Plans are underway for Music in the City 2026, a free multi-venue community music festival that brings hundreds of free live music gigs to venues across Southampton, and organisers are raising funds for the event through a new raffle.
With a collection of top prizes that have been specially selected for music fans in the region, the £5 raffle tickets will bring in much-needed funding for the annual event to return in September.
“Music in the City is a unique festival for Southampton, in that is it delivered by the community, for the community. Our organisers and musicians are all volunteers, and together with the incredible music community in the city, they are the heart of it all. The camaraderie, the music and the community spirit; it’s a true team effort, and we’re asking our supporters to help keep the festival free by buying a raffle ticket,” said Chris Orr, Manager of Music in the City.
In 2025, the festival on the Saturday saw an estimated 15,000 people gather for 380 live performances across 54 different venues. It is planned for the festival to return on Saturday 12th September 2026.
The raffle prizes have been donated by local partners in the music business, include a first prize of two tickets for a show at the Southampton Summer Sessions in Guildhall Square. The winner will choose from Amy Macdonald, Alex James’ Britpop Classical, Pete Tong presents Ibiza Classics, The Beach Boys, OMD, Billie Ocean, Skunk Anansie & Garbage, Bowling for Soup & Frank Turner and Deacon Blue (excludes Paul Weller 20th June) from the 12th to the 27th June. Prize value up to £140, thanks to live music and event promoters Cuffe & Taylor.
Second prize is a pair of tickets to Let’s Rock: The Retro Festival at St Mary’s Stadium (Saturday 6 June). The iconic 80s festival, hosted by Pat Sharp and featuring Matt Goss, Kim Wilde, ABC, Sister Sledge, Heaven 17, Jason Donovan, T’Pau & Altered Images. Prize value £114, thanks to Southampton Football Club.
Further prizes include a pair of tickets to Wanderlust Festival (Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 May). Southampton’s top indie/alternative festival, where 50 acts including headliners Squid and The Horrors will perform across Heartbreakers, The Joiners and The 1865. Prize value £138, special thanks to Psych, Heartbreakers, The Joiners and The 1865; a £100 voucher for the Mayflower Theatre – the largest theatre in the South offering magical evenings with the most spectacular touring musicals – many direct from the West End – plus opera, ballet, and some of the biggest names in popular music and comedy; a Vinilo Record Store goodie bag worth £100 and two tickets for Julian Marley & The Uprising at The Engine Rooms (Saturday 6 June). Julian Marley & The Uprising is a Grammy-nominated, roots-reggae act led by the son of Bob Marley.
Tickets are £5 and the raffle is open until 10 May and winners will be notified by the following day when the prizes will be drawn.
Raffle tickets can be purchased by visiting musicinthecity.org/raffle
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