We are aware of an online article that appeared over the weekend about the future of Cheltenham Music Festival. We were not asked to offer comment on it before publication, and would therefore like to take this opportunity to address the concerns that have been raised about the shape of Cheltenham Music Festival in 2024. 

We would like to reassure our audiences, donors, performers and all stakeholders that the Festival is returning in 2024 from 6 - 13 July with a programme full of the quality and breadth that audiences have come to expect from us. We're looking forward to announcing the full programme in March of next year. It will include a mix of orchestral, chamber and choral concerts, contemporary composers and we will be commissioning new work, too.

Of course, it's a challenging time for classical music across the live events sector, and we are responding prudently by carefully curating our events. The 2024 programme will be a considered response to the challenging landscape for classical music: there will be fewer events than in 2023, and the Festival’s well-regarded talent incubator, Composer Academy, will be pausing while we look at future funding. But we have not compromised our vision of a Festival that encompasses all that classical music is and can be in the twenty-first century.  There will be a lot to be excited about!

We will be making further public announcements in due course and as appropriate, and welcome contact from the community - please do get in touch with any questions and thoughts you may have. We are committed to classical music and to working across the sector to secure its bright future.