10 April 2026
The city is set to come alive this September as Music in the City returns for its 18th year - with the backing of the city’s Business Improvement District (BID) GO! Southampton as they announce their sponsorship and ongoing partnership of this event.
The multi-venue music festival, Music in the City unites Southampton’s communities and artists with free performances at restaurants, pubs, shops, historic vaults, cultural sites and outdoor spaces – making it one of the largest free multi-venue festivals in the UK.
Last year, more than 360 music acts spanning 42 genres performed across 54 of the city’s most popular venues with many from under-represented backgrounds. Artists range from established local acts to emerging musicians in the early stages of their careers.
Since its launch in 2008, Music in the City has showcased both Southampton’s historic venues and its diverse music scene. Now a staple of the city’s events calendar, the festival supports local businesses by driving footfall and spend—closely aligning with GO! Southampton’s objectives.
Executive Director of GO! Southampton Stephen Manion said:
“We’re delighted to sponsor this year’s Music in the City and help champion local artists and venues through live music. This is an opportunity for rising stars and seasoned artists to perform in front of new audiences and help the city celebrate its rich cultural spaces. We, just like Music in the City, want to support local culture and creativity and this festival really delivers on this, at the same time as supporting and giving new opportunities to our local businesses. It is also a chance to encourage visitors to Southampton to stay and enjoy everything that is on offer in the city centre.”
Festival Organiser Chris Orr said:
“We welcome GO! Southampton’s support and sponsorship. It will make a big difference to our project and help us grow towards a more secure future for the event and everyone involved. We value GO!’s role in the local business community and I feel it will really help us build relationships with local businesses – we want to get them more involved with the festival so ultimately, we can make a positive difference to everybody that gets involved with our festival. What started as a free community music festival has grown into an event that covers the entire city centre now involving thousands of people, we are so proud of what we’ve created. This year, we’re keen to expand what we can offer with even more venues and artists, and a greater diversity of music included”
Registration to take part is still open to venues and artists, find out more here.
BID members can sign up for FREE
As part of our sponsorship, levy payers can sign up to host artists at no cost. If your business would like to get involved in Music in the City, simply email Chris Orr at chris@musicinthecity.org or complete the following form. When registering, please ensure you mention that you are a BID member.
