The Palace Sessions: A welcome return of the Southwell Music Festival’s Vocal Apprentice Quartet
This October, Southwell Music Festival welcomes back its 2026 Vocal Apprentices for the first of a new series of concerts in the State Chamber.
Visiting Southwell Music Festival 2026? Essential Festival information
Southwell Music Festival 2026 opens on Friday 28 August, with four days of sensational live music across venues in the town.
If you’re coming to the Festival (or maybe you still need to book your tickets), here’s the essential information you need to make the most of your Southwell Music Festival weekend. We can’t wait to welcome you to the Festival!
Visit the Festival Hub
The Festival Hub is this year located at Trebeck Hall on Bishop’s Drive (What3Words: founders.fall.valuables). At the Festival Hub you can:
- Buy tickets for concerts, including tickets for this year’s Christmas Celebration concert
- Buy your souvenir programme book and browse the range of Festival merchandise
- Festival Friends can buy tickets to the Sunday Friends’ Reception event
- Meet our volunteer Festival Makers, who are here to answer your questions and help make the 2026 Festival as brilliant as ever
Festival Hub opening times are:
Wednesday 26 August: 9am – 5pm
Thursday 27 August: 9am – 5pm
Friday 28 August: 9am – 9.30pm
Saturday 29 August: 8:45am – 10pm
Sunday 30 August: 9am – 7.30pm
Monday 31 August: 8:45am – 2pm
Food and Drink in the Festival Marquee
The Festival Marquee – to be found in the beautiful surroundings of the Palace Gardens – is a popular meeting place for audiences and performers alike.
This year, the Marquee will be serving drinks, including tea and coffee, plus light snacks such as sandwiches, salads, pizza and pastries. If you’re coming to an evening concert in the Minster you can also book a pre-concert evening meal through our Meals in the Marquee offer. Each evening there is a set menu with a vegan and gluten-free option available. Meals must be booked in advance.
Marquee opening times are:
Friday 28 August: 11am – 11pm
Saturday 29 August: 11am – 11pm
Sunday 30 August: 11am – 9pm (closed 12.30 – 3pm for concert)
Monday 31 August: 11am – 4pm (with free Festival Fringe performance with Halictus Jazz Ensemble at 1pm & 2.50pm)
There are also coffee shops, restaurants and pubs in and around Southwell. Opening times vary. Please contact venues directly to book.
Support the Festival Fringe
The Festival Fringe is a selection of free performances taking place across the Festival. No booking is required, just turn up.
Young Musicians Showcase
Friday 28 August, 2pm, Southwell Methodist Church
Masterclass
Saturday 29 August, 10am, Southwell Methodist Church
Music for Ceramics in Southwell
Sunday 30 August, 10am – 4.30pm, Market Square
Nottingham Young Musicians of the Year
Monday 31 August, 11am, Southwell Methodist Church
Halictus Jazz Ensemble
Monday 31 August, 1pm & 2.50pm, Festival Marquee
Don’t miss the free Festival Fringe
The free Festival Fringe brings even more music to Southwell, this year raising money for Framework, in memory of Barry Clark.
This year you can enjoy the following Festival Fringe performances:
Young Musicians Showcase | Friday 28 August, 2pm | Southwell Methodist Church
Our first Fringe performance puts local young musicians front and centre. Come and support the stars of the future. This year’s showcase features:
- Amisa Kuroda, violin
- Kani Lam, piano
- Clarice Leung, clarinet
Masterclass | Saturday 29 August, 10am | Southwell Methodist Church
In our annual Masterclass, Festival artists share their skills and knowledge as they coach talented young musicians. This year’s participants are:
- Sebastian Caulton, violin
- Amelia Durdy, flute
- Fern Syson-Page, soprano
Music for Ceramics in Southwell | Sunday 30 August, 10am – 4.30pm | Market Square
Local musicians will provide music to accompany the Ceramics Fair – classical, jazz and folk musicians will be playing throughout the day. This year’s performers are:
- Grand Central Chorus
- Quintessential
- Klezmer Tanz
- Cantamus
Nottingham Young Musicians of the Year | Monday 31 August, 11am | Southwell Methodist Church
This showcase celebrates two of the finalists from this year’s Nottingham Young Musician of the Year competition. Ananya Jayaram, who studies at the Junior Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, won this year’s vocal competition, and will be joined by Louis Millar who plays trumpet in the National Youth Orchestra.
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear two of our region’s finest young musicians – both names to watch for the future!
Halictus Jazz Ensemble | Monday 31 August, 1pm & 2.50pm | Festival Marquee
Back by popular request, Nottingham-based Halictus Jazz Ensemble return to the Festival, blending classic and contemporary styles of jazz and blues for two performances in the relaxed surroundings of the Festival Marquee.
In memory of Geoffrey Bond
It is with great sadness that we share the news of the death of Geoffrey Bond, one of our patrons.
