I am thrilled to be unveiling the programme for the 299th Three Choirs Festival, to be held in Worcester in July 2027. I hope you will find that the Festival, as it approaches a significant milestone, is still everything it has been over three centuries – a carefully curated week of the finest performances of the greatest choral music in the world!

Samuel Hudson

Artistic Director

Spectacular Opening & Closing Nights

We open this year’s festival with Britten’s War Requiem—a monumental masterpiece that serves as both a poignant homage to those lost in battle and a heartfelt appeal for peace.

We close the week with Elgar’s brilliant oratorio, The Light of Life. This piece holds a special place in our history, having been written specifically for the Three Choirs Festival and premiered right here in Worcester, conducted by Elgar himself in 1896.

Extraordinary musical milestones

Highlights include a powerful performance of Beethoven’s Missa solemnis, marking the bicentenary of the composer's death, alongside two sweeping works by Ralph Vaughan Williams: Serenade to Music and A Sea Symphony. We are also delighted to feature Elgar’s Piano Concerto, newly completed by David Owen Norris, who will join us as the evening's soloist.

Furthermore, the Three Cathedral Choirs will perform Handel’s Four Coronation Anthems to mark the grand 300th anniversary of the work, while our Three Choirs Festival Youth Choir presents Haydn’s stirring Nelson Mass alongside a beautiful contemporary piece by Cecilia McDowall, Songs of Exile.

Celebrating New Music

The Three Choirs Festival remains passionately committed to commissioning fresh, contemporary works. Following in the historic footsteps of Elgar, this year we are thrilled to premiere exciting new pieces by Dobrinka Tabakova and our Associate Composer, Gavin Higgins.

Come and share in this incredible feast of choral music. We look forward to welcoming you alongside our exceptional array of Festival choral ensembles, world-class soloists, and our orchestra-in-residence, The Philharmonia.