Newbury Spring Festival will return on the 9–23 May 2026, with more than 45 events across West Berkshire – bringing world-class music to churches, country houses and cultural venues throughout the region.
Founded nearly five decades ago, Newbury Spring Festival combines internationally recognised artists with emerging talent, with strong connections to its local community.
Mark Eynon, Festival Director, commented: “What makes Newbury Spring Festival distinctive is its sense of place – the chance to hear exceptional artists in venues that feel personal and rooted in the community. Whether it’s chamber music in a rural church or jazz in the heart of historic Newbury, those close-up experiences are central to what we do.”
From major performances at St Nicolas Church to concerts in rural churches and private houses across West Berkshire, the festival offers a distinctive blend of musical excellence and local character across two weeks of live performance.
Two particular highlights will be:
Homecoming (Tuesday 12 May, 7.30pm at Holy Cross, Ramsbury) – Three of Britain’s most compelling musicians come together for a specially curated programme exploring themes of return, memory and musical storytelling. Soprano Ruby Hughes, a former BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist, is joined by internationally acclaimed violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen and composer-pianist Huw Watkins for an evening culminating in an arrangement of Schubert’s Shepherd on the Rock.
What’s New (Wednesday 20 May, 7.30pm, Newbury Corn Exchange) – One of the UK’s most distinctive jazz vocalists, Ian Shaw, returns to the festival alongside tenor saxophonist Iain Ballamy and pianist Jamie Safir for an evening centred on their album What’s New. The programme draws on eight decades of popular song, with fresh arrangements of songs of love and hope – including Bernstein’s Some Other Time as well as the Bacharach/David classics Alfie and You’ll Never Get To Heaven alongside works by Legrand, Jobim and Ellington.
Tickets and information for all shows are available at https://www.newburyspringfestival.org.uk/whats-on/
