The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has launched its 2027 Competition Syllabus, inviting singers, choirs, instrumentalists and dancers from around the world to be part of the festival’s landmark 80th anniversary.
Taking place from Wednesday 7 to Sunday 11 July 2027, next summer’s Eisteddfod will celebrate eight decades of bringing people together through music, dance and cultural exchange.
VIEW THE 2027 COMPETITION SYLLABUS
Competitions have been at the heart of Llangollen since the first Eisteddfod in 1947, and the 2027 syllabus combines some of the festival’s best-loved traditions with new and refreshed opportunities for performers of all ages.
New and refreshed for 2027
A new Small Vocal Ensemble competition will welcome groups of up to 15 singers, including choirs, vocal ensembles, duets, trios and quartets. The Open Choir competition has also been broadened, allowing choirs to perform music from either a single genre or a mixture of styles.
There are refreshed opportunities for instrumentalists too, with separate competitions for chamber instrumental ensembles of up to six musicians and larger instrumental ensembles of seven or more performers.
Following the major expansion of Llangollen’s dance competitions for 2026, the full programme returns next summer. Solo and duet/trio competitions include ballet, contemporary and lyrical dance, jazz, tap and modern, commercial, hip-hop and street, and ballroom and social dancing.
Importantly, in 2027 these competitions will be spread across both Saturday and Sunday, helping to create a varied programme of singing, music and dance throughout both days of the festival’s final weekend.
Llangollen favourites return
Some of the Eisteddfod’s most prestigious competitions will once again take centre stage.
The winners of the principal adult choral competitions will compete for the Choir of the World title and Pavarotti Trophy on Sunday evening, together with a £3,000 prize.
The Children’s Choir of the World also returns, alongside Junior Children’s Choir, Senior Children’s Choir and Children’s Open Choir competitions. For 2027, programmes in the three main children’s choral categories have been extended to up to eight minutes.
The Pendine International Voice of the Future will culminate in its final during the Eisteddfod’s special 80th anniversary Gala concert on Saturday 10 July, with £3,000 and the International Voice of the Future trophy awarded to the winner.
Artistic Director Dave Danford said:
“Our competitors have been at the heart of the Eisteddfod throughout its 80-year history, so it feels particularly important that our anniversary year celebrates the extraordinary range of people who come to Llangollen to perform, share their cultures and make friendships.
“We’ve continued to develop the syllabus for 2027, creating some new opportunities while protecting the competitions which are such an important part of Llangollen’s identity.
“One of the changes I’m particularly pleased about is the way we’re programming the final weekend. Following the huge expansion of our dance competitions for 2026, we’ll now spread those classes across Saturday and Sunday. It means that whichever day people choose to visit, they’ll experience a real mixture of singing, music and dance.
“Our 80th anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate everything that has made Llangollen special since 1947, but also to look ahead. I hope performers from Wales, the UK and around the world will come and be part of that next chapter with us.”
There are also opportunities for those who would like to experience Llangollen without competing, with non-competitive participation available to choirs, dance groups, instrumental ensembles and soloists.
Apply for Llangollen 2027
Group applications for the choral, dance and instrumental competitions close on Friday 1 January 2027, while applications for vocal and instrumental solo competitions close on Saturday 13 March 2027.
