English Music Festival 2026

At: Dartington Hall, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 6EL

After nineteen years, The English Music Festival (EMF) is embarking on an exciting new chapter as it prepares to delight audiences in the spectacular setting of Dartington Hall in Devon. Over four days, from 22nd to 25th May, world-class musicians will present masterpieces of English music in the beautiful Great Hall in a programme that promises to intrigue.

The EMF champions the brilliance, beauty and rich heritage of English music, with a particular focus on the Golden Renaissance (C19 – C20). Through its twenty years the EMF has staged world premieres by composers such as Elgar, Delius, Holst and Vaughan Williams, as well as commissioning new works.

Moving to Dartington Hall, the EMF brings its mission to a wider audience. The fourteenth-century medieval estate provides a unique experience in an intimate, historic atmosphere that audiences and artists value highly. For much of the twentieth century, Dartington was a hub of musical and cultural activity, and the EMF is delighted to be playing a part in renewing this tradition.