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LinkedinThe Oxford International Song Festival returns this autumn for its 25th anniversary, transforming some of Oxford’s most beautiful venues into stages for an extraordinary celebration of love, song and poetry.
The Oxford International Song Festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, with a thrilling programme devoted to love in all its forms – from joy and passion to complexity, heartbreak and the creative force that has inspired generations of composers and poets.
Taking place from Friday 9 to Saturday 24 October 2026, the Festival features 59 events, bringing together some of the world’s leading singers, musicians and performers for two weeks of exceptional music in the unique surroundings of Oxford.
When is Oxford International Song Festival 2026?
The Oxford International Song Festival takes place from Friday 9 to Saturday 24 October 2026, with performances and events held across a range of historic and contemporary venues.
The 25th anniversary edition opens on Friday 9 October with a recital from Dame Sarah Connolly, which also marks the Festival’s first event at the newly opened Schwarzman Centre.
The following evening, acclaimed baritone Matthias Goerne makes his Festival debut with Schubert’s Winterreise at the Olivier Hall.
Who’s performing at Oxford International Song Festival 2026?
The anniversary programme brings together an impressive roster of internationally renowned artists, including Carolyn Sampson, Benjamin Appl, Katie Bray, Roderick Williams, Alice Coote, Katharina Ruckgaber, Johannes Kammler, Camilla Tilling, Sarah Maria Sun, Anna Prohaska and Christoph Prégardien.
They are joined by leading pianists including Joseph Middleton, Tamara Stefanovich, James Baillieu and Pauliina Tukiainen, alongside Festival Artistic Director Sholto Kynoch.
There are also appearances from celebrated performers including Dame Imogen Cooper, who performs Hugo Wolf’s Italienisches Liederbuch as part of her final concert season before retirement, while Juliane Banse returns for a unique performance combining Mozart songs and piano music with dance.
Elsewhere, Alice Coote and Julius Drake present an imaginative programme ranging from David Bowie to Mozart, while Louise Alder and Joseph Middleton explore the passing of the year in a programme featuring Helen Grime’s Seasons, written specifically for the duo in 2025.
What are the highlights of Oxford International Song Festival 2026?
The Festival’s 25th anniversary programme features a number of exciting premieres, including Marriage of…?, a new work by Associate Composer Emily Hazrati and librettist Nazli Tabatabai-Khatambahksh, performed by Nardus Williams.
Katy Thomson and Rustam Khanmurzin premiere a new work by John Webb, exploring the corrupting nature of power, while Anna Dennis and John Reid present The Silent Songs of Josefine, a bold Kafka-inspired work by Can Bilir.
Schubert takes centre stage over the Festival’s central weekend on 17 and 18 October, with Graham Johnson continuing his landmark exploration of the composer’s final years, 200 years on.
Other Schubert highlights include Camilla Tilling performing the composer’s Rückert settings and Helen Charlston performing Die Schöne Müllerin, both with Sholto Kynoch.
Sarah Maria Sun also performs Der Hirt auf dem Felsen with pianist Jan Philip Schulze and clarinettist Julian Bliss.
The Festival’s programme stretches far beyond traditional song recitals, too, with choral music, dance, chamber works, discussions and study events adding to the line-up.
Instrumental highlights include performances from the Carducci String Quartet, guitarists Bryan Brenner and Václav Fuksa, and accordionist Murray Grainger.
New Generation Artists and rising stars
The Festival also shines a spotlight on the next generation of musical talent.
Eight Oxford Song Young Artist duos will perform short showcase slots ahead of headline evening recitals during the first week, before taking part in the Festival’s residential Mastercourse during the second week.
Led by Jan Philip Schulze, the Mastercourse includes daily public masterclasses, offering audiences the chance to see emerging artists develop their craft alongside established names.
On Wednesday 21 October, the New Generation Day presents three concerts in partnership with the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists scheme, with all three performances recorded for future broadcast.
Performers include baritone Andrew Hamilton with pianist Michael Pandya, soprano Erika Baikoff with Sholto Kynoch, and Konstantin Krimmel with Ammiel Bushakevitz, performing a programme that includes Vaughan Williams’ Songs of Travel.
Where does Oxford International Song Festival take place?
Part of the Festival’s appeal is its extraordinary collection of venues, taking audiences from historic Oxford concert halls to contemporary spaces and spectacular countryside surroundings.
Performances take place at the Holywell Music Room – Europe’s oldest purpose-built concert hall – as well as the Levine Building and Olivier Hall.
For the first time, the Festival also ventures into spaces within the newly opened Schwarzman Centre, while selected performances take place at Garsington Studios at the Wormsley Estate.
Together, the venues provide a suitably grand setting for two weeks of world-class song and music.
How much are tickets for Oxford International Song Festival 2026?
Despite its international line-up, the Festival is keeping tickets accessible, with thousands of tickets priced under £20.
There are also discounts for multiple bookings, while £10 tickets are available for under-35s.
Public booking opens on Wednesday 20 May, with tickets available online at oxfordsong.org or through the Box Office on 01865 591276.
In partnership with Oxford International Song Festival
Oxford International Song Festival has built an international reputation for celebrating classical song through world-class concerts, artist development, education, and new music. Its annual festival brings together more than 200 artists for over 70 events across Oxford, while its Young Artist, Schools, and commissioning programmes nurture the next generation of talent and audiences.
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