Britain’s Very Best Classical Music Festivals To Book This Summer
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3 minutes ago
From a London park to a countryside abode
From the rolling hills of Somerset to the Cornish coast, Britain knows how to do a music festival. But if you prefer a string quartet to a pop hit, you’ll be glad to know classical music also flourishes across a host of summer festivals up and down the country. Here’s the C&TH pick of the best.
Best Classical Music Festivals UK 2026
Grange Park Opera, Surrey Hills
Close to London but blessed with a breath of country air, Grange Park Opera is a highlight in the summer calendar. It’s a formal affair with a smart dress code: no shorts allowed, and most guests opt for black tie. In 2026, four productions are on the agenda: John Tavener’s Krishna, Richard Wagner’s Das Rheingold, Giuseppe Verdi’s Don Carlo and Gioachino Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia. All are staged in the five-tier opera house The Theatre in the Woods in the grounds of the Grade I listed manor house West Horsley Place. Guests are invited to arrive two hours prior to curtain to have a snoop around the historic walled gardens, sun-dappled woodland and 300-year-old orchard, champagne in hand. In the Long Interval (100 mins), the historic house is the place to be, where a three-course meal is served amid magnificent interiors. Or opt for a picnic hamper, which you can pre-order online, too, or BYO (we’re partial to these ones).
Details: 2 June to 12 July 2026 at The Theatre in the Woods (West Horsley Place, Epsom Road, West Horsley, Leatherhead KT24 6AN).
Garsington Opera, High Wycombe
Another opera festival near London yet wrapped in the rolling calm of the Chiltern Hills, Garsington Opera balances much-loved productions with curious rarities in its thoughtfully curated programme. Commencing at the end of May, the 2026 programme includes Giuseppe Verde’s La traviata, Richard Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier, Claudio Monteverdi’s Il ritorno d’Ulisse and Gerald Barry’s The Importance of Being Earnest. Performances take place in the light-filled, open-sided opera pavilion at the Wormsley estate, where views of the surrounding countryside drift in with the evening air. Arrive early to picnic on the lawns, wander the immaculate gardens or simply watch the sun slide behind the hills before the overture begins. In the 90 minute interval, choose the fine-dining restaurant or picnic tents and tables. Opt for an elevated terrace for views over Wormsley.
Details: 27 May to 25 July 2026 at Garsington Opera (Wormsley Estate, Stokenchurch, High Wycombe HP14 3YE). Booking opens at 10am on Tuesday 31 March 2026. Tickets start from £185, including an £80 recommended donation.
(© Ali Wright)
Opera Holland Park, London
West Londoners have the pleasure of Holland Park and its many feathered friends year-round, but come summer it’s opera not birdsong floating beneath the trees. Each three-month season delivers a mix of familiar titles and less-trodden works, sung in English and performed with a punchy theatrical immediacy that has become the company’s calling card. This time it’s Giacomo Puccini’s La fanciulla del West and his Turandot, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Così fan tutte, Giuseppe Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera, Johann Strauss II’s Die Fledermaus, plus Ryusuke Numajiri’s The Bamboo Princess in its UK premiere. Productions unfold in the open-air auditorium, where dusk and the drama deepen in sync. Arrive early to picnic on the grass, wander the park’s formal gardens or enjoy a selection of drinks, snacks and more substantial food at the two on-site bars – then take your seat as birdsong gives way to the orchestra. There is also a limited selection of special supper nights in 2026, comprising a three-course dinner in the elegant Oak Terrace, with a glass of Gusbourne Brut and a personal welcome from James Clutton, CEO of Opera Holland Park.
Details: 26 May to 8 August at Opera Holland Park Theatre (Ilchester Place, London W8 6LU). It’s one of the more affordable festivals on the calendar, with tickets starting from £65pp.
The Northern Aldborough Festival, York
Further north, Yorkshire’s picturesque village of Aldborough has put itself on the map over the last 30 years thanks to its namesake classical music festival. Spanning the village’s charming historic venues, often churches or period halls with superb acoustics, The Northern Aldborough Festival brings uber-talented musicians and world-class vocalists to a rural location where their music wouldn’t ordinarily be heard. In 2026, that includes the Orchestra of Opera North performing Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, clarinettist Emma Johnson, pianist Sarah Beth Briggs, legendary jazz great Clark Tracey and his quintet, and plenty more. Before the music commences, wander Aldborough’s quaint streets, explore local heritage sites, or enjoy a pre-performance picnic in the surrounding countryside.
Details: 18 to 27 June 2026 across Aldborough, near York. The full line-up and tickets will be revealed in due course.