Geoffrey was integral in helping Marcus Farnsworth, our Artistic Director, set up Southwell Music Festival in 2014. He was the founding benefactor and the first Chair of the Festival Trustees.
Since then, he has continued to support and advise us until the final weeks of his life, when he helped us secure a large donation for next year’s Festival. He personally financially supported the apprenticeship scheme and annually sponsored the Festival.
He and his wife Dianora have held numerous fundraising events and supported the Festival in countless ways over the years. He told Marcus recently that Southwell Music Festival was one of the projects in his life that brought him the most joy. We are hugely indebted to him. Southwell Music Festival would not be where it is without his generosity and guidance.
Our condolences go to his wife and family, and our deep gratitude to Geoffrey for his patronage and stewardship of Southwell Music Festival since its inception.
Amanda Farr
Chair of Trustees
Southwell Music Festival
Join us for a special piano event in June
We welcome renowned pianist and great friend of the Festival, Libby Burgess, to Southwell for a special event to unveil the Festival’s new piano.
We are delighted to unveil our brand new piano – a Kawai GX5 – which now resides in Southwell Minster’s historic and beautiful State Chamber.
To celebrate, we invite you to join pianist Libby Burgess, along with Festival Founder and Artistic Director, Marcus Farnsworth, to introduce you to this beautiful new instrument, which was made possible by a grant from Newark and Sherwood District Council through the UK government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund.
Join us on Friday 19 June for an exquisite evening of music to celebrate this exciting new development for Southwell Music Festival. Tickets go on sale on Monday 18 May.
Tickets are priced at £40 (front) or £30 (rear) and include a glass of wine on arrival. Drinks at 7pm, for a 7.30pm performance.
Food & Drink at the 2026 Festival
Meals in the Marquee
Coming to this year’s Festival and want to book a pre-concert dinner?
Meals in the Marquee is back, offering an affordable two-course buffet-style pre-concert dinner before our evening concerts (Friday, Saturday and Sunday).
A gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan option is available each day, and all meals need to be booked and paid for in advance via our online ticket office. Book meals in advance via our online box office. Meals can also be booked in advance by calling the Box Office on 01636 330014.
We recommend that you arrive promptly at the start time to join the queue for the buffet (please note the times are slightly different for each day).
Seating is unreserved, around tables of 10. If you are coming in a large group and wish to sit together, please email us in advance at boxoffice@southwellmusicfestival.com
Please note that Festival Friends can book Meals in the Marquee during their Priority Booking periods. Public Booking opens on Monday 9 June.
What’s on the menu?
Friday 28 August, 5.45 – 6.45pm
Steak & Ale Pie or Creamy Mushroom & Leek pie (vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free)
served with Buttery Mash, Green Beans & Rich Onion Gravy
Eton Mess Pot Dessert
Saturday 29 August, 6.15 – 7.15pm
Chicken Stew or Sweet Potato & Mixed Bean Stew (vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free)
served with New Potatoes, Roasted Courgettes, Leeks & Peas
Chocolate Brownie Sundae Pot Dessert
Sunday 30 August, 6.15 – 7.15pm
Cottage Pie or Lentil & Root Vegetable Cottage Pie (vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free)
served with Steamed Greens & Maple & Thyme Roasted Chantenay Carrots
Vanilla Cheesecake Pot Dessert
Food & Drink during the day
Opens 11am Friday 28 August – Monday 31 August
Sandwich Selection ∙ Salad Selection ∙ Homemade Sweet Bakes
Pipers Crisps ∙ Fruit Pots
Cornish Pasties ∙ Sausage Rolls
Ice Cream Tubs
Pizza
Open Call – An opportunity to perform at Southwell Music Festival
Applications are now open for two exciting performance opportunities at this year’s Southwell Music Festival.
Masterclass for young musicians
In our annual Masterclass, world-class Festival Artists share their skills and knowledge as they coach young, talented musicians in front of an enthusiastic and supportive audience. Young musicians (aged 19 years or younger) of Grade 8 standard or equivalent are encouraged to apply for this amazing opportunity.
This year’s Masterclass will take place at Southwell Methodist Church at 10am on Saturday 29 August.
If you are a young musician and would like to apply to be considered for this unique experience, please complete the application form by 9am on Friday 22 May 2026.
Music at Ceramics in Southwell
Every year, the Festival invites amateur musicians and ensembles to provide musical entertainment between 10am and 4.30pm to accompany the large crowds at Ceramics in Southwell in the Market Square. This year’s event takes place on Sunday 30 August.
Whether you’re a brass band, a jazz trio, a small choir, or a folk band, we’d love to hear from you. We aim for a mixture of styles and genres throughout the day and can offer performance slots of 30-45 minutes per ensemble. This is not a paid opportunity, as we will be raising money for our chosen local charity, Framework, during this event.
If you would like to apply to be considered for this exciting opportunity, please complete the application form by 9am on Friday 22 May 2026.
If you have any questions about either opportunity, please email manager@southwellmusicfestival.com.
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.
