Organisers of the Land of Song Festival dropped a controversial £42 individual chorister fee after heavy backlash from participating groups.
Festival Pricing Backlash
- Organisers removed the £42 per-person charge after multiple choirs threatened to withdraw from the event.
- Choirs entering the event are now only required to pay a flat fee of £150 per group.
- The two-day festival is scheduled to run on May 8 and 9, 2027, at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Choirs Pull Out Over Costs
The fee structure drew sharp criticism when it was revealed in September. Several conductors threatened not to take part after realising their groups would face thousands of pounds in registration costs. About 40 choirs or singing groups stated publicly that they would refuse to take part due to the financial barrier.
The pushback created immediate concern regarding the event’s viability. A member of the Glynneath Male Voice Choir suggested there was a good possibility the festival would not go ahead.
Organisers Reverse Registration Policy
Organisers addressed the pricing on the Land of Song Festival Facebook page. The CEO of Côr World Choir & Young Voices stated that management had got something important wrong with the individual chorister registration.
“An event celebrating the joy, community and inclusivity of singing should not create unnecessary barriers to taking part,” the post read. Organisers confirmed that anyone who already paid an individual registration fee will receive an automatic refund with no action needed.
| Fee Type | Original Cost | Revised Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Individual Chorister Registration | £42 per person | Scrapped (Refunded) |
| Flat Choir Entry Fee | N/A | £150 per choir |
Andrea Bocelli Headlines Cardiff Return
The two-day event marks the first time Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli has played in Wales for 22 years. He is scheduled to feature on the Saturday of the festival. Bocelli will make way for up to 20,000 choristers on the second day as they perform alongside the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
“The country’s rich choral heritage and deep connection with music make this city a fitting setting for this special concert,” Bocelli said. He added that he was excited to add Cardiff to the extraordinary places he has performed in after last performing in Wales in 2005.
Cardiff Hosts Large Choral Singing Festival
The festival began in Cardiff in 1992. It is one of the largest celebrations of collective singing staged in Wales, honouring the country’s heritage and global choral tradition.
Jennifer Burke from Cardiff Council said in August that the city was looking forward to welcoming the new festival to Cardiff to be part of the city’s diverse and exciting musical future.
