Marcus Farnsworth for A Night at the Opera. Experience the high drama, joy and emotions of some of the greatest music written for the stage.
Brahms’ Requiem
On Sunday evening, the Festival Voices and Festival Sinfonia join forces to fill the Minster Nave with glorious sound with a performance of Brahms’ Requiem. This cornerstone of the choral repertoire is conducted by Marcus Farnsworth, and features stellar soloists Anna Dennis (winner of the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Singer award in 2023) and baritone Gareth Brynmor John, with Southwell Minster providing the perfect setting for this profoundly moving meditation on love, loss and hope.
Music for all to enjoy
The ever-popular Come and Sing returns on Monday, with singers of all abilities invited to come together to perform works by Mendelssohn alongside professional soloists and the Festival Sinfonia.
2026 also sees the return of the Saturday afternoon Musical Picnic. Families and friends can come together to enjoy music, performed by professional and amateur musicians and community groups in the Minster’s Palace Gardens. The Relaxed Concert also returns to the programme, offering an opportunity to experience classical music in an informal setting. All are welcome, including families with children, people with sensory and communication impairments or learning disabilities, and those who are neurodiverse.
And once again, the Festival Fringe is back with free performances in venues and outdoor locations across Southwell. Local musicians, groups, and ensembles can apply to perform as part of the Fringe, and information about the Fringe Open Call will be released soon.
We are thrilled to be joined by the outstanding Isata Kanneh-Mason for what promises to be another fantastic year for the Festival. Southwell is the perfect festival destination, and we can’t wait to welcome locals and visitors alike to our beautiful town for four days of unforgettable music.
Marcus Farnsworth, Southwell Music Festival Artistic Director
Public Booking opens on Monday 18 May. Festival Friends enjoy Priority Booking for all concerts and events, which this year will open prior to the Launch Concert. Join the Festival Friends from just £50 per year, or £35 per year for under-35s.
The Rural England Prosperity Fund aims to improve productivity and strengthen the rural economy and rural communities.
