Running between Saturday 23 to Sunday 31 May across Worcester, Malvern and Pershore, The Elgar Festival has become one of the most highly anticipated and multi-faceted cultural events in the West Midlands offering a range of concerts and performing experiences accessible to everyone in addition to recitals, talks, exhibitions and guided walks, all celebrating the life and music of local legend and internationally-renowned composer, Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934).

Amongst the highlights this year is a Gala Concert in Worcester Cathedral on Saturday 30 May featuring Lionel Tertis’s viola transcription of Elgar’s Cello Concerto performed by star violist Rosalind Ventris and the English Symphony Orchestra under their Principal Conductor, Kenneth Woods. They will be joined by the Elgar Festival Chorus for a performance of the composer’s rarely heard ‘symphony for chorus and orchestra’, The Black Knight.

There will be an earlier opportunity to hear the English Symphony Orchestra (ESO) - resident ensemble at the Elgar Festival - on Friday 29 May at Worcester Cathedral, in another rousing programme entitled Great British Tone Poems, to include Elgar's ebullient Falstaff, Bax's evocative Tintagel and Holst's ever-popular The Planets Suite. On Thursday 28 May, the ESO Strings perform at Great Malvern Priory.

This year's featured composer is Thea Musgrave, the distinguished 97-year-old Scottish-American composer and one of the most respected and exciting contemporary composers in the Western world, whose work will be showcased in performances throughout the festival. 

Guest artists include oboist Nicholas Daniel and composer and pianist Huw Watkins. I Fagiolini, the British solo voice ensemble and their Director Robert Hollingworth will be making a special visit as part of their 40th anniversary tour, with tickets selling fast. Already at capacity is an evening with Julian and Jiaxin Lloyd Webber, while leading record producer Andrew Keener will be reminiscing on his work in the studio with some of the most renowned Elgar conductors and instrumentalists from the 1980s to the present day.

All concerts at the Elgar Festival offer free entry for under 18s accompanied by full-paying adults. Many other events are free-of-charge including relaxed concerts, talks, film and an exhibition.

The region's finest musicians take to the stage... 

Offering FREE admittance is a popular programme given by Worcestershire Symphony Orchestra – the orchestra co-founded by Sir Edward Elgar and which provides an inclusive opportunity for families to experience the thrill of live orchestral music in an informal and welcoming environment. Choral and song repertoire is to be performed by the region’s best-loved ensembles including The Elgar Chorale, and The Jenny Lind Singers who celebrate the works of women composers past and present.

In recital, soprano April Fredrick who, as ESO Affiliate Artist, is well-known to audiences for her many fine performances and recordings, will be joined by acclaimed composer-pianist Eric McElroy and guests to explore the World War I experiences of regional luminaries including Ivor Gurney, George Butterworth, Arthur Bliss, and Ralph Vaughan Williams.

An exciting new collaboration is to be led by Malvern-based multi-disciplinary artist Nakisha Swatton who is working with local amateur and professional musicians to create new musical portraits inspired by Elgar’s ‘Enigma Variations’.

International competition winner Roman Kosyakov brings the 2026 festival to a close in virtuosic style with a piano transcription of Elgar’s ‘Enigma Variations’.

Participatory events for musicians of all ages...

A 'Come and Play Elgar' day at Malvern College offers amateur musicians the opportunity to perform with members of the English Symphony Orchestra in two of Elgar’s most exciting and challenging overtures as part of an immersive and collaborative workshop. 

The ‘Elgar for Everyone’ Family Concert - hosted by ESO Youth’s patron, renowned broadcaster, composer and author Zeb Soanes from Classic FM - provides a perfect introduction to orchestral music for families and young music lovers. Over 100 young musicians from across Elgar Country join teachers and ESO mentors for a collaborative performance following intensive workshops, and the concert includes winning entries from the 2026 Young Composers Competition.

Participants from the Elgar Festival / Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Young Performer Showcase Programme will perform at the Church of St Mary Magdalene, NT Croome Court.