Cork International Choral Festival is 'the place where voices meet'

It might be a couple of months away, but tickets are already going fast for the 2026 Cork International Choral Festival, and you don’t want to miss this one.

From 29 April to 3 May, Cork will once again give itself over to song as Choirs from across Ireland and around the world descend on the Rebel county for the beloved festival.

Performances will take place in more than 90 venues across Cork city and county for five days of nonstop music, movement, and celebration.

One of Europe’s longest running and most respected choral festivals, the event is a defining part of Cork’s cultural life. Each year, it blends artistic excellence with a spirit of openness and participation, inviting audiences of all ages and musical backgrounds to encounter choral music in ways that feel both uplifting and accessible.

“There’s something very special that happens when a city gives itself over to song,” said Festival Artistic Director Peter Stobart.

“For five days, Cork becomes a place where voices meet, where audiences stumble upon music in unexpected spaces, and where people connect through something as simple and powerful as singing together. That sense of shared experience is at the heart of this festival, and it’s what keeps people coming back year after year.”

This sense of occasion is reflected in the festival’s 2026 Gala Concerts. On 1 May, Chamber Choir Ireland and New Dublin Voices will perform at the Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne on Cathedral Street in Cork city. One of Leeside’s most resonant and atmospheric spaces, the cathedral provides a powerful backdrop for two exceptional performances that promise intensity, beauty, and shared emotion. Tickets for both concerts are now on sale.

At the heart of the festival remains the prestigious Fleischmann International Trophy Competition, which draws outstanding amateur choirs from around the world to Cork each year. One of Europe’s most sought-after choral prizes, the competition continues to position Cork on the international stage as a city that not only hosts great music, but deeply understands and champions it.

A significant new addition for 2026 is the launch of the festival’s first Choral Composition Course, led by award-winning Irish composer Seán Doherty. Designed as a three-day intensive, the course offers composers the opportunity to develop new work in a focused and supportive environment, reinforcing the festival’s role as a place where choral music is actively shaped, not just performed. The course will culminate in a workshop with Chamber Choir Ireland and conductor Gabriel Crouch, giving participants a rare opportunity to receive direct professional feedback from Ireland’s premier choral ensemble. Places are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, with full details available via the festival website.

The Cork International Choral Festival is supported by The Arts Council, Fáilte Ireland, Cork City Council, and Cork County Council

Full programme details and ticket information are available at corkchoral.ie.