Wimbledon International Music Festival Is Back

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Acclaimed international artists alongside local favourites will be performing across Wimbledon, some in unexpected places. The event, which was founded in 2009, is known for its eclectic programme that aims to cater to both classical traditionalists as well as engaging new audiences. The festival also reaches young people through its partnership with Merton Music Foundation. 

Across three weeks, there will be everything from classical, jazz and folk to family concerts, art and wine tasting. Alongside the venues you might expect, look out for recitals in wine shops such as the intimate Cellar Sounds series at Jeroboams in Wimbledon Village, pairing music with wines from around the world! 

This is the second Festival under Artistic Director Anthony Friend, who succeeded founder Anthony Wilkinson in 2025. What have been his highlights from his first year? “The big payoff in putting on a festival like this is getting to witness the concerts and events themselves – last year’s festival was extremely strong artistically, and audience figures were excellent. Beyond that, however, I’ve felt very lucky to be part of an organisation that is deeply embedded in its local community. I’ve tried to harness this in a year-round programme of fun and sociable events for our supporters that have been real highlights for me.” 

His future plans for the festival? “There is still so much potential: making more local connections, spreading the word within Wimbledon and SW London, and gradually making the festival more of a destination for people who are not in the local area. As well as exploiting all this potential, I’d like to build enough trust from our audiences that we can take bigger artistic risks, knowing that our audiences will follow us anywhere.” 

(Scroll to see Anthony’s highlights)

Anthony Friend © Matthew Johnson / OAE Night Shift © Matthew Johnson / Imogen Whitehead © Matthew Johnson

Anthony Friend’s top picks from this year’s festival… 

Piano Titans, 26 November, 19:30 St John the Baptist, Spencer Hill 

David Khrikuli performs Bach, Chopin, Ravel and Rachmaninoff 

The young Georgian pianist David Khrikuli has never performed in the UK before, and I’m thrilled to be bringing him to WIMF this year. I heard him for the first time at last year’s Chopin International Piano Competition, broadcast from Warsaw, where Khrikuli caused a sensation – controversially not being awarded the first prize despite being an audience and critical favourite. He has a poetic touch, creating a luminous, warm sound at the piano, and a dazzling technique which will be on display in his fearsome programme for us, including some of the most challenging piano repertoire ever written. 

Sound and Fury, 12 November, 19:30 Wimbledon High School 

Sinfonia Smith Square performs Mendelssohn, Anna Clyne and a premiere by Gabriel Jackson 

Giving people the opportunity to witness a first-rate orchestra at close quarters is so exhilarating – particularly when it’s a passionate group of young professionals such as Sinfonia Smith Square (formerly known as Southbank Sinfonia). They are playing a visceral, exciting work by Anna Clyne called Sound and Fury to open the concert, before local resident and international trumpet star Imogen Whitehead performs a new concerto written for her by Gabriel Jackson, inspired by jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove. The second half is Mendelssohn’s glorious Symphony No. 3, ‘Scottish’, inspired by the composer’s travels there as a young man. 

OAE Night Shift, 19 November, 20:00 The Rushmere, The Ridgeway 

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment soloists in an intimate pub performance 

Baroque music predates the concert hall – it was mostly heard in private or in considerably livelier (and boozier) settings. Staying true to their pioneering practice of playing music on historical instruments, the period ensemble Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment has been playing concerts in pubs for nearly two decades. These ‘Night Shift’ concerts are a chance to hear the music up close, in a relaxed setting, with entertaining chat from the performers. The Rushmere is a new venue for us this year, and I’m excited about the collaboration. 

Gala Opera Recital, 21 November, 19:30 Wimbledon High School 

English National Opera’s Harewood Artists perform favourite opera arias with piano 

Four early-career professional singers – part of the ENO’s Harewood Artists programme, covering and performing roles onstage at the Coliseum – each perform some of their favourite arias with piano. Meanwhile, Champagne-method English sparkling wine is on offer from Roebuck Estates. Bubbles, stunning singing and music, and a chance to hear the opera stars of tomorrow (and today!) in an intimate recital. 

Painting and Music, 24 November, 19:30 St John the Baptist, Spencer Hill 

Painter Jérémie Queyras creates large-scale paintings to violin music played by Charlotte Spruit 

This year in Berlin, a new portrait of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel was unveiled at the Bode Museum. It was created by the young French-German painter Jérémie Queyras. Outside of his portrait work, Queyras creates incredible abstract paintings, often live on stage in performances with some of the world’s foremost classical soloists – his father is one of the greatest living cellists, so he has a deep appreciation of music. He joins violinist Charlotte Spruit on stage for music by Bach and Bartók, and the massive canvases will be on sale afterwards.

• 3-29 November 

Anthony Friend performs Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet with the outstanding French string quartet Quatuor Agate on Saturday 28 November at 7.30pm, St John the Baptist, Spencer Hill.