Cardiff is tuning up for two weeks of unforgettable music as the Cardiff Music City Festival returns for its second year, running from 3–18 October 2025. Following a summer of blockbuster gigs at the stadium, castle and Blackweir Fields, the spotlight now shifts to the city’s music venues, which will host an exciting programme of over 200 performances across more than 20 stages.
The festival kicks off tonight at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, where Welsh favourites CVC will perform an intimate stripped-back set with orchestral piano. From there, the city will come alive with a diverse line-up ranging from indie heroes Los Campesinos! and Mercury Prize winners Adwaith, to international icons like Rufus Wainwright, Cate Le Bon, and Meredith Monk.
Highlights also include the 15th annual Welsh Music Prize ceremony, discovery showcases at Sŵn Festival, the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World gala concert, and Llais Festival at Wales Millennium Centre – where immersive performances will explore everything from the power of voice to boundary-pushing collaborations.
With talks, installations, pop-up gigs and unexpected happenings threaded throughout, the Cardiff Music City Festival is more than just a series of shows – it’s a citywide celebration of creativity, connection, and culture.
Tickets for all performances and events are available now at cardiffmusiccityfestival.wales.
Find out more about Cardiff Music City Festival line-up HERE
