Black Lives in Music (BLiM) announces the return of Classically Black at Kings Place, London, on Saturday 10th October 2026. Following two hugely impactful sold-out years, the one-day event continues its mission to celebrate and elevate Black and global majority musicians and composers in classical music, past and present.
Classically Black is more than a festival. It is a growing cultural movement redefining what classical music looks and sounds like today. Rooted in Black and global majority experiences, the programme celebrates and elevates musicians and composers in classical music, past and present, through performance, discussion, youth engagement and new talent.
Now in its third year, Classically Black is an established highlight of the classical music calendar. The first black and global majority classical music festival has built a legacy, spotlighting musicians, composers and artists from global majority backgrounds. The two previous editions saw stunning performances from Ayanna Witter-Johnson and Laura Mvula with an array of new talent.
The Next Movement partnership with Warner Classics has been running since the start of Classically Black and has mentored 10 musicians so far. The DECCA label is also a partner, helping fund the event and platform the incredible talent it showcases.
“Classically Black puts Black and global majority musicians at the centre of the stage, where they are not just performing the classical tradition but reinventing it. The creativity and ambition of these players is where classical music is heading next. They are bringing new ideas, new energy and new audiences to a genre that has too often kept its doors closed, and they are doing it on their own terms. That is what makes this day so special. It is a celebration of everything these musicians are, and a real glimpse of where the artform is going”
“Classically Black is the future of classical music for all audiences to hear, and we would love for people to come to Kings Place this October and be part of it.” – Charisse Beaumont, Chief Executive, Black Lives In Music
“Classical music is at its most powerful when it reflects the world around us, and through our support of ‘The Next Movement’ showcase, we’re proud to play our part in championing talented musicians from diverse backgrounds, building a more inclusive, vibrant future for the industry.” – Sean Gross, Warner Classics
The 2026 edition opens with ‘Under the Skin, One People’ a panel discussion moderated by British-Jamaican poet, playwright, singer and multidisciplinary artist from Leicester Carol Leeming MBE. Joined by neuro-divergent pianist Michael Howell, Nigerian born, London based soprano Victoria Oruwari and clarinetist Berginald Rash, the panel focuses on the challenges faced by those with intersectional identities, including race, taking part in classical music.
Next is the return of British composer Pete Letanka’s Children & Young People’s Music Workshop Sharing Session – this free, community-facing event features the results of a collaborative workshop series led by Letanka and the Music in Secondary Schools Trust (MiSST). The presentation offers an inspiring look at the culmination of workshops, highlighting the creativity and potential of young musicians involved in this vital educational partnership.
Dedicated to individuality and innovation, ‘Keyboard Warriors’ features a keynote address by Oli Rose of the Lang Lang Foundation, followed by a series of dynamic performances. The session showcases the artistry of pianists Rebeca Omordia, Yshani Perinpanayagam, and Okiem, providing a vibrant platform that celebrates the evolution of piano performance through three distinct twenty-minute sets.
In collaboration with Warner Classics, ‘The Next Movement Showcase’ spotlights the industry’s rising stars. Selected via a rigorous open call process, five talented performers. Ryan Morgan, Isaac Shieh, Nahuel Angius-Thomas, Yuma Angius-Thomas, and Simone Seales take the stage to demonstrate the bright future of classical music performance.
The ‘Down with the Patribachy’ podcast ends the day. A classical music podcast hosted by Ellie Ajao, the show re-examines the story of Western classical music through the lens of composers left out of the traditional canon, those, as the show puts it, without “pale skin, curly wigs or a Y chromosome.” For Classically Black, the podcast comes to the stage as a live recording, a fresh and thought-provoking journey through musical history. Ellie is joined on the panel by Joe McHardy, Emma Arthur and Braimah Kanneh-Mason. Plus, live performances from the eight-piece chamber choir Omnium Ensemble adding a musical dimension to the stories under discussion, inviting the audience to think differently about the canon and celebrate voices that have too often been left out.
Classically Black 2026 Info:
Event: Classically Black 2026 – London Edition
Presented by: Black Lives in Music (BLiM)
Date: Saturday 10 October 2026 · Doors from 11.15am
Venue: Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG
Tickets: Full Day £55 · Half Day £30 · Children & Young People’s Sharing Session free
Half Day access – ‘Under The Skin, One People’, ‘Keyboard Warriors’, free access to Children & Young People’s Music Workshop Sharing Session
Full Day Access – includes all sessions – the panel, keynote, three twenty minute piano sets, the Next Movement Showcase with Warner Classics and a live recording of the Down with the Patribachy podcast featuring Braimah Kanneh-Mason.
Ticket Link:
https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/black-lives-in-music-presents-classically-black/
Warner Classics – collaborator on The Next Movement Showcase.
Music in Secondary Schools Trust (MiSST) – partner on the Children & Young People’s Sharing Session.
Lang Lang Foundation – Oli Rose delivers the Keyboard Warriors keynote.
Supported by ABRSM, Arts Council England and DECCA.
Accessibility – BSL interpreters will be involved, with additional access considerations across the event
