Buxton International Festival: 18 days of opera and music
Buxton International Festival runs from Thursday 9 July to Sunday 26 July 2026, bringing opera, classical music, jazz and books to Buxton Opera House and other venues around the Derbyshire spa town. The source listing displays 14:17 on 9 July, although it does not give a start time for every performance.
This is a ticketed festival aimed at the general public, from established opera followers to people exploring the genre for the first time. No standard ticket price is stated. Groups of at least 10 people can receive a 10% discount across the opera, music, jazz and books programme.
Dates, venue and booking details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Festival dates | 9–26 July 2026 |
| Listed opening-day time | 14:17 |
| Main venue | Buxton Opera House and various venues |
| Address | 3 The Square, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6AZ |
| Admission | Ticketed; individual prices are not provided in the source |
| Group offer | 10% discount for parties of 10 or more |
The programme stretches across 18 days in the heart of the Peak District. Visitors should check the selected production or event when booking, as the supplied festival information does not list a single timetable covering every performance.
Four major operas lead the programme
A new production of Verdi’s La traviata, created in collaboration with Norwich Theatre, is one of the principal attractions. The English Concert also returns to present Handel’s Amadigi di Gaula.
Scottish Opera will make its festival debut with Lehár’s The Merry Widow. Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito will be presented in a staged concert version, offering another less commonly encountered work within the season.
The opera programme reaches further into rarely performed repertoire. Vache Baroque will present Francesca Caccini’s La liberazione di Ruggiero, while Pauline Viardot’s The Last Sorcerer is also included. That mixture of recognised titles and works seldom heard on stage reflects a programming approach the festival has developed over several decades.
Opera is only part of the schedule. Classical music, jazz performances and appearances by literary speakers will take place during the festival, although individual names and performance times beyond the supplied opera highlights have not been provided in the event brief.
A festival rooted in Buxton Opera House
Buxton International Festival has taken place since 1979. It was initially founded to help restore Buxton Opera House and has since attracted internationally acclaimed singers, musicians and literary speakers to the town.
Its Young Artists Programme introduces festival audiences to emerging performers. The organisation also runs Platform 3 with Buxton Opera House, providing performing arts activities and projects for young people, schools and communities across Buxton, the High Peak and beyond.
The organisers describe the atmosphere as relaxed and friendly, with the programme designed to appeal both to dedicated opera audiences and newcomers. The 2025 edition included sell-out events, while the 2026 programme is described by the festival as its most ambitious season to date.
How group bookings work
Groups of 10 or more qualify for a 10% reduction on ticket prices for events across the opera, music, jazz and books programme. The festival also offers a group booking service and can help parties assemble an itinerary.
Group enquiries can be sent to marketing@buxtonfestival.co.uk. General enquiries can be directed to info@buxtonfestival.co.uk or made by telephone on 01298 70395, according to the event information published by Visit Peak District and Derbyshire.
Source: Visit Peak District and Derbyshire Events
Context & actions About this article
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Dates, location, programme highlights and group booking information were taken from the Visit Peak District and Derbyshire event listing.
- Confirmed the festival dates as 9–26 July 2026.
- Checked the listed address at 3 The Square, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6AZ.
- Matched the featured opera productions with the published programme description.
- Confirmed the 10% ticket discount for groups of 10 or more.
- Source
- Visit Peak District and Derbyshire Events
- Scope
- Buxton, Derbyshire
- Updated
- 2026-07-20 16:01
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