The Llangollen Eisteddfod, or Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod to give its full title, returns to Wales in July. This year’s 78th international music festival will feature Texas, James, Human League and UB40.
Each year an estimated 4,000 performers from all corners of the globe as well as 35,000 singers converge on the small Welsh town of Llangollen to sing in a community spirit of peace.
Llangollen Eisteddfod History
The first International Musical Eisteddfod was held in June 1947, in the aftermath of the Second World War in the name of ‘Peace and Harmony’.
It was an amazing success with 40 choirs joining from around the UK and elsewhere. In subsequent years the International Eisteddfod has seen the likes of Dame Margot Fonteyn, Joan Sutherland, Kiri Te Kanawa, Nigel Kennedy, José Carreras, Jehudi Menuhin, Elaine Paige and Katherine Jenkins perform.
Placido Domingo claims that his first professional concert in the UK was at the 1968 Llangollen Eisteddfod while in 1955 a youthful Luciano Pavarotti sang in a choir from his home town of Modena, which was conducted by his father.
Llangollen Eisteddfod 2025
The core week starts with a concert by Hans Zimmer (8 July), and includes KT Tunstall for the first time with a live orchestra (10 July) and concludes with Sir Bryn Terfel.
Elsewhere Texas will perform at the Llangollen Pavilion on Thursday June 26; Rag’n’Bone Man on 27 June; UB40 on 28 June; James on 29 June; The Script on 3 July; Olly Murs on 4 July; and Human League on 5 July.
Message of Peace
For ideas of what to do while in North Wales, read Mark Bibby Jackson’s A Journey through the Countryside and Castles of Wales.
Llangollen Eisteddfod 2025 Dates
The main week is from 8 to 13 July, 2025, but see the special events outside this week above.
Getting to Llangollen
By Rail
Ruabon and Chirk stations are both 15 minutes by car from Llangollen, although you can get the bus from the former station.
By Car
Llangollen is on the A5 an hour’s drive from the M54. Use postcode LL20 8SW for directions.
Tickets for Llangollen Eisteddfod 2025
For further details click here.
Llangollen Eisteddfod 2025
For more information on the Llangollen Eisteddfod, click here.
