Mozart Requiem by Candlelight, St Martin-in-the-Fields, London
7 Nov 2026
Few things make a dark November evening more appealing than experiencing Mozart by candlelight in one of London’s loveliest settings. This year’s concert feels particularly special as St Martin-in-the-Fields is celebrating 300 years since the church first opened its doors in 1726. Three centuries on, its choral tradition is still going strong. On 7 November, St Martin's Voices and St Martin's Chamber Orchestra will perform Mozart’s monumental Requiem alongside Eric Whitacre's Three Songs of Faith. Spine-tingling stuff. Book it.
The Macmillan Carol Concert, Cadogan Hall, London
1 Dec 2026
There are carol concerts, and then there are carol concerts that give you goosebumps. Returning for its 38th year, The Macmillan Carol Concert is always a star-studded affair bringing celebrity readings to remember and choral music to Cadogan Hall, all in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. The 2026 line-up is still under wraps, but everyone knows this much-loved fixture has form when it comes to attracting big names from the arts. In other words, you can safely expect something rather special. Book it.
Christmas With The Royal Choral Society, Royal Albert Hall, London
7 Dec 2026
If you like your Christmas music on the grandest possible scale – and lots do - this is the one for you. The 200-strong Royal Choral Society has sung at Kensington’s grand Italianate music hall every Christmas since 1872, and continue to do so in great style. This year, they join the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Richard Cooke, the British Imperial Military Band and presenter Alexander Armstrong for carols old and new. Subtle it isn’t. Glorious it should be. Book it.
Sibelius, Nørgård and Adès, Barbican Centre, London
5 Nov 2026
Here’s one for anyone suffering from festive-music fatigue before December has even begun. Composer and conductor Thomas Adès will lead the London Symphony Orchestra, with acclaimed French pianist Bertrand Chamayou, through a programme of Nørgård’s Dream Play, Adès’ In Seven Days and Sibelius’ magnificent Fifth Symphony. It should be dramatic and it will be sensational. Book it.
Vivaldi Four Seasons by Candlelight, University Church of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford
3 Dec 2026
Frankly, Oxford and Vivaldi make a fairly irresistible pairing, and that’s before you chuck in the fact this particular concert will be lit by candles at the beautiful University Church of St Mary the Virgin. Here, the Piccadilly Sinfonietta will perform The Four Seasons, alongside a greatest hits programme that takes in Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty Waltz, Elgar’s Nimrod and Corelli’s beloved Christmas Concerto. This is an unashamedly crowd-pleasing kind of classical concert, and we’ll be there for it. Book it.
A Celebration of Christmas, St Paul’s Cathedral
10 Dec 2026
St Paul’s Cathedral requires no introduction. For this ticketed festive spectacular, its world-renowned Cathedral Choir joins forces with the City of London Sinfonia, alongside celebrity readers, for an evening of words, music, laughter and carols, with the audience encouraged to join in. With a choir and orchestra of this calibre, the music promises to be quite something. The 2026 guest readers are yet to be revealed, but beneath that famous dome, even the most determined Christmas cynic may find themselves feeling unexpectedly festive. Book it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I look online to find the best classical music concerts in the UK in 2026?
For a broad sweep, Bachtrack has an extensive searchable UK concert diary, while Classical Events lets you browse performances by date, composer, venue, soloist and orchestra. Alternative Classical is particularly useful if your tastes run beyond the traditional concert hall, covering new and experimental music as well as mainstream classical performances. Major venues and orchestras will publish their seasons well in advance.
Where can I find free classical music concerts in London this winter?
Some of the best music in London costs precisely nothing. City Music Society runs free 50-minute lunchtime concerts at St Bartholomew the Great, while St Mary Islington has a free lunchtime recital on 18 December 2026. For something more Christmassy, St Paul’s Cathedral has several free events in its 2026 Advent programme, including Britten’s Ceremony of Carols on 12 December and Messiaen’s La Nativité du Seigneur on 13 December. The latter are free and unticketed, which feels rather miraculous in central London at Christmas.
How can I learn about classical music if I’m a complete beginner?
Don’t start by attempting to read about several centuries of musical history. Start by listening. Classic FM has an excellent beginner’s guide which moves from approachable works such as Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos through concertos and eventually full symphonies. Its separate list of 15 pieces for beginners includes Handel’s Zadok the Priest, Holst’s The Planets, Beethoven’s Eroica and Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2. Listen to a piece before seeing it performed live and you will be surprised by how quickly the names, styles and sounds begin to stick.
How do I choose a classical concert if I don’t know much about classical music?
Work backwards from what you already like rather than worrying about what you ought to hear. If you respond to a tune, look up the composer and explore similar works; if you enjoy strings, try a chamber concert; if you want scale and drama, head for a symphony orchestra. Classical Events is particularly handy because its listings can be browsed by composer, venue, soloist or orchestra, making it considerably easier to follow a musical breadcrumb trail than to choose blindly from an enormous concert diary.
