Welsh Choirs Withdraw from Andrea Bocelli Festival Over £42 Per-Singer Fee

Choirs across Wales are pulling out of The Land of Song Festival, a two-day event at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff scheduled for 8 and 9 May 2027, after organisers introduced a £150 choir subscription plus a £42 fee for each individual chorister. The festival, marketed as "one of the world's largest shared singing events," is set to feature Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli on the Saturday, with up to 20,000 choristers expected on the Sunday. Huw Watkins, a member of Glynneath Male Voice Choir who has performed at the Royal Albert Hall and at Wales rugby matches, said his choir had never previously paid to participate and estimated the total cost at about £1,000 for roughly 20 singers, before coach hire and accommodation for groups travelling from outside Wales. He added that hard copies of the music would also incur a charge, and that the event might not go ahead. Colin Williams of Llantrisant Male Choir, which has about 78 members, said his group paid the £150 registration fee but withdrew once the £42 per-chorister charge emerged, citing poor communication about repertoire and rehearsals; he described the request as "massive cheek" after 44 years of singing without paying. Around 40 choirs or singing groups have announced on social media that they will not take part. Organisers The Land of Song Festival and the Principality Stadium have been asked to comment.