English Music Festival arrives in Devon for first time

The English Music Festival (EMF) is coming to Devon for the first time, bringing world-class performances to Dartington Hall near Totnes.

Running from 22 to 25 May 2026, the four-day festival will feature orchestral, chamber, vocal and piano concerts, alongside talks and late-night events.

Highlights include the London Mozart Players performing works by Gerald Finzi and Thomas Linley, chamber and choral music by Elgar, Holst, Britten and Vaughan Williams, and the critically acclaimed concert-play Purcell! by award-winning group The Telling.

Founded 19 years ago, the EMF aims to showcase the richness and heritage of English music, particularly from the late 19th to mid-20th centuries. 

Over the years, the festival has staged world premieres by composers including Elgar, Delius, Holst and Vaughan Williams, and has commissioned numerous works by contemporary British composers.

Em Marshall-Luck, founder-director of the EMF, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be presenting a wonderful programme of English music, performed by world-class artists, at our dream venue of Dartington Hall. We are looking forward to welcoming concert-goers and music lovers to what promises to be four days filled with delightful and inspirational music-making.”

Dartington Hall, a 14th-century estate, has a long history as a hub of cultural and musical activity. 

The festival’s move to the South West is intended to bring English music to a wider audience while reviving Dartington’s historic connection to performance and creativity.

The festival also offers context and insight into the music through talks, giving audiences a deeper understanding of the works and their composers. 

Social events, including EMF lunches, provide opportunities for festival-goers to engage with performers and fellow music lovers.

In addition to the Devon festival, EMF runs a main festival in Oxfordshire and hosts other events across the UK and Europe, including autumn festivals in the Yorkshire Dales. 

The organisation also operates a record label and publishing arm, helping to make rare and historic English music accessible to listeners around the world.