Isata Kanneh-Mason announced as Festival Artist-in-Residence.
Southwell Music Festival returns this August, filling the Nottinghamshire town with music for all to enjoy from Friday 28 – Monday 31 August.
A mainstay in the Nottinghamshire cultural calendar, the Festival welcomes professional musicians and performers from across the UK as well as shining a spotlight on the best of Nottinghamshire’s home-grown talent.
The Festival team is excited to share a preview of some of this year’s highlights. Watch out for the full programme announcement in May.
Acclaimed pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason will be the Festival’s 2026 Artist-in-Residence. An artist in demand across the world, there will be multiple opportunities to hear Isata perform across the weekend.
On the Friday evening, Isata joins the Festival Sinfonia for a performance of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 27. This masterpiece of elegance and charm will be performed in the awe-inspiring setting of the Southwell Minster Nave.
Isata will also be performing in the more intimate setting of Southwell Minster’s State Chamber, with two opportunities to enjoy this concert on both Saturday and Sunday. Thanks to recent funding from Newark and Sherwood District Council through the UK government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund, the Festival has been able to purchase a new grand piano for the Minster’s State Chamber, and Isata will be one of the first of many artists to put the piano through its paces.
Favourites from the opera and theatre repertoire take centre stage on Saturday night, as audiences are invited to join the Festival Voices and Artistic Director Marcus Farnsworth for A Night at the Opera. Experience the high drama, joy and emotions of some of the greatest music written for the stage.
On Sunday evening, the Festival Voices and Festival Sinfonia join forces to fill the Minster Nave with glorious sound with a performance of Brahms’ Requiem. This cornerstone of the choral repertoire is conducted by Marcus Farnsworth and features stellar soloists Anna Dennis (winner of the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Singer award in 2023) and baritone Gareth Brynmor John, with Southwell Minster providing the perfect setting for this profoundly moving meditation on love, loss and hope.
The ever-popular Southwell Music Festival Come and Sing returns on Monday, with singers of all abilities invited to come together to perform works by Mendelssohn alongside professional soloists and the Festival Sinfonia.
2026 also sees the return of the Saturday afternoon Musical Picnic. Families and friends can come together to enjoy music, performed by professional and amateur musicians and community groups in the Minster’s Palace Gardens. The Relaxed Concert also returns to the programme, offering an opportunity to experience classical music in an informal setting. All are welcome, including families with children, people with sensory and communication impairments or learning disabilities, and those who are neurodiverse.
And once again, the Festival Fringe is back with free performances in venues and outdoor locations across Southwell. Local musicians, groups, and ensembles can apply to perform as part of the Fringe, and information about the Fringe Open Call will be released soon.
Southwell Music Festival Founder and Artistic Director Marcus Farnsworth said:
“We are thrilled to be joined by the outstanding Isata Kanneh-Mason for what promises to be another fantastic year for the Festival. Southwell is the perfect festival destination, and we can’t wait to welcome locals and visitors alike to our beautiful town for four days of unforgettable music.”
The full four-day Festival line-up will be revealed at a free Launch Concert on Friday 15 May at Southwell Minster. The concert is open to everyone. Reserve your free tickets online at southwellmusicfestival.com.
Tickets for Southwell Music Festival go on sale on Monday 18 May. Festival Friends enjoy Priority Booking for all concerts and events. For more information about joining the Festival Friends, visit southwellmusicfestival.com/friends.
As a registered charity, Southwell Music Festival also welcomes new sponsors, donors, partners and volunteers. If you or your business wants to make a difference to arts in the region by supporting Southwell Music Festival 2026, please email manager@southwellmusicfestival.com.
Image Credit Tom Platinum Morley
Posted on 09 March 2026
