Kate Bush, Waldo Williams and a new Opera: One month until Musicfest Aberystwyth 2026

Musicfest is a world-class music festival and summer school based in the seaside town of Aberystwyth, Mid Wales. Now in it’s 39th year, it’s the largest arts festival in Ceredigion, attracting audiences from Wales and the world to experience a wealth of high quality international musicians, tutors and incredible local talents. This years festival promises something different, as it focuses on the theme of ‘childhood’.

Iwan Teifion Davies, Artistic Director of Musicfest Aberystwyth, said: “Musicians and artists across the globe have been responding to the theme of childhood for centuries, and I thought it was a perfect theme for Musicfest 2026. It allows us to showcase the variety of music and events that we programme at our Festival, and it’s a theme we can all relate to. It’s also an opportunity to introduce children and young people to a wealth of musical experiences here in mid Wales.”

With over 20 concerts, daily workshops and masterclasses taking place at Aberystwyth Arts Center, as well as other venues in the town from the 18 – 25th of July, this years programme includes a real variety of musical experiences. It kicks off with an opening concert by Welsh pianist Llŷr Williams. During the week audiences can experience a Welsh harp and medieval song concert by Ceri O Jones and local poet Eurig Salisbury, Children’s Songs with Paul Turner, a new jazz set responding to the Children’s Poems by Welsh poet Waldo Williams performed by Welsh trumpeter Tomos Williams, singer Eadyth Crawford and Mererid Hopwood, Solem Quaret and Alice Zawadzki’s performance of music by Kate Bush and Steve Reich, Tir na N’og the grand finale with Philomusica, Sinfonia Cymru, and local choir Côr ABC who perform David de Lloyd’s forgotten masterpiece The Land of Youth... and much more!

One of the Festival highlights this year will be a special performance of a new opera based on the popular storybook ‘The Railway Children’. Arranged by Mark Anthony-Turnage, and performed by the Welsh National Opera, a cast of professional singers and a chorus of students from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. This is the second ever performance of this opera, following the launch at Glyndebourne in 2025. This is the first opportunity to experience it here in Wales with a wealth of Welsh talents.

To ensure that children and young people from Ceredigion and the surrounding areas can enjoy and access the Festival this summer, Musicfest has announced free tickets to all events for all under 25s.

“Musicfest is proud to support young people and inspire the next generation of musicians and music lovers. Our Musicfest summer school runs across the festival week and offers world-class masterclasses for music students to develop thier talents. We programme daily student showcases to allow young musicians to showcase their talents, we programme exceptional young musicians from Wales and the world and give them the opportunity to build their confidence alongside world-class muscians, and our free tickets scheme for under 25’s ensures that all young people from Ceredigion and the area can access and experience it all without cost being a barrier.” Joan Rowlands, Musicfest Festival Manager.

All free tickets for Musicfest are available from the Aberystwyth Arts Center Box Office, and can be booked in person or by calling the Box Office team on 01970 612 034.

To view the full Musicfest programme and to book tickets for over 25’s, including the Festival Pass, visit www.musicfestaberystwyth.org. Keep up to date with the latest news on Musicfest’s Facebook and Instagram pages.