Worcester Music Festival has officially opened applications for local charities to become the festival’s chosen cause for 2026. The announcement follows the success of this year’s event, which raised a record-breaking £8,819.92 in support of Worcester Snoezelen.
Worcester Snoezelen is a leisure therapy centre offering person-centred multisensory activities that empower individuals, encourage joy, and support alternative communication. The charity provides a safe, welcoming environment for children and adults with learning disabilities and additional needs, enabling them to take part in creative, sensory-based experiences.
Emily Branson, Festival Director, commented:
“Seeing Worcester come together in September, with hundreds of performances, volunteers and audiences all pitching in, was a powerful reminder of the city’s generosity.
Raising £8,819.92 for Worcester Snoezelen is something we’re incredibly proud of. Those funds will help the centre continue to deliver sensory sessions, buy specialist equipment and open up more creative opportunities for the people they support. Now we’re turning our attention to 2026 and looking for another local charity to champion.”
Beth Hiatt, Project Impact Coordinator at Worcester Snoezelen, added:
“It has been an honour to be this year’s charity, and we are so grateful for the incredible amount raised as well as for the opportunity to raise our profile in the local Worcester community!”
In 2026, Worcester Music Festival will take place from 11th to 13th September across the city centre. Worcester-based charities wishing to be considered must submit their applications by 3rd January 2026 via the festival’s website.
Applicants will be asked to outline their mission, the communities they support, and whether they are seeking funding for a specific project. Previous beneficiaries include Worcester Community Trust, The Myriad Centre, Worcester Foodbank, and Worcestershire Association of Carers.
Each year, the majority of funds are raised through public donations. Collection boxes are placed in venues throughout the festival, while the fundraising team engages audiences with inventive costumes and collection buckets.
Since its launch in 2008, Worcester Music Festival has grown from a handful of venues and artists into a major weekend-long celebration of local music and community spirit. Today, the festival showcases more than 250 artists across 20+ venues, offering a platform for performers while raising vital funds for local causes.