Llais Festival of Voice Cardiff 2026

Llais — the Wales Millennium Centre’s annual festival of voice — takes place from 7 to 11 October 2026 in Cardiff Bay. The festival brings together opera, choral music, spoken word, jazz and world music around the human voice in all its forms, using the Wales Millennium Centre’s main stages alongside smaller performance spaces, outdoor areas and partner venues across Cardiff Bay.

Llais (Welsh for “voice”) has a reputation for mixing the familiar and the unexpected — internationally acclaimed soloists and ensembles alongside emerging artists and community choirs, formal concert performances alongside free outdoor events and pop-up performances. The Wales Millennium Centre, home to Welsh National Opera and a flagship arts venue for Wales, provides a striking backdrop for the five-day programme.

The festival is rooted in Wales’s rich choral and musical tradition, but its programming spans classical, jazz, folk, world music and contemporary forms. Events range from ticketed headline performances in the main auditorium to free community events and workshops, making it accessible to a wide range of audiences.

The Wales Millennium Centre sits in Cardiff Bay, a short walk from the Senedd, Roald Dahl Plass and the waterfront. Cardiff city centre is around 15 minutes away on foot or a short bus ride. Accommodation is available throughout Cardiff, with the bay area offering convenient hotels for festival visitors.