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Chorus ensemble and BBC Singers conducted by Karen Ní Bhroin with Claudia Winkleman as presenter perform a Prom inspired by The Traitors as part of the BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday, 26 July 2025. (© Mark Allen)
BBC Proms, London
Often dubbed the world’s greatest classical music festival and dating back to 1895, Londoners are blessed with the BBC Proms, which takes over the Royal Albert Hall from July right through to September every year, as well as other select venues across the country. The greatest international orchestras and the very best British talent are always on the agenda, and we’re sure 2026 will be no exception, beginning and ending as always with blow-out performances in the form of The First Night of the Proms and The Last Night of the Proms. Whether you’re an experienced Prommer or a first-timer, BBC Proms also works out to be one of the cheapest ways to catch world-class music thanks to the long-standing tradition of ‘promming’: 1,000 £8 standing tickets are released to the public at 10.30am on the day of each concert, with sitting and lying on the floor not banned but encouraged. Read our full guide to the action here.
Details: 17 July to 12 September 2026 at the Royal Albert Hall (Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London SW7 2AP). The programme will be announced on 21 April, with booking open from 16 May.
Waterperry Opera Festival, Oxford
Tucked away in the Oxfordshire countryside, Waterperry Opera Festival is a jewel of the more laidback opera circuit, prized for its intimacy and adventurous spirit. Founded in 2017 with the intention of making opera accessible to all, each season champions a pair of operas (in 2026, Puccini’s La bohème and Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love) alongside recitals and concerts, often spotlighting emerging British singers and imaginative, pared-back productions. Performances take place in a purpose-built al fresco auditorium in the grounds of Waterperry Gardens, where the focus is squarely on the voices and storytelling. Leave time to roam the celebrated ornamental gardens, linger over a picnic by the lily ponds, or enjoy a glass of something cold before the lights dim. Seated dining is available at The Lawn Restaurant, as well as picnic hampers if you order more than 48 hours in advance.
Details: 7 to 16 August 2026 at Waterperry House (Waterperry, Oxford OX33 1LA). Booking opens on 31 March.
(© Graham Carlow)
Glyndebourne Festival, Lewes
Now this one’s a biggie. Dating back to 1934, Glyndebourne is at the heart of the conversation when it comes to British opera – and it’s a beloved staple in the social calendar. Set in the rolling Sussex countryside, the Festival – named for the Edwardian country house it shares its grounds with – combines world-class performances with the leisurely charm of a garden party to create the epitome of English summer elegance. And with everyone dressed to the nines in black tie, elegant it indeed is – and guests are encouraged to add an extra dollop of flair to their outfits. Each year, a programme of five or six productions showcases the finest singers, conductors and directors, spanning both beloved repertoire and occasionally adventurous rarities. In 2026, that’s Puccini’s Tosca, Rossini’s Il Turco in Italia, Monteverdi’s L’orfeo, Benjamin Britten’s Billy Budd, Richard Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos and Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail. Performances are staged in the iconic Glyndebourne Theatre, a purpose-built venue with impeccable acoustics, surrounded by sweeping lawns where audiences picnic before the overture begins. Before, enjoy a stroll through the formal gardens and a glass of champagne on the sun-dappled terraces. In the 90 minute interval, enjoy a picnic or one of a whopping four restaurants.
Details: 21 May to 30 August 2026 at Gyndebourne (New Rd, Lewes BN8 5UU; coaches are offered from Lewes station).
The Grange Festival, Alresford
Nestled in serene Hampshire, music, history and nature converge at The Grange Festival, which blends ambitious programming with world-class artistry, backdropped by a swathe of English countryside. Each season presents a mix of operatic favourites performed in the intimate, acoustically celebrated Grange Theatre, a converted 18th-century barn that retains its historic charm. In 2026, the programme boasts Puccini’s La Bohème, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, and George Frideric Handel’s Giulio Cesare alongside dance, jazz and more. Before the performance, visitors can explore the surrounding gardens and parkland or enjoy a picnic on the lawns, soaking in the calm rural atmosphere.
Details: 2 June to 12 July 2026 at The Grange (Alresford SO24 9TZ). Tickets on sale from 10 February.
Royal Albert Hall (Raphael Tomi/Unsplash)
Ministry of Sound Classical, London
If Bridgerton’s classical remixes of earworm pop anthems are your guilty pleasure, Ministry of Sound Classical is for you. Sitting between rave nostalgia and classical spectacle, two-day affair reimagines club anthems on a grand orchestral scale, drawing from the world-famous music label’s vast back catalogue. Euphoric dance tracks are reborn with the power of the 50-piece London Concert Orchestra plus sensational vocalists and a stunning laser light production.
Details: 12 and 13 June 2026 at the Royal Albert Hall (Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London SW7 2AP).
Thaxted Festival, Dunmow
Set in north-west Essex and dating back to 1912, Thaxted Festival is a long-running celebration of classical music that returns every summer to the storybook village with its medieval houses and rolling fields. In 2026, it celebrates its 40th anniversary in its modern form. The varied programme ranges from chamber music and choral works to recitals and jazz, all performed in the magnificently vast interior of the medieval church of St John the Baptist. Arrive early to wander the historic high street or climb the church tower for views across the countryside before settling in.
Details: 19 June to 12 July 2026 in Thaxted.
