Shine Festival 2026

A woman with her arms spread wide in front a a choir

An inclusive choral festival at Middlesbrough Town Hall

We’re delighted that 2026 sees the return of the Shine Festival to Middlesbrough Town Hall.

Shine Festival is an inclusive choral festival, providing an open stage and feedback for singing groups across the North East. Join us for an all day celebration of local music making!

The next Choirs Festival will take place on Sunday 8th March 2026 and the Schools Festival will take place on Monday 9th March 2026.

A choir performing on a stage in front of an audience

Choirs Festival: Sunday 8th March 2026

The Shine Choirs Festival event is open to all singing groups from across the North East. We would love to see a wide variety of singing groups, of all genres and abilities, taking part in the festival!

Schedule

Session 1 (10.30am – 12 noon)

  • Singing Sue’s Teacher’s Choir
  • Choral Interlude
  • Singing Sue’s Youth Choir
  • Choiropolis
  • Singing Sue’s Boyz Choir

Session 2 (1pm – 2.30pm)

  • SYSTEMIC (Sing Your Song True Equality Matters Inclusive Choir)
  • Singing Sue’s Ladies Choir
  • Well-Versed Community Choir
  • Darlington SING Community Choir
  • Steel Sisters

Audience tickets

£5 per session, or £6 all day (+ booking fee), free for under 18s

Morning session tickets

Afternoon session tickets

Four school pupils in uniform singing

Schools Festival: Monday 9th March 2026

We’re providing an open performance stage with live feedback from our panellists for school ensembles across the Tees Valley area.

Schedule

Session 1 (10.30am – 12pm)

  • Sunnyside Academy Choir
  • Ayresome Primary Schools
  • Stokesley School Vocal Group
  • Newport Primary School
  • Durham Lane Primary School Choir

Session 2 (1.30pm – 3pm)

  • Tees Valley Education
  • Linthorpe Community Primary School Choir
  • Viewley Hill Academy Choir
  • The Carlton & Faceby and Bilsdale CE Federation Choir
  • Christ The King Primary School
  • Beech Grove School Choir

Audience tickets

We’d love for the young people’s families to join us and watch the performances. Audience tickets will be arranged directly through your school closer to the event.

Behind the scenes

Behind the Choirs Festival

Behind the Schools Festival

FAQs

Please download the FAQs documents below regarding taking part in the festival.

Schools Festival 2026 FAQs

Choirs Festival 2026 FAQs

Enquiries

For any questions about the festival, please email Musinc Project Coordinator ben_helm@middlesbrough.gov.uk.