Bath International Music Festival 2026

From 30 May – Sunday 7 June, Bath International Music Festival brings a glorious programme of music to this World Heritage City. Visiting artists include three of the world’s finest pianists, Richard Goode, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet and Steven Osborne and Bath Abbey is the venue for an immersive performance of Secret Byrd by the award-winning vocal group The Gesualdo Six.

The Bath Festival History

Founded in 1948, Bath Festivals is a charity that inspires and connects different people and communities through music and book festivals and a year-round programme of outreach and creative learning projects. All the work is designed to maximise inclusion and accessibility, ignite ideas, thoughts and conversations and promote and celebrate the positive impact that music, literature, and performance have on people’s lives. 

The Bath International Music Festival has gone through several incarnations since 1948, before being incorporated into The Bath Festival in 2016. The Bath Festival was a multi-arts festival from 2017 - 2025. This spring will instead have two individual festivals running alongside each other: the Bath Literature Festival and Bath International Music Festival. 

Bath International Music Festival 2026

Immerse yourself in an extraordinary celebration of live music, featuring highly regarded performances and unforgettable experiences. From classical concerts to jazz ensembles, folk melodies to contemporary acts, the Bath International Music Festival offers a diverse programme designed to inspire and delight including:

• Jazz is back! Head for the Pump Room, where fresh from Ronnie Scott’s, James Pearson and his trio offer a whistle-stop tour through 125 years of jazz piano greats, celebrating the music of Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller, Art Tatum, Dave Brubeck, Oscar Peterson and more.

• Catch a musician who is in demand globally. Virtuoso clarinettist Mark Simpson, winner of both BBC Young Musician and BBC Young Composer and one of the foremost composers of today joins us for an afternoon at St Swithin’s Church.

• Be stirred by a rousing mix of classical and folk at Komedia, inspired by nights at The Red Hedgehog, a 19th century Viennese tavern.

• Enjoy a series of delightful morning coffee and cake concerts at St Swithin’s Church, featuring performances from Ethan Loch, piano, Irene Duval, violin, and Ryan Wang, piano.

• Immerse yourself in the hypnotic music of Argentine tango composer Piazzola in the company of the Bath Festival Tango Ensemble at Komedia.

• Join I Fagiolini, singing a capella, who will be bringing Renaissance masterpieces from Spain and England to life at St Mary’s Church, Bathwick.

Accessibility

Bath Festival are fully committed to providing clear information about the accessibility of the venues and events and to support disabled people and those with access requirements to enjoy their time at the festival. See website for all details.

Venue details