Liberation International Music Festival 2026
The 2026 Liberation International Music Festival was not only a celebration of outstanding performances, but also a powerful demonstration of how music can connect, inspire, and uplift communities across Jersey.
From sell-out concerts at the Jersey Opera House and St Helier Town Church to immersive performances at La Hougue Bie, Hamptonne, and St Ouen’s Manor, the festival brought internationally acclaimed artists to extraordinary island settings, creating unforgettable experiences for audiences and local performers alike.
The festival opened with a spectacular Liberation Day concert at the Jersey Opera House featuring legendary bass-baritone Sir Willard White alongside the Jersey Chamber Orchestra and conductor Eamonn Dougan. The programme blended Broadway classics, jazz standards, orchestral favourites, and wartime songs in a moving celebration of Liberation and shared cultural heritage.
One of the festival highlights was the four-hand piano recital Fairy Tales from Paris performed by internationally acclaimed pianists Qian Wu and Juho Pohjonen. Having travelled to Jersey from the United States especially for the Liberation celebrations, the duo captivated audiences with performances of Debussy, Chaminade, and Mendelssohn, receiving a standing ovation for their breathtaking musicianship and exceptional partnership. Their performance demonstrated the extraordinary impact international artists can have when engaging closely with island audiences and cultural life.
Outreach and education remained central to the festival throughout the 10-day programme, reaching more than 2,000 people through performances, workshops, outreach sessions, and care home visits. Members of the Jersey Chamber Orchestra delivered workshops and interactive performances in schools across the island, giving children opportunities to engage directly with professional musicians through creative activities designed to inspire curiosity, creativity, and confidence through music. One teacher commented: “The children really enjoyed listening to the string quartet and the participation aspect kept them engaged.”
Music in Action also partnered with LV Care Group to deliver nine care home sessions, creating moments of joy and companionship for residents. For many attendees, particularly those living with memory loss or reduced mobility, the music sparked meaningful emotional connections and shared experiences. One resident, Anne, said: “I thought it was brilliant and I loved the violin they are very very talented,” while activities coordinator Lisa described the sessions as “Absolutely wonderful really uplifting and lovely to see them remembering the words.”
There was something from everyone at this year’s festival, whether it be the audience exploring the grounds of St Ouen’s Manor through a sell-out musical walk accompanied by live performances from local musicians, or at La Hougue Bie where audience participated in a atmospheric immersive experience combining Bach, poetry, storytelling, and site-specific performances inside one of the world’s oldest buildings.
On Friday 15th May, the festival welcomed over 140 pupils from local primary schools at Jersey Art Centre for a special education concert with renowned Jazz pianist and US singer-songwriter Jon Regen. Not only did the children listen to the music, they learnt and discovered through a Q&A with the artists, with a school teacher from FCJ commenting “A huge thank you to Music in Action for the fantastic performance from John Regan and his band. Year 5 loved listening to the Jazz music and asking questions at the end.”
The weekend festivities continued with a fantastic family day at Jazz at Hamptonne, where Jon Regen performed alongside local favourites the Brian White Quartet in the beautiful surroundings of Hamptonne Country Life Museum. Bringing together internationally renowned musicians, local artists, and island audiences of all ages, the event created a vibrant and relaxed atmosphere celebrating community and the joy of live music.
Through outstanding performances from internationally renowned artists, inspiring outreach work, and unforgettable shared experiences, the festival celebrated creativity, connection, and cultural heritage across Jersey, leaving audiences with lasting memories and reinforcing the belief that music should be accessible to everyone.
Thank you to everybody that joined us whether it be from the artists, the venue hosts, the wonderful volunteers, or fantastic audience and of course, our brilliant team, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes.