One of Yorkshire’s leading classical music festivals has announced its 2026 line-up.
Now in its 32nd year, the Northern Aldborough Festival puts the North Yorkshire village at the epicentre of classical music for ten days, from 18 to 27 June, 2026.
The festival opens in style with The Orchestra of Opera North performing one of the world’s most-loved works, Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons.
It then welcomes a series of world-class acts.
Britain’s favourite clarinettist, Emma Johnson, returns to Aldborough with her star-studded trio, featuring pianist Andrew West and cellist Thomas Carroll, performing masterpieces by Beethoven, Brahms, and Shostakovich.
The academic, pianist and artistic director Lucy Parham performs her remarkable piece, I, Clara, which tells the extraordinary life story of Clara Schumann in a blend of words and music, narrated by none other than the acclaimed actress, Joanna David. A stalwart of screen and stage, David is known for her TV roles on Downton Abbey and Inspector Morse. She’s matriarch of one of Britain’s most acclaimed acting dynasties – married to Edward Fox, and mother to Emilia and Freddie.
Pianist Sarah Beth Briggs, the Newcastle-born former child prodigy who was the youngest finalist in the history of the BBC Young Musician competition, makes her debut at Aldborough. She’s performed with the major UK orchestras to critical acclaim, dubbed by the Daily Telegraph as ‘an artist of extraordinary magnetism.’
Wild Arts return to Aldborough after last year’s triumph with another sparkling production — Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro. Attracting five-star reviews for its productions, the opera company has a reputation for the most exciting up-and-coming singers.
Northern Aldborough Festival has built a reputation for supporting the UK’s rising stars with its annual New Voices Singing Competition, now entering its fourth year.
A highlight of the classical calendar, the competition attracts a panel of world-renowned judges. Past judges include luminaries such as Dame Felicity Lott, Sir Thomas Allen, Edward Gardner, and Dame Jane Glover. Details of this year’s judges are to be announced.
Audiences have the rare chance to glimpse tomorrow’s stars compete in the live semi-final and grand final in the hunt for the UK’s best classical vocal talent, with a prize fund of £7000 and performances at leading festivals for the winners. There’ll also be a chance to hear last year’s winning recital by soprano Rachel Munro and pianist Jia Ning Ng.
Robert Ogden, festival director, said: “As a charity, the festival’s mission is to bring high-end live music to a rural location. We’re proud to bring the kind of world-leading acts normally seen on cosmopolitan stages to our village church, in a gorgeous countryside setting. Nothing beats the truly uplifting and transformative experience this level of artistry and music offers. We really hope those who might be new to – or even feel a bit intimidated about classical music – to come along, experience, and fall in love, with it.”
The violinist Harriet Mackenzie, leader of the world-renowned Kosmos Ensemble, and award-winning Mexican guitarist Morgan Szymanski promise to leave audiences spellbound with a Romantically themed programme of Vivaldi, Piazzolla and Paganini, and a sublime blend of voice, double bass and guitar comes in the form of Eleanor Grant and Gus McQuade, who will perform pieces from Britten to Joni Mitchell in a genre-defying concert.
There’s also world-class jazz thanks to legendary drummer and bandleader, Clark Tracey with his sensational quartet.
Closing the festival is the popular Last Night Outdoor Concert, set in the grounds of Aldborough Manor.
This year’s headline act is the internationally acclaimed tribute band Definitely Oasis, who will bring the anthems of a generation to circa 1200 festival-goers. Audiences are invited to bring a picnic and dance the night away, ending with a spectacular orchestrated firework display.
Aldborough’s late-night venue ‘The SHED’ also returns for concert goers who want to continue festivities after the evening concerts in a relaxed environment, with a variety of live entertainment and refreshments.
Tickets go on sale in the spring.
ENDS
Notes to the editor
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Northern Aldborough Festival
The Northern Aldborough Festival was born in 1994, centred around the picturesque village of Aldborough near York. It was described by the Times as ‘well on its way to being one of the leading fixtures on the classical music calendar.’ Its core aim is to bring exceptional music to new audiences, in intimate rural locations where it would not normally be heard. With musical talent sourced from all over the world, the festival offers audiences a consistently high standard of music.
Festival Director, Robert Ogden
Artistic Director of the festival is Robert Ogden. Until recently Robert ran his family’s flagship jewellery store in Harrogate, which James Roberts (JR) Ogden founded in 1893. Before taking on Ogden of Harrogate, Robert sang all over the world.
As a boy, he was a chorister at Westminster Cathedral, before training at King’s College, Cambridge, the Royal Northern College of Music and at the Netherlands Opera Studio. An operatic countertenor, he performed to critical acclaim in opera houses and concert halls around the world. In January 2026 he takes up the role of Chief Executive of The Temple Music Foundation.