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All editions

Fest TimelineUpdated: 30 Mar 2026

Today

8 Dec

Priority booking opens for La traviata & The Merry Widow — Directors Circle, Benefactors & Gold Patrons

15 Dec

Public on-sale: Jazz Weekender, La traviata & The Merry Widow (incl. Next Gen members)

17 Mar

Priority booking opens for all remaining programme events

LIVE NOW

14 Apr

General public booking opens for all remaining programme events

1 Nov

Opera season & full programme announced (approximate; published ahead of Dec 2025 on-sale)

9 Jul

Festival! 🎉

Key Info

Buxton International Festival is an annual arts festival held in the spa town of Buxton, covering opera, classical music, jazz and books across more than 160 events over 17 days. It has a particular reputation for staging rare and seldom-performed op…

Website

buxtonfestival.co.uk

Genres

operaclassicaljazzclassical crossover

Date

9 - 26 July, 2026

Location

Buxton

Size

Tiny · <5k

Established

1979, Running 47 years

Vibe

Opera, jazz and book talks spread across a compact spa town, with everything walkable and no dress code in sight. It pulls a loyal crowd who'll dip between a morning author talk, an afternoon concert and a rarely staged opera in the evening, all in one of the most intimate opera houses in the country.

Setting

city centre

Scale

intimate

Hours

sensible bedtime

Crowd

music nerdsday trippers

Density

space to dance

Dress code

come as you are

Food

lots of food options

Accessibility

train-friendly

LineupUpdated: 30 Mar 2026

La traviata (Verdi)

New production, joint production with Norwich Theatre. Buxton Opera House.

The Merry Widow (Lehár)

Scottish Opera, Opera Holland Park and D'Oyly Carte Opera co-production. Buxton Opera House.

The Hallé

The English Concert

Performing Handel's Amadigi di Gaula

Courtney Pine

Darius Brubeck

Roderick Williams

Steven Isserlis

Brodsky Quartet

Denys Baptiste

Tony Kofi

Performing as part of the Tony Kofi and Denys Baptiste Quintet

Laura Jurd

Amadigi di Gaula (Handel)Staged production with The English Concert. Director: Olivia Fuchs, Conductor: Erin Helyard.La clemenza di Tito (Mozart)Concert performance with Buxton International Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Adrian Kelly.La liberazione di Ruggiero (Caccini)Vache Baroque production. Conductor: Jonathan Darbourne. Pavilion Arts Centre.Le dernier sorcier (Viardot)Performed by musicians from the Buxton International Festival Orchestra. Pavilion Arts Centre.Sacconi QuartetSitkovetsky TrioGould Piano TrioJosephine DaviesPerforming with Satori and Alcyona MickArun Ghosh QuintetAndrew McCormack TrioGaz Hughes Piano TrioLate-night session at The Old ClubhouseBlind Monk TrioLate-night session at The Old ClubhouseHannah BrinePerforming with Bim Williams at The Old ClubhouseLaura DoylePerforming as Baiana, a 9-piece Brazilian-inspired projectGeorgina Jackson's Mini Big Band

Full lineup

TicketsUpdated: 30 Mar 2026

Jazz Weekender Pass (9–12 July)Access to all 12 gigs across the Jazz Weekender opening weekend (11 at The Palace Hotel + 1 at Buxton Opera House)

£195

Jazz Day TicketDay passes from £30; covers single-day access to Jazz Weekender performances

£30

La traviata (Opera)Performing selected dates 11–25 July at Buxton Opera House; price not publicly stated in sources

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The Merry Widow (Opera)Performing selected dates 10–24 July at Buxton Opera House; price not publicly stated in sources

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All Other Events (General Programme)Priority booking from 17 March 2026; general public booking from 14 April 2026. Next Gen (under-35) members get £5–£10 tickets from April 2026

TBC

Buy Tickets

Recent NewsUpdated: 30 Mar 2026

lineup

Full 2026 programme announced with 160+ events across 17 days

artsderbyshire.org.uk·1 month ago

lineup

The Hallé returns to Buxton for first time in over 60 years

artsderbyshire.org.uk·1 month ago

lineup

Scottish Opera makes festival debut with The Merry Widow

buxtonfestival.co.uk·3 months ago

tickets

Tickets on sale, with priority booking open to Friends members

buxtonfestival.co.uk·3 months ago