Packed programme planned for return of Lancaster Music Festival

Lancaster Music Festival returns this October after a year’s break with new features and more than 500 events to enjoy.

Lancaster Music Festival took a one-year hiatus in 2025, with the Love Lancaster Live event - run by Lancaster BID - stepping in.

Now the team behind the festival are back and say they are "fully refreshed" and raring to bring back the popular celebration of live music to the city, from October 8 to 11.

The festival will launch with Lancaster’s very own symphony orchestra – the Haffner – playing in the White Cross, one of the many pubs which are the heartbeat of the event.

Festival favourite, violinist, Laure Chan, will join the Haffner as a soloist at a further performance in St John’s Church, the first live music event there for some time.

New venues will include Lancaster Castle’s keep and chapel and the Westfield War Memorial Village.

Lancaster Castle, featuring the beloved Melodrome stage, is one of many returning festival venues which also include the Craic Inn in the Storey Gardens, Kanteena, the Gregson and there will be plenty of music to be heard in the city centre’s streets and squares too.

Dancing in Market Square. Photo: Nettlespie Photography

“It's fantastic to be back this year,” said Stuart Marshall, festival director.

“We've got an exciting line-up of musicians and events for this year's festival, which is almost entirely free, and we can't wait for it to get underway.

"It's great to see so many people looking forward to the festival returning, particularly after its hiatus.

“It was an important break for us to look at how we can continue to make this festival work and be the best possible event.

"We're now more galvanised than ever to deliver what we think is a really special programme and we're hugely grateful to everyone who has helped make this happen.

"Our focus is always about people coming out to enjoy the music and everything our city has to offer - that's what we're most looking forward to about pressing play on Lancaster Music Festival again.”

Another popular venue – Lancaster Priory – will host musicians from the Royal Northern College of Music performing as the Silver Chamber and playing a unique combination of progressive metal with a chamber orchestra.

Fans of alternative rock will have several chances to catch Norwegian band, Dobbeltgjenger, as they will play six shows over the weekend while Glaswegian psychedelic surf-punk band, Maz & the Phantasms proved so popular at previous festivals that they will be making a welcome return.

International music is always an important element of Lancaster Music Festival’s offer and 2026 is no different with its Songs From Home theme featuring music from Northern Europe, Canada, China and Africa plus the return of flamenco as well as drumming, singing and dance workshops from around the world.

In collaboration with the Weavers Uprising Bicentennial Committee, the festival will also commemorate an important event in Lancashire's history - the 200th anniversary of the weavers uprising - in a programme of talks and music entitled events Rise Up! featuring The Commoners Choir leading a trail to Lancaster Castle.

Lancaster Music Festival's outdoor events always draw crowds. Photo: Nettlespie Photography

Talks, walks and musical stories will be another theme at the festival featuring a live book club by popular local duo The Lovely Eggs, talks and panels led by Lancaster University lecturers, an interactive session pairing beer with music and musical history trails.

And among the many more participatory events is an invitation to join in with the kazoo orchestra and a ceilidh in Market Square while the healing power of music will be explored with a new programme of events entitled Healing Frequencies offering a range of sound journeys to help clear the mind.

Even before the award-winning festival begins, the LMF Academy will offer songwriting workshops culminating in performances on the youth stage at the Gregson during the festival.

And even younger children can get involved with the festival thanks to some early years interactive shows featuring the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra performing a live version of CBeebies Music Storyland show and More Music’s new show, Dare.

All these festival events and more are supported by funding from Arts Council England, Lancashire County Council, Lancaster BID and by public donation via LMF’s crowdfunder appeal.

For information on ticketed events and workshops, visit HERE.