Presteigne Festival 2026

In 2026, the Presteigne Festival celebrates the significant contribution of women composers of the 20th and 21st centuries. The Festival marks three major milestones: the 75th birthday of choral and vocal composer Cecilia McDowall, and the 70th birthdays of Sally Beamish and the Festival’s founding Artistic Director Adrian Williams. Michael Zev Gordon joins as composer-in-residence, alongside a spotlight on emerging Dutch composer Mathilde Wantenaar.

New music remains central, with works by leading composers including Michael Berkeley, Cameron Biles-Liddell, Ninfea Cruttwell-Reade, Lillie Harris, Cheryl Frances-Hoad, Gabriel Jackson, Tayla-Leigh Payne, Robert Peate, Electra Perivolaris, Lynne Plowman, Emma-Ruth Richards, Claire Victoria Roberts, Natalie Roe and Daniel Soley. These sit alongside classics by Bartók, Beethoven, Britten, Elgar, Ravel and Schumann, plus a semi-staged performance of Stravinsky’s L’histoire du soldat.

Beyond concerts, the Festival offers a wide arts programme, including a three-film retrospective of director Jane Campion, talks, a bat walk, children’s storytelling, and a continued partnership with Presteigne Open Studios.

Booking Information

https://presteignefestival.com/whats-on/2026-festival/