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In Pictures: World's oldest classical music festival under way

Duncan CookGloucestershire
News imageJames O'Driscoll A conductor stood in front of an orchestra addressing the crowd during a performance of the Glagolitic mass at Gloucester Cathedral during the Three Choirs Festival. He is wearing a black suit with a white shirt and is smiling. He is surrounded by an orchestra.James O'Driscoll

Gloucester Cathedral is hosting the longest-running classical music festival in the world.

The Three Choirs Festival dates back to the 18th Century and rotates between the cathedrals of Worcester, Hereford and Gloucester.

The festival is running until Saturday, with its artistic director Adrian Partington describing it as a "fantastic thing".

"We have some of the greatest musicians of the country walking around the streets of Gloucester and performing," he said.

The event began as informal gatherings of music societies, which paved the way for an annual meeting of the three cathedral choirs.

The festival, which has links to royalty with King Charles as its patron and The Duke of Gloucester as its president, was officially named Three Choirs Festival in 1838, when it was held in Gloucester.

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The programme for the 2026 festival celebrates English composer Edward Elgar's legacy, champions living composers, and celebrates a landmark moment for Gloucester Cathedral's refurbished and renewed organ.

The event also includes a series of city walks to explore Roman, Saxon and monastic Gloucester, an outdoor theatre, a silent film with live organ improvisation and late-night performances.

News imageDale Hodgetts A conductor leading a choir during the opening service of the Three Choirs Festival at Gloucester Cathedral. He is wearing a red top with a white gown and has both of his hands raised in line with his head. His mouth is open, as though he is singing.Dale Hodgetts
News imageDale Hodgetts An orchestra performing in front of a seated crowd inside Gloucester Cathedral. It shows a number of musicians sat in front of music stands playing instruments, including two harms, clarinets, violins and other string and wind instruments.Dale Hodgetts
News imageJames O'Driscoll A performance inside Gloucester Cathedral by the Lady Clerks group. There are seven singers dressed in black stood in front of music stands with a number of people sat down watching.James O'Driscoll
News imageDale Hodgetts A large choir performing inside Gloucester Cathedral as part of the opening service for the Three Choirs festival. A number of young choristers at the front are wearing white and red gowns, with adult performers behind them dressed in blackDale Hodgetts
News imageJames O'Driscoll Roderick Williams performing a song recital inside Gloucester Cathedral. He is wearing a blue suit and holding a music book. He is stood in front of a piano with stain glass windows in the background. His mouth is wide open as he sings passionately, he is holding a device in his hand which he is reading from.James O'Driscoll
News imageDale Hodgetts A man and a woman performing during the Glagolitic mass at Gloucester Cathedral during the Three Choirs Festival. They are both stood up in front of a pillar and holding blue music books. The man has his mouth open, as he is singing. The woman is looking down at the book in front of her.Dale Hodgetts
News imageJames O'Driscoll Pianist Misha Kaploukhii playing a Steinway piano in Gloucester Cathedral. A number of people are sat in the pews to the side of him watching the performance.James O'Driscoll
News imageDale Hodgetts A circle of people stood stretching their hands above their heads inside the cathedral.Dale Hodgetts
News imageDale Hodgetts A man holding up a flute in a cheers motion to the man in front of him, who is pouring wine into another flute. They are stood either side of a table which is filled with flutes of alcohol.Dale Hodgetts
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