The Land of Song Festival has reversed a controversial per-member charge that prompted dozens of Welsh choirs to withdraw from the event. According to BBC News, organisers announced on social media that the £42 fee per choir member has been scrapped, with participating choirs now required to pay only a flat £150 subscription. The two-day festival will take place on 7–9 May 2027 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli headlining on Saturday 8 May—his first performance in Wales since 2005.
The decision came after significant public pressure. When the festival's pricing structure was revealed in September 2026, approximately 40 choirs and singing groups announced on social media that they would not participate, citing the cumulative cost to their members. Some conductors threatened to withdraw entirely, and members of the Glynneath Male Voice Choir expressed concern that the event might not proceed at all due to the backlash.
In a statement posted on the Land of Song Festival Facebook page, the Côr World Choir & Young Voices CEO acknowledged the problem.
An event celebrating the joy, community and inclusivity of singing should not create unnecessary barriers to taking part. So we have changed it. If you've already paid an individual registration fee, you will receive an automatic refund. No action is needed.
However, the revised fee structure remains more complex than initially suggested. According to the festival's FAQ, participation fees now start at £25 per singer, though a full package option priced at £42 remains available and includes a T-shirt and Music Room access. The £150 choir subscription covers one choir leader's participation; additional singers must register and pay individually.
The festival's two headline events serve different audiences. Bocelli will perform on the Saturday evening, while on Sunday 9 May, up to 20,000 choristers will take the stage accompanied by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. The festival's FAQ clarifies that the Bocelli concert and Côr World Choir are separate, separately ticketed events, with the massed choir on Sunday not being Côr World Choir itself.
Bocelli expressed enthusiasm about returning to Wales after more than two decades. He said:
The country's rich choral heritage and deep connection with music make this city a fitting setting for this special concert.He added that he was excited to add Cardiff to the many extraordinary places around the world where he has performed.
Why were the fees controversial?
The original per-member charge meant that larger choirs would face substantial costs. A choir with 50 members, for example, would have owed £2,100 in individual registration fees on top of the £150 flat fee—a total that many community choral groups found prohibitive. The pricing structure raised questions about accessibility and whether the festival truly reflected its stated values of inclusivity and community participation.
What is the festival's history?
The Land of Song Festival began in Cardiff in 1992 and has grown to become one of the largest celebrations of collective singing staged in Wales. The event honours the country's rich choral heritage and its global choral tradition. Jennifer Burke, from Cardiff Council, said in August that the city was looking forward to welcoming the festival as part of Cardiff's diverse and exciting musical future.
What happens next?
The Côr World Choir Music Room is due to open in November 2026, with d choirs to receive further details about their participation at that time. The festival itself will run from 7–9 May 2027, with Bocelli performing on Saturday 8 May and the massed choir concert taking place on Sunday 9 May at Principality Stadium.
