The world famous Three Choirs Festival returns to Gloucester from 25th July to 1st August.

The eight days will see music that celebrates Edward Elgar's enduring legacy, champions living composers, and celebrates a landmark rejuvenation of Gloucester Cathedral's organ.

Elgar

In the 75th anniversary year of the Elgar Society, audiences can hear some of the composer's best-loved works, including the 'First Symphony', 'Sea Pictures', and 'Cockaigne', with the festival closing with his choral masterpiece 'The Dream of Gerontius'.

The programme also features a special lecture and the launch of a new book, 'The Importance of Elgar'.

The Gloucester Cathedral organ takes centre stage in Poulenc's 'Organ Concerto', Janacek's 'Glagolitic Mass', and in a special organ recital by Thomas Ospital.

Higgins

The festival's inaugural Associate Composer in Gavin Higgins, who will present a new setting of the 'Magnificat' and 'Nunc dimittis', to be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3. Works by Cecilia McDowall, Cheryl Frances-Hoad, and Judith Weir will also feature.

Other performances include Mozart's 'Requiem', Beethoven's 'Mass in C', Monteverdi's 'Vespers', and Rachmaninov's 'Vespers'. Internationally celebrated artists including Roderick Williams, Ian Bostridge, Mark Padmore, Charles Owen, VOCES8, and APOLLO5

The festival's inaugural Associate Composer in Gavin Higgins, who will present a new setting of the 'Magnificat' and 'Nunc dimittis', to be broadcast live on BBC Radio 34BR

New audiences

Chief Executive David Francis told 4BR: "The 2026 Festival reflects everything that makes Three Choirs unique — The richness of the choral tradition, the excitement of new music, and the extraordinary sense of community that brings performers and audiences together each year."

Booking for the 2026 Three Choirs Festival opens from 16th March for supporters and 13th April for the general public.

Full programme

Full programme details can be found at: www.3choirs.org