The Newbury Spring Festival is proud to celebrate the continued and longstanding support of Greenham Trust, whose sustained investment has helped shape the Festival’s vibrant programme year after year.
In 2026, Greenham Trust has once again demonstrated its commitment to arts and community by sponsoring several standout events within the Festival, including the Festival Parade, Flowers Band, Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. In each case helping to ensure a rich and accessible programme for audiences across West Berkshire.
The Festival Parade (9 May) marks the opening of this year’s Festival with a joyful, free celebration through Newbury town centre. Led by the much-loved Giant Bandmaster puppet, the parade brings together dancers, community performers and musicians in a colourful procession from the Clock Tower through Northbrook Street to the Market Place, culminating in a lively finale performance. Created in partnership with the Corn Exchange Newbury and 101 Outdoor Arts, the Parade is designed to bring the whole community together in a shared celebration of music.
Another highlight of the programme is the Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir (17 May, Corn Exchange Newbury), one of the UK’s leading gospel ensembles, known for their uplifting performances and commitment to sharing music that inspires and connects communities. Their Festival appearance will be full of energy, joy and powerful vocal artistry.
Thanks to Greenham Trust, audiences will also have the opportunity to experience the choir for free in the heart of Newbury, with a special outdoor performance in the Market Place at 12pm on the morning of their concert. This informal “taster” event will feature members of the choir alongside local students involved in the Festival’s education programme, offering a vibrant and inclusive introduction to gospel music.
Greenham Trust’s support also enables world-class performances such as Flowers Band (23 May, Corn Exchange Newbury). The band recently won 2026 Champion Band of Europe and return to the Festival with an ambitious and wide-ranging programme, including Richard Blackford’s Orbital, alongside world premieres by Lucy Pankhurst and Kelly-Marie Murphy. Featuring outstanding soloists and a mix of contemporary and familiar repertoire, the concert promises to showcase the very best of brass band performance today.
On that same night the Festival’s orchestral programme will close with a performance at St. Nicolas Church (23 May) from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, also enabled by Greenham Trust’s generous support. This closing concert will feature Elizabeth Watts with Strauss’ wonderful Four Last Songs before concluding with Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.6 Pathetique.
Running from 9–23 May 2026, the Newbury Spring Festival is one of the UK’s leading classical music festivals, presenting over two weeks of world-class performance alongside community and education initiatives.
Greenham Trust, a charitable organisation dedicated to improving the quality of life for people in West Berkshire and North Hampshire, has been a longstanding supporter of the Festival. Its funding has helped sustain not only headline performances but also outreach work, free events and opportunities for young people to engage with music and the arts. The Trust continues also to support the Festival’s commitment to accessibility by funding free tickets for under-30s at selected events.
This year’s Festival also takes place in the shadow of a significant loss. Earlier in 2026, Greenham Trust’s Chief Executive, Chris Boulton, passed away. A passionate advocate for the arts, Chris was a long-term supporter of Newbury Spring Festival and played a key role in strengthening the partnership between the Trust and the Festival over many years. In light of which both concerts on the closing day of the Festival will be dedicated to his memory. His legacy continues to be felt across the region’s cultural landscape.
Mark Eynon, Festival Director, said:
““We are incredibly grateful to Greenham Trust for their continued and generous support, which enables us to present such a diverse and accessible programme each year. The Festival Parade, Flowers Band, Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra concerts are just four examples of how this support brings music into the heart of the community. Chris Boulton was a tremendous champion of the arts, and a great friend and supporter of Newbury Spring Festival. We are honoured to dedicate both final night concerts to his memory in recognition of his remarkable life and his support of the wider community of Newbury.”
The Festival is also generously supported by a wide range of individual sponsors and partner organisations, as well as an army of dedicated volunteers—without whom the Festival would simply not be possible.
Festival organisers extend their sincere thanks to all supporters and invite audiences to join in celebrating these events as part of this year’s Festival. To see the full programme of events and to purchase tickets, visit www.newburyspringfestival.org.uk