🗓️ Thursday 3rd – Sunday 6th September 2026
Enjoy four days of classical music on the Isle of Purbeck at a range of historic venues.
This year’s Purbeck International Chamber Music Festival (PICMF) theme is The Sea.
“This year’s festival journeys across waters both real and imagined – from childhood shores and ancestral migrations to Schubert’s flowing streams and the inner storms of the human spirit.
“Music, words and movement come together in a series of programmes exploring the sea as landscape, metaphor and memory.”
Natalie Clein PICMF ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Festival highlights for 2026 include performances from pianist Dame Imogen Cooper, cellist Adrian Brendel, and duet harpist Catrin Finch & Aoife NĂ Bhriain (fiddle and violin).
Dancer Selene Muñoz returns once more, along with Norwegian violinist Henning Kraggerud and his family.
Programme
Thursday 3rd September
Concert 1: Across the Sea
The festival kicks off with Samuel Barber’s Dover Beach, followed by a narration by Louisa Clein and music by Debussy, Judith Weir, Bloch, Mendelssohn and more.
- Timings: 7.30pm – 9.50pm (with short interval)
- Venue: Priory Church of Lady St Mary, Wareham
Friday 4th September
Concert 2: Still Waters
This morning’s concert features Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Divertimento in E-flat major.
- Start time: 11am
- Venue: St Peter’s Church, Church Knowle
Concert 3: At the Water’s Edge
With Catrin Finch on harp, Aoife NĂ Bhriain, Nurit Stark and Henning Kraggerud & family playing violin, this ‘concert by the sea’ will feature folk music and improv inspired by the coast.
- Start time: 5pm
- Venue: The Mowlem, Swanage
Concert 4: The Flowing Brook
Concert of works by Franz Schubert, with a short interval.
- Start time: 7.30pm
- Venue: Lady St Mary’s Church, Wareham
Saturday 5th September
Concert 5: Currents
Featuring pieces by George Benjamin, Bach and Handel/Halvorsen.
- Start time: 11am
- Venue: St Nicholas’ Church, Studland
Concert 6: Cello Masterclass with Natalie Clein
Enjoy a public masterclass in which emerging young musicians explore technique and musical collaboration with cellist and festival director Natalie Clein.
- Start time: 2pm
- Venue: The Mowlem
Concert 7: The Storm Within
Concert featuring works by Barber, Smetana, Vasks and Schubert.
- Start time: 7.30pm
- Venue: Lady Mary’s Church, Wareham
Sunday 6th September
Concert 8: Everlasting Tides
The penultimate concert includes pieces by Strauss, JS Bach and Mozart.
- Start time: 11.30am
- Venue: St James’ Church, Kingston
Concert 8: Songs of the Shore – Family Concert
PICMF’s annual family concert will this year be held at The Mowlem.
The uplifting session features festival musicians, including Aoife NĂ Bhriain.
- Timings: 2.30 – 3.30pm
Tickets & Booking
For full information, tickets and festival passes, please visit the Purbeck International Chamber Music Festival online: https://picmf.org
