Celebrate the launch of the Buxton International Festival 2026 season with a lively evening of music at the Palace Hotel Ballroom.
This event offers an exciting first glimpse of the Festival to come, introducing highlights of the 2026 programme in a concert performance.
Our Young Artists will perform a selection of arias from this year’s operas, offering an early taste of the music audiences will hear during the Festival.
Classical music will also be performed live throughout the evening, offering a taste of the Festival’s wider music programme curated by Adrian Kelly, giving audiences a sense of the range of music across the 2026 season.
Local singer-songwriter Hannah Brine will perform a short set of original songs, drawing on her love of jazz-influenced storytelling. She will also share a preview of Voices of the Peaks, a new choral suite co-written with composer Jenni Watson, celebrating 75 years of the Peak District National Park. Inspired by the landscapes, history and spirit of the Peaks, the work premieres at Buxton International Festival, performed by a massed choir of 150 singers from Hannah’s northern choirs. Hannah is joined by pianist Ed Simpson and multi-instrumentalist Jenni Watson, bringing together voice, piano and folk-inspired textures for this special launch evening.
“Serene, velvety vocals… a new singer giving the world her valuable point of view.” – Jazz Journal
“Brine’s effortless voice is smoothly in control throughout.” – Jazzwise
Bringing together opera, chamber music and jazz in one vibrant evening, this launch event marks the beginning of the countdown to BIF 2026.
The 2026 Festival promises an exceptional programme across opera, books, music and jazz. We are delighted to welcome Wesley Stephenson as our new Jazz Director for 2026, bringing fresh energy to the Festival’s jazz programme. Although Vicky Dawson has now stepped down as Book Director, she leaves behind a fantastic line-up of authors and speakers for this year’s Festival. Adrian Kelly has once again curated an outstanding music programme, and the Festival’s operatic heart is stronger than ever with six operas forming part of the 2026 season.
