Organisers of the Land of Song Festival, headlined by Andrea Bocelli, have scrapped the £42 charge for each choir member, which had prompted some choirs to pull out of the event.
The two-day festival is due to be held on 8 and 9 May 2027 at Cardiff's Principality Stadium, with Bocelli performing on the Saturday in his first Welsh appearance since 2005. Up to 20,000 choristers are expected to perform on the second day with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
When the pricing was revealed in September, several conductors threatened not to take part. About 40 choirs or singing groups said on social media they would refuse to join because of the cost, and a member of the Glynneath Male Voice Choir suggested there was a "good possibility" the festival would not go ahead.
In a post on the Land of Song Festival Facebook page, the Côr World Choir & Young Voices CEO said they 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. "So we have changed it. If you've already paid an individual registration fee, you will receive an automatic refund. No action is needed."
Choirs entering will now pay only the flat fee of £150 per choir. The festival began in Cardiff in 1992 and is one of the largest celebrations of collective singing staged in Wales. In August, Jennifer Burke of Cardiff Council said the city was "looking forward to welcoming this new festival to Cardiff to be part of the city's diverse and exciting musical future".
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The per-member charge would have cost some choirs thousands of pounds, making participation prohibitive for smaller groups.
- The swift reversal removes a barrier that had threatened the festival's viability, with dozens of groups publicly refusing to take part.
- The decision determines whether the 2027 event can go ahead as planned with its promised massed chorus.
Background
The Land of Song Festival is a Cardiff event founded in 1992 and billed as one of the largest celebrations of collective singing in Wales. The 2027 edition, set for the Principality Stadium, is headlined by Andrea Bocelli on his first Welsh concert since 2005, with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales accompanying up to 20,000 choristers on the second day. The individual registration fee was announced in September and drew immediate opposition from conductors and choirs.
Key Perspectives
Organisers: say they "got something important wrong" with the individual chorister registration, and that an event celebrating singing should not create unnecessary barriers to taking part.
Choirs and singing groups: about 40 groups said on social media they would refuse to take part because of the cost, and several conductors threatened to withdraw.
Glynneath Male Voice Choir member: suggested there was a "good possibility" the festival would not go ahead after the pricing was revealed.
Andrea Bocelli: said he was excited to add Cardiff to the "many extraordinary places around the world" he had performed in.
What to Watch
- Whether choirs that threatened to withdraw confirm they will now take part under the flat £150 per-choir fee.
- Refunds for singers who already paid the individual registration fee, which organisers say will be issued automatically.
- Any update on the final number of participating choirs as the May 2027 dates approach.
Checked
11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
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- SupportedThe Land of Song Festival has scrapped its £42-per-singer fee after backlash.BBC News: “Organisers of the Land of Song Festival have announced they are scrapping a controversial £42 charge per choir member.”
- SupportedAbout 40 groups said they would refuse to take part because of the cost.BBC News: “About 40 choirs or singing groups took to social media to say they would refuse to take part in the event because of the cost.”
- SupportedThe £42 fee prompted some choirs to pull out of the event.BBC News: “The "cheeky" fee prompted some choirs to pull out of the event after realising they would be charged thousands of pounds to take part.”
- SupportedChoirs entering will pay a flat fee of £150 per choir.BBC News: “In a social media post, it was confirmed the fee had been scrapped, and those entering were only required to pay the flat fee of £150 per choir.”
- SupportedThe festival is due to take place on 8 and 9 May 2027 at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.BBC News: “The festival is due to take place on 8 and 9 May 2027 at the Principality Stadium”
- SupportedAndrea Bocelli is performing on the Saturday, his first Welsh appearance since 2005.BBC News: “The two-day festival is set to take place in May 2027, with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli featuring on the Saturday, marking the first time he has played in Wales for 22 years.”
- SupportedUp to 20,000 choristers are expected to perform on the second day with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.BBC News: “Bocelli will make way for up to 20,000 choristers on the second day as they are accompanied by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.”
- SupportedA member of the Glynneath Male Voice Choir said there was a “good possibility” the festival would not go ahead.BBC News: “with a member of the Glynneath Male Voice Choir suggesting there was a "good possibility" it would not go ahead.”
- SupportedThe Côr World Choir & Young Voices CEO said they had “got something important wrong” with individual chorister registration.BBC News: “a message from the Côr World Choir & Young Voices CEO said they had "got something important wrong" with the individual chorister registration.”
- SupportedThe festival post said singing should not create unnecessary barriers, that the fee had been changed, and that people who had paid would receive an automatic refund without needing to act.BBC News: “"An event celebrating the joy, community and inclusivity of singing should not create unnecessary barriers to taking part," the post read. "So we have changed it. If you've already paid an individual registration fee, you will receive an automatic refund. No action is needed."”
- SupportedIn August, Jennifer Burke of Cardiff Council said the city was “looking forward to welcoming this new festival to Cardiff to be part of the city's diverse and exciting musical future”.BBC News: “Jennifer Burke, from Cardiff Council, said in August the city was "looking forward to welcoming this new festival to Cardiff to be part of the city's diverse and exciting musical future".”