Cardiff Music City Festival to return for a third year in 2026
Cardiff Music City Festival to return for a third year in 2026
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Cardiff’s position as one of the UK’s leading live music destinations was cemented this month as the Cardiff Music City Festival 2025 came to a close after two weeks of packed performances, installations and events across the capital.
Now in its second year, the festival drew thousands of music fans to 20 venues across the city, featuring more than 200 artists across 60 events, from local rising stars to international acts. Organisers have confirmed the event will return for a third edition in autumn 2026.
The 2025 programme opened with a sold-out performance by acclaimed Welsh band CVC at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, setting the tone for a fortnight that showcased the diversity and depth of Cardiff’s music scene.
Cllr Jennifer Burke, Cardiff Council Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Events, said the festival was a powerful reminder of the city’s cultural identity.
She said: “Music is Cardiff’s beating heart and that’s never been truer than during this year’s festival.
“Our city is fast-becoming one the UK’s most exciting music destinations and there’s certainly been some incredible music for audiences to enjoy, but the impact of the festival goes deeper than that – it helps support our independent venues, provides a valuable platform for local artists and celebrates our scene.”
Independent venues across the city, from Clwb Ifor Bach and The Moon to Tramshed and Porter’s, reported strong attendance, with organisers saying the event provided a welcome economic boost to the night-time and hospitality sectors.
The festival’s collaborative model also brings together key fixtures of Wales’s cultural calendar, including Sŵn Festival, Llais, and the Welsh Music Prize, all of which once again proudly formed part of the Cardiff Music City Festival programme.
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