That’s all from SYMF 2026!
Next years festival dates for your diary
15th - 18th March 2027
Mareel
About Shetland Youth Music Festival
Shetland’s rich and lively musical heritage is well known and much celebrated. The week-long annual Shetland Youth Music Festival brings together young people across the isles to perform music in front of live audiences.
We are committed to giving Shetland’s young people the experience and joy of music making and performance. In the opportunities it affords our young musicians, the festival builds and strengthens our musical heritage for the future, providing young people with a creative musical community with which they can identify and share.
Our festival is driven by the principles of inclusivity, participation, quality and celebration. Inclusive participation is central to our approach. The festival is for all young people under 19, wherever they are in Shetland. We invite the participation of children of primary school age one year, alternating with high school age the next.
SYMF 2025 saw over 200 children taking part from high schools. The 2026 festival is open to all junior schools across Shetland.
A word from our Adjudicator
Anne MacDonald
We are delighted to welcome Anne to adjudicate again to this year's festival. An examiner for Trinity College London and violinist with Scottish Ballet Orchestra, Anne was in Shetland in 2025 adjudicating the senior festival.
"What a lovely way to come out of a long and cold winter! I can’t think of a better and more inspiring start to Spring than to return to Shetland and listen to your young musicians.
If previous visits are anything to go by, and I have no reason to think this year will be any different, I am in for a wonderful few days of music making at the very highest level.
I look forward to seeing as many friends and family as possible at Mareel supporting their young musicians. It makes all the difference!
Thank you again to your dedicated instrumental staff and for giving me the opportunity to be part of this quite unique event."
