Past Events: LPF 2026
Well, what an extraordinary five days of Piano playing we had at LPF26! So many memories made. So many wonderful shows and concerts. So many talented Pianists playing the street pianos.
From the celebrity event with its high standard of playing, great banter and snooker world number 8, Shaun Murphy‘s fabulous debut on the piano to our festival finale where so many talented amateur players took to the stage before the toe-tapping exuberance of Boogie Woogie Sue sent everyone home on a high. And you have raved about the concerts that didn’t sell out just as much as the ones that did!
Below is our programme of events for LPF 2026.
Wednesday 20th May 2026

20 MAY 2026
The Celebrity Concert
St Laurence’s Church
7.00pm
Our ever-popular curtain-raiser is back with some new names and some old friends. Super Cally Beaton will host in her engaging, lively and cheeky way and interview and introduce players* such as: Rachel Parris, Rainer Hersch, Rev Rich Coles, snooker champion Shaun Murphy and Colin Sell (I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue).
*Subject to change.
Thursday 21st May 2026

21 MAY 2026
Rainer Hersch:Wagner’s Ring Cycle in One Hour
Ludlow Assembly Rooms
2.00pm
“Wagner’s Ring Cycle for people who can’t be bothered to sit through it.” After bringing us his hit comedy shows ‘Rainer Hersch’s Victor Borge’ and ‘All Classical Music Explained’ Rainer returns promising to get through Wagner’s 15-hour epic in under 60 minutes.

21 MAY 2026
Ellis Arey:Working Class-ical Hero
Palmers Hall
4.30pm
Ellis Arey is a DECCA-signed British pianist whose performances have been featured on Channel 4, the BBC, and Sky Arts, where a short documentary was recently dedicated to his work. A two-time winner of the Leeds Besbrode Piano Competition, he has established himself as one of the most compelling young voices on the UK classical scene.

21 MAY 2026
Isata Kanneh-Mason
St Laurence’s Church
7.30pm
One of the most sought-after young British pianists comes to Ludlow with a programme full of variety. A very hot ticket!
Friday 22nd May 2026

22 MAY 2026
Richard Coles:Desert Island Piano
Ludlow Assembly Rooms
10.30am
Richard Coles has done practically everything from losing on Strictly to almost winning in the Jungle to having number one singles, hosting Radio 4 shows, Have I Got News For You as well as writing hugely successful novels.

22 MAY 2026
Connor Fogel:Showtime!
Ludlow Assembly Rooms
2.30pm
Connor will play pieces by Bernstein, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber and others from : Carousel, West Side Story, South Pacific, Hello Dolly, Phantom of the Opera, A Little Night Music, Follies, Cabaret and Les Misérables.

22 MAY 2026
Clara Rodriguez:The South American Way
Palmers Hall
4.30pm
London-based and Venezuelan-born pianist Clara Rodriguez – acclaimed by BBC Radio 3 as “the Queen of Latin American Classical Music” – has captivated audiences worldwide with her artistry.

22 MAY 2026
Danny Driver
St Laurence’s Church
7.30pm
One of the country’s busiest pianists, Danny is a regular on Radio 3, at the prestigious Wigmore Hall in London and is known and respected for his very different and exciting programming.
Saturday 23rd May 2026

23 MAY 2026
Luke Faulkner:By Special Arrangement
Ludlow Assembly Rooms
11.00am
Local to Ludlow, pianist, composer and YouTube sensation, Luke Faulkner, plays arrangements of well-known symphonies, ballets, and operatic arias.

23 MAY 2026
Anne Lovett:The Paris Connection
Ludlow Assembly Rooms
2.30pm
Anne Lovett plays pieces by composers and singers who have an obvious or a surprising connection with Paris: Poulenc, Faure, Debussy, Satie, Michel Legrand, Bill Evans, Miles Davis, Nat King Cole and Nina Simone.
A veritable taste of France.

23 MAY 2026
Elisey Mysin:The Concert
Palmers Hall
4.30pm
Fifteen years old. Diminutive. Extraordinary. Elisey Mysin is the very definition of a child prodigy. He has already worked as a soloist with many leading orchestras including the Greek National Radio and Television Orchestra, and The Russian National Symphony Orchestra.

23 MAY 2026
Peter Donohoe
St Laurence’s Church
7.30pm
Peter loved playing in Ludlow so much last year that he asked us if he could come back! Who are we to say ‘no’ to one of the country’s most respected soloists?
Sunday 24th May 2026

24 MAY 2026
Peter Donohoe:Masterclass
Ludlow Assembly Rooms
11.00am
A chance to hear two promising students being given expert tuition from a master of the craft. Feel the experience, see the learning, hear the difference.

24 MAY 2026
Elisey Mysin:The Encore
Palmers Hall
2.00pm
A second chance to marvel at the young mastery of the extraordinary Elisey Mysin. This time he brings us music by his countrymen: Rachmaninov, Stravinsky and Prokofiev. Prepare to be amazed!

24 MAY 2026
Martin Pyne Trio:Small Blue
Ludlow Assembly Rooms
4.00pm
After accompanying our silent films for the last two years, this time Martin returns with his jazz trio playing their own smooth and mellow compositions from their last album. Perfect for a Sunday afternoon between the classics.

24 MAY 2026
Free Festival Finale!
St Laurence’s Church
6.00pm
Invitations to this free concert have been sent to existing LPF ticket holders.
This is a change to our published programme