Swedish Choir Crowned International Champions as City of Derry International Choir Festival celebrates biggest year yet
The 14th City of Derry International Choir Festival came to a spectacular close recently following four unforgettable days of music-making which brought more than 100 choirs from across Ireland, the UK and Europe to Derry and the north west.
The Festival, which ran from 22–25 October, welcomed thousands of singers to the city for a packed programme of international and national competitions, world-class concerts, school events and community performances, reinforcing Derry's reputation as a leading destination for choral music.
One of the highlights was the prestigious Oak Tree of Derry International Competition, held in the Guildhall on Saturday 24 October, where seven outstanding choirs representing five European countries competed for the coveted title.
Stockholms Musikgymnasium Youth Choir from Sweden was crowned the 2026 International Champion, achieving an impressive score of 92.6% and securing the Oak Tree of Derry Trophy.
The Fabre Ensemble from Ireland took second place with 91.0%, while The Continuettes and Dulciana Vocal Ensemble, also from Ireland, shared third place with 90.2%.
The Swedish choir also received two special awards: the Contemporary Music Centre Award for its performance of A Crazed Girl by Irish composer Seán Doherty, and the Bishop's Gate Hotel Award for its performance of Musica Noster Amor by Jacobus Gallus.
There was further cause for celebration at the Millennium Forum, where UCC Singers from Cork, conducted by Ben Jacob, were crowned National Choir of the Festival 2026.
UCC Singers also claimed first place in both the National Mixed Voice Competition, scoring 92.3%, and the National Sacred and Gospel Competition, achieving 93.2%.
Other national category winners included The Park Singers from Dublin, Airneán from Westmeath, University of Galway Alumni Ensemble and Côr Ieuenctid Môn from Wales.
The Festival's Schools Programme once again played a central role, with more than 1,000 primary school pupils taking part in the Primary Big Sing and post-primary choirs competing at the Millennium Forum.
Thornhill College Year 8 Choir from Derry took first place in the Unison/Two-Part Competition, while Victoria College Senior Choir from Belfast won the Three/Four-Part Competition with an outstanding score of 94.1%.
Special recognition was also given to St Kieran's College Senior Choir from Kilkenny, which received the Bernadette Kelly Memorial Award for the most promising school choir.
Beyond the competitions, the Festival brought choral music into the heart of communities across Derry, Strabane, Letterkenny and Limavady through an extensive programme of free concerts, choral trails and performances in schools, churches and public spaces.
The Visit Derry Award for an outstanding performance by a first-time participant was presented to Just Us Inclusive Choir from Fermanagh for its performance at Foyleside Shopping Centre.
Alongside the competitions, audiences enjoyed a spectacular programme of concerts, opening with an all-Beethoven performance by the Ulster Orchestra and Festival Chorus under Anna Handler. Highlights also included performances by internationally acclaimed vocal ensemble Tenebrae and The Apex Singers, before the Festival concluded with its Closing Gala Concert and Awards Ceremony at the Millennium Forum.
Now in its fourteenth year, the City of Derry International Choir Festival continues to grow in scale and international reach. With more than 100 choirs participating in this year's programme, the 2026 edition was the Festival's largest to date, highlighting the power of choral music to bring people together across cultures, generations and communities.
Jamie Thompson, Arts Development Officer in Music, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said they were “proud to support this festival which is truly international in scope, bringing people and communities from all over the world together to celebrate choral music” and praised the festival’s “impressive outreach programme”.