Buxton International Festival
Opera, Music, Jazz & Books
Recognised nationally and internationally as one of the UK’s leading arts festivals, Buxton International Festival is a summer celebration of the very best opera, classical music, jazz and books at the heart of the beautiful Peak District in the spa town of Buxton.
Buxton International Festival has been thrilling audiences since 1979. We have a reputation for offering often once-in-a-life-time opportunities to hear sublime but rarely performed operas. Initially founded to help restore Buxton Opera House, the festival has become more than just a summer celebration. Internationally acclaimed singers, musicians and literary speakers are all attracted to our beautiful spa town and our Young Artists Programme continues to introduce audiences to the rising stars of the future.
In partnership with Buxton Opera House, Platform 3 is our Learning and Engagement initiative, providing exciting new opportunities for young people, schools and communities to take part in performing arts activities and projects across Buxton, the High Peak and beyond.
Festival venues include the exquisite, Matcham-designed Buxton Opera House, St John’s Church and the Pavilion Arts Centre.
Renowned for its relaxed and friendly atmosphere, this wonderful annual festival attracts both dedicated opera lovers and those new to the genre; and, together with the Buxton Festival Fringe, the spa town is a haven for arts enthusiasts throughout July each year.
For more information on the festival and to book tickets, go to www.buxtonfestival.co.uk.
2026 Festival
The festival in 2026 will take place between Thursday 9 and Sunday 26 July.
The Festival looks forward to welcoming everyone for more unmissable opera, music, jazz and literary events which you simply will not find all in one place elsewhere.
What’s On?
The full programme has been announced. View the programme here: buxtonfestival.co.uk/whats-on
Tickets
Public Booking for all events will open on 14 April 2026. Book tickets via the Buxton Opera House Box Office – call 01298 72190 or book on the BOH website here.
Plan your visit on the BIF website here.
Priority Booking
Become a festival member from just £36 per year and access Priority Booking plus a whole host of other benefits. Find out more on the BIF website here.
Discounts: U35s & Groups
Those under 35 years old can receive heavily discounted tickets as part of the festival’s ‘Next Gen’ scheme. Find out more on the BIF website here.
Last updated 13.03.2026
More about the Festival…
The Buxton Festival has been presented annually since 1979. The brainchild of Malcolm Fraser, the Head of Opera at the Royal Northern College of Music, who had a vision of making the dilapidated Buxton Opera House, which had been used as a cinema for most of its life, into the home of an annual opera festival. With the help of Welsh National Opera conductor, Anthony Hose, he set about making his dream a reality.
Since 2018, the Festival’s Chief Executive Officer is Michael Williams and the Artistic Director is Adrian Kelly. Find out more about the team on the BIF website here.
For many years, BIF also presented an annual Book Weekend or mini-festival in October and an outreach programme, which introduces young people to the arts and hones their performance skills.
In 2019 and again in 2022, ahead of the festival in spring, BIF took to the road with a Roadshow touring Derbyshire and Cheshire showcasing highlights from the summer season and a snapshot of its concerts, books and jazz programmes.
In 2022, the Festival added a dedicated jazz series and, in 2023, it’s sell-out production of Pauline Viardot’s miniature operetta, Cinderella, became its first ever touring production.
Accolades
In April 2017, the Festival was named by music critics at The Times as one of the top 50 must-see events around the globe. In 2019, it won a UK Theatre Award for its original production of ‘Georgiana’ about the famous Duchess of Devonshire, Georgiana Spencer; and the 2024 festival was nominated for ‘Best Opera Festival’ in the 2024 International Opera Awards; and for ‘Achievement in Opera’ at the 2024 UK Theatre Awards.
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