Isle of Man Festival of Choirs

A biennial choral competition held in Douglas, this festival (established in 2010) brings together male, female, mixed, and youth choirs from across the UK, Ireland, and locally. Over a weekend each October, choirs perform before adjudicators and audiences, with winners progressing to a final concert. Led by the Villa Marina’s Royal Hall events, it emphasizes community choral tradition and friendly competition 1 2. Local and visiting singers blend Manx songs with varied repertoire, showcasing the island’s rich vocal culture.

Running every two years, the festival was created to put Mannin on the map for choral music. It is supported by the Isle of Man’s Department for Enterprise and local arts organizations. The event includes an opening ‘welcome evening’ concert where all participating choirs are featured, followed by categories on Saturday and culminating in a "Choir of the Festival" final on Sunday 1 2.