Choirs are withdrawing from the Land of Song Festival set to take place in Cardiff next May amid controversy over participation fees. The event, which will feature Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli in his first headlining concert in Wales, aims to assemble up to 20,000 singers for a massed choir performance at the Principality Stadium from May 7 to 9, 2027. However, the high costs imposed on choirs and individual participants have prompted many to pull out.

The festival requires each choir to pay a £150 subscription fee, while individual singers must pay £42 to take part. Several choir members have criticized the fees as excessive, expressing disbelief at being asked to pay to perform. One member of the Morriston Ladies Choir in Swansea described the charges as a “money-making racket,” noting that in her many years of choir involvement she had never encountered fees of this nature.

Huw Watkins from the Glynneath Male Voice Choir echoed these concerns, saying his group, which was planning to bring about 20 singers, faced costs around £1,000 including registration and accommodation. He highlighted that additional expenses could include purchasing printed sheet music. Watkins suggested that the event might be in jeopardy if enough choirs do not participate.

Other potential participants have also cited travel and lodging costs as barriers, with one choir from Ireland expecting accommodation expenses of nearly €1,000 per person for two nights, excluding registration fees. Some questioned the festival’s failure to publish the full fee structure when initially soliciting interest, arguing that earlier transparency could have prevented wasted time and planning.

Ticket prices for audiences range from £72 to over £170, with VIP tickets available for £265. This contrast with the costs imposed on singers has further fueled criticism. Despite the planned scale of the event, the withdrawal of multiple choirs could impact its scope and success.

Organizers of the Land of Song Festival and representatives of the Principality Stadium have been contacted for comment but had not provided a response at the time of reporting. The debate over participation costs highlights the challenge of balancing large-scale artistic events with accessibility for community and amateur performers.