2026 Northern Aldborough Festival Tickets Go On Sale

Tickets for one of Yorkshire’s music festivals, the Northern Aldborough Festival, go on sale this Saturday 28 March.

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.

Joining its musical programme, the festival has just announced its special guest speaker will be one of Britain’s most dynamic broadcasters, Amol Rajan.

Born in Calcutta and raised in London, Amol’s path has taken him from student journalism at Cambridge to interviewing global figures, from Greta Thunberg to Bill Gates.

Amol Rajan said: “I can’t wait to visit Aldborough for this wonderful festival, not least to see the beautiful countryside of North Yorkshire, but above all to meets its glorious people. Over 20 years, I’ve lived through a revolution in the Media, wrought by Technology. I had a wonderful time in newspapers, and I’ve had a blast over the past decade at BBC News. But I’m leaving the Today programme to embark on a new chapter and I cannot wait.”

A presenter on Radio 4’s Today programme and host of University Challenge, Amol has built a remarkable career. He became the BBC’s first Media Editor and previously served as Editor of The Independent at just twenty‑nine.

Amol added: “I very much hope the people of Aldborough can be persuaded out for a very enjoyable evening, full of mischief, anecdotage and insight, with stories I’m probably not allowed to tell about various escapes and escapades, interviews with global icons and not so iconic politicians, and the truth about what really happens when the gong sounds on University Challenge. I think we are going to have a night to remember.”

The 2026 Northern Aldborough Festival opens with The Orchestra of Opera North performing one of the world’s most-loved works, Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons.

Britain’s favourite clarinettist, Emma Johnson, returns with her star-studded trio, performing masterpieces by Beethoven, Brahms, and Shostakovich.

The pianist Lucy Parham performs 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, and the five-star opera company Wild Arts return with Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro.

Northern Aldborough Festival has built a reputation for its showcase of the UK’s best classical vocal talent with its annual New Voices Singing Competition. Audiences have a rare chance to experience the UK’s finest talent battle it out in the live semi-final and grand-final of the competition, with a prize fund of £7,000.

Now in its fourth year, the competition attracts a panel of world-renowned judges. This year features the conductor and former musical director of Opera North Paul Daniel CBE, the acclaimed soprano Carolyn Sampson, and accompanist Anna Tibrook.

Robert Ogden, festival director, said: “As a charity, the festival aims to deliver outstanding live music in a rural setting. We take great pride in presenting internationally acclaimed performers—typically found on major city stages—within the intimate surroundings of our village church, set against beautiful countryside. The power of music at this level is both inspiring and deeply moving. If you haven’t experienced the festival before, I urge you to give it a try, and I hope, fall in love with it.”

Joining the line-up is violinist Harriet Mackenzie performing a romantically themed programme of Vivaldi, Piazzolla and Paganini with Mexican guitarist Morgan Szymanski.

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 Saturday, 28 March: https://aldboroughfestival.co.uk/