A treasure trove of classical music gems set to shine bright at the 60th HACS Harrogate Music Festival

Harrogate International Festivals is celebrating its 60th anniversary in style by bringing some of the biggest names and brightest emerging stars in classical music to Harrogate this summer.

The HACS Harrogate Music Festival 2026 – which runs from 6 June to 12 July – will bring a dazzling array of talent from much loved orchestras to trailblazing performers and ensembles, to the North Yorkshire spa town.

Over the past 60 years, the Festivals has established Harrogate as a beacon of brilliance in the classical music world, attracting such legendary names as Jacqueline du Pré, Dame Janet Baker, Sir Simon Rattle and Julian Lloyd Webber, along with some of the greatest orchestras on the planet.

Orchestras have created some of the Music Festival’s most thrilling moments, making a major contribution to classical music in the north of England, and as part of this year’s landmark celebrations the globally renowned Festival is bringing not one, but two orchestras to the magnificent Royal Hall.

The boundary-pushing Aurora Orchestra, renowned for their innovative, memorised concerts, will perform at this historic venue on 24 June. Led by Principal Conductor Nicholas Collon and driven by the belief that orchestral music is for everyone, Aurora Orchestra became the first orchestra worldwide to remove sheet music and stands for large scale works, relying on memory instead. This is a rare opportunity to see this remarkable orchestra, regular performers at the BBC Proms, in Yorkshire. Their Harrogate programme will feature Jessie Montgomery’s Strum, Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 12 in A, and Mozart’s Symphony No. 41 ‘Jupiter’ (from memory).

The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, one of classical music’s best loved orchestras, returns to the Royal Hall on what promises to be a memorable afternoon on 5 July, when their concert will be recorded for BBC Radio 3. Audience members will have the opportunity to watch violinist Hana Chang, a Classic FM Rising Star from 2024, and Ben Glassberg, one of the most sought-after conductors in the world, when the orchestra performs a special programme featuring Farrenc’s Overture No.1, Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto and Brahms’ Symphony No.1, widely regarded as his most significant symphony.

The Festival has provided a major platform to some of the most talented emerging stars, and this summer sees two more electrifying performers head to Harrogate. Genre-defying cellist Abel Selaocoe, who has taken the world by storm since bursting onto the music scene in 2021 with his BBC Proms debut, will kick off this year’s Music Festival alongside his Bantu Ensemble in dramatic fashion, with a special concert at Ashville College on 6 June.

And when it comes to stars, they do not come much bigger or brighter than Davóne Tines, who has changed the face of modern opera. He is appearing at the Wesley Centre on 12 June, in what will be his only performance in the North of England this season. The Grammy-nominated singer, known for his work in opera and gospel and named Musical America’s Vocalist of the Year in 2022, will perform Recital No 1: MASS, featuring a wide-ranging repertoire.

Festival legends Oddsocks also make a welcome return with their unique and wonderful take on Shakespeare, performing Romeo and Juliet in the stunning setting of RHS Harlow Carr on 30 June and 1 July.

Mark Smith, Managing Director of The HACS Group, said: “We have a long and proud association with Harrogate International Festivals and it’s a real honour to support this wonderful Music Festival that has become such a popular fixture in the town’s cultural calendar.

“Music entertains people and it brings them together and looking at this brilliant line-up I think we’re in for a real treat.”

Sharon Canavar, Harrogate International Festivals’ Chief Executive, said: “For 60 years, music has been at the heart of Harrogate International Festivals and this anniversary season celebrates that extraordinary legacy as we look firmly to the future.
“The HACS Harrogate Music Festival is all about giving audiences the opportunity to see some of the biggest names of today and the brightest stars of tomorrow.

“Our carefully curated Festival programme brings together renowned artists at the top of their game here to the North of England, offering classical music fans the chance to see these incredible musicians on their doorstep in what promises to be an unforgettable celebration of music and culture in our town this summer.”

There will be more exciting additions to the Music Festival line-up announced in the coming weeks.

The 60th anniversary celebrations will continue throughout 2026 with landmark events spanning music, literature and outdoor spectacles.

Friends Priority tickets go on sale on 11 March at 10am, with general tickets available from 18 March at 10am. Visit the Harrogate International Festivals website harrogateinternationalfestivals.com for tickets or call the Box Office on 01423 562 303.