About Aldeburgh Festival
The Aldeburgh Festival is an annual festival of classical music and the arts on the Suffolk coast. It was founded in 1948 by the composer Benjamin Britten, the tenor Peter Pears and the librettist Eric Crozier. At first it was held in Aldeburgh's church, Jubilee Hall and other local buildings, and many of Britten's works had their premieres there.
As the festival grew, it needed a larger home. The Snape Maltings Concert Hall, created from a converted Victorian malthouse a few miles inland at Snape, opened in 1967 and became the festival's main venue. Concerts also take place in churches and halls across the area, including Aldeburgh, Orford and Blythburgh. The festival is run by Britten Pears Arts, the charity that also looks after the Red House, Britten and Pears' home in Aldeburgh.
Programmes cover orchestral, chamber and choral music, opera, new commissions and talks, often built around featured composers and performers. Contemporary music has been a central part of the festival since its early years, and many new works are premiered each June.
The 2026 festival, the 77th, ran from 12 to 28 June. It marked fifty years since Britten's death, and the composer and conductor Ryan Wigglesworth was a featured artist.
The 2027 Aldeburgh Festival of Music and the Arts takes place from 11 to 27 June 2027, according to Britten Pears Arts. The full programme is due to be revealed at a launch event on 7 December, with booking opening afterwards. Ticket prices vary by event and are published with the programme.
Snape Maltings lies on the River Alde amid reed beds and marshes, and visitors often combine concerts with walks along the estuary and time in Aldeburgh itself. There is no festival camping, though the area offers hotels, holiday lets and campsites. The festival appeals to listeners interested in new music as well as core repertoire, and its connection to Britten gives it a special place in British musical life.
Aldeburgh Festival in photos
Image credits
- Main photo: Matt Jolly / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- Photo 1: Amanda Slater from Coventry, England / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
- Photo 2: Amanda Slater from Coventry, England / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Photos may be resized or cropped. Logos belong to their festivals.
Frequently asked
When is the Aldeburgh Festival 2027?
11 to 27 June 2027, centred on Snape Maltings in Suffolk.
When will the programme be revealed?
At a launch event on 7 December, with booking opening afterwards.
Who founded the festival?
Benjamin Britten, Peter Pears and Eric Crozier, in 1948.
Where do concerts take place?
Mainly at Snape Maltings Concert Hall, plus churches and halls in Aldeburgh and nearby villages.
Contact the festival
Last verified 2026-10-20. Dates, prices and lineups change — always confirm on the official festival site before booking.