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The Sound-Bridge Sessions have been developed following a successful pilot in 2025 led by Rhys Mwyn and the team at BBC Radio Cymru. The new programme has been shaped directly by audience feedback, which highlighted a desire for more to experience between daytime and evening events.

Supported by Arts Council of Wales, the series brings together a diverse range of performances co-curated by leading artists and organisations from Wales and beyond.

Tickets for the Sound-Bridge Sessions will be priced at £5, offering an accessible introduction to the Eisteddfod. The initiative also provides enhanced value for those attending daytime competitions, enabling audiences to extend their visit into the early evening with high-quality live music. Each session has been carefully curated to complement the evening’s headline concert, creating a connected and immersive musical journey across the day.

Dave Danford, Artistic Director, said,

“Sound-Bridge Sessions are about creating a continuous musical experience across the day. We wanted to remove that lull between competitions and concerts, and instead offer something vibrant, accessible and artistically exciting. By handpicking co-curators to complement each evening concert, audiences can enjoy a richer, more connected experience of the Eisteddfod.”

Eisteddfod Chairman John Gambles said,

“We are extremely grateful to our outstanding co-curators, whose creativity and vision have shaped this exciting new programme. We also thank the Arts Council

 of Wales for their support in making this ambitious project possible. Sound-Bridge Sessions are a direct response to what our audiences have told us they want, and we are proud to be delivering an enhanced experience across the Eisteddfod.”

The programme will run daily from Tuesday 7 July to Sunday 12 July, with each session reflecting a different musical style and curated to align with the evening concert.

• On Tuesday 7 July, Angharad Jenkins will present a celebration of contemporary folk music, ahead of the evening concert Uniting Nations: One World.
• On Wednesday 8 July, N’famady Kouyaté will curate a global showcase featuring Korason, Bollywood Brass Band and Badenya Ensemble, complementing the evening concert Global Rhythms: Made in Wales.
• On Thursday 9 July, Rushil Ranjan will present a programme exploring global fusion and contemporary classical music, ahead of the Orchestral Qawwali Project concert.
• On Friday 10 July, Rhys Mwyn, in collaboration with BBC Radio Cymru, will showcase artists including Malan, Blodau Papur and Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18, ahead of the evening performance by Emeli Sandé with The Absolute Orchestra.
• On Saturday 11 July, Sain Records and Klust will present a line-up featuring Elin a Carys, Nancy Williams and Martha Elen, preceding An Evening with Michael Ball.
• On Sunday 12 July, Tŷ Cerdd will present a finale featuring Quartet Draig and a jazz trio led by Tomos Williams, ahead of the Choir of the World concert.

Sound-Bridge Sessions reflect the diversity and creativity of contemporary music-making, offering audiences the opportunity to discover new artists and genres in a relaxed, open-air setting before the evening’s headline performances.

Tickets are available here

    In a spectacular climax to 4 days of world-class performances, the New Zealand Youth Choir was crowned Choir of the World at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod 2025. In a thrilling finale, the mixed choir captivated the adjudicators and proudly lifted the prestigious Pavarotti Trophy, presented by Nicoletta Mantovani and Eisteddfod Chairman John Gambles.

The dramatic announcement, made by Artistic Director Dave Danford, ignited jubilant celebrations. The New Zealanders launched into an impromptu haka, before racing to the stage to join their conductor David Squire, who also claimed the coveted Jayne Davies Conductors Prize.

The evening’s special guest, West End superstar Lucie Jones, flew in directly from touring Taiwan with Les Misérables to deliver two show-stopping sets. Her breathtaking rendition of Wicked’s “Defying Gravity” brought the house down and earned a rapturous ovation.

The Choir of the World concert is the crowning jewel of a week featuring over 4,000 competitors from around the globe. A highlight of the evening was a heartfelt speech by Nicoletta Mantovani, widow of Maestro Luciano Pavarotti. She spoke movingly about Llangollen’s influence on her late husband and his enduring affection for the town, where he performed in both 1955 and during a triumphant return in 1995. She then proudly presented the trophy bearing his name to the New Zealand Youth Choir.

During the interval, audiences enjoyed a special mini documentary on Pavarotti, produced in partnership with Decca Records to celebrate the Maestro’s 90th anniversary year. As part of the tribute, Decca also illuminated the iconic Castell Dinas Brân with a spectacular light show over the 700-year-old castle.

Dave Danford, Artistic Director of the Eisteddfod said, “What an amazing night – congratulations to the New Zealand Youth Choir and their inspirational conductor David Squire. To win Choir of the World in Llangollen, where standards are so high, is a phenomenal achievement. For Nachda Punjab Youth Club to be crowned Dance Champions is also a fantastic result – they’ve been dazzling all week. Huge thanks go to Lucie Jones for her barnstorming performance, to Sir Terry Waite, Nicoletta Mantovani, the team at Decca Records, and above all, our incredible volunteers. Tonight showed exactly why the Llangollen Eisteddfod is so loved across the world.”

The Eisteddfod concludes tomorrow with a Family Fun Day from 10am–4pm, featuring beloved children’s TV presenter Andy Day and his brilliant band Andy and the Odd Socks. The day’s highlight will be a lunchtime concert in the Pavilion, produced in partnership with Music for Youth, showcasing incredible young talent from across the UK and the festival’s international performers.

There will also be a variety of family-friendly activities throughout the site and exciting performances on the Eisteddfod’s outdoor stages.

The festival ends tomorrow on a truly unforgettable note with a sea-inspired evening concert featuring legendary bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel, folk favourites Fisherman’s Friends, and the ethereal voice of Eve Goodman.

Eisteddfod 2025 Results: