Boundary-pushing music and performance will fill venues, clubs and pop-up locations in Cardiff for two weeks this autumn as Cardiff Music City Festival soundtracks the city for a second year.
The innovative festival will run from Friday 3 October – Saturday 18 October 2025, bringing together musicians, promoters, and immersive tech specialists from far and wide to create unique collaborations and unmissable one-off events.
Established artists, underground heroes and breakout Wales-based stars will fill a genre-bending programme designed to thrill audiences alongside specially commissioned urban soundscapes, inspiring talks, and industry sessions.
Supported by Cardiff Council, the festival will feature a series of unique performances, gigs and unexpected happenings in the heart of the Welsh capital over fifteen music-filled days.
Proudly encompassing new music showcase Sŵn, Wales Millennium Centre’s international arts weekend, Llais, and the prestigious Welsh Music Prize which celebrates the finest music made in Wales or by Welsh people around the world, the 2025 festival programme promises to build on the success of last year’s inaugural festival and keep pushing the boundaries of music innovation, performance and technology.
The festival’s first year saw thousands of music fans enjoy performances from pioneering electronic artists Leftfield and Orbital and the barrier-breaking Ms. Lauryn Hill and The Fugees, an intimate homecoming show from legendary bass player Pino Palladino and riotous shows from Mercury music prize winners English Teacher, experimental post-punk outfit Squid and explosive Welsh talent like Mace the Great, LEMFRECK and Sage Todz.
Alongside the music, expect an industry conference and a series of inspiring sessions presented in collaboration with music sector leaders to add extra layers of wonder and wisdom.
Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Events, Cllr Jennifer Burke, said: “Cardiff is such a vibrant city, full of music, artistic expression and innovation. The festival is an amazing opportunity to bring people together to celebrate that creativity and to showcase the city’s diverse and exciting culture to a wider audience.”
This festival is a key initiative in the Cardiff Music Strategy which aims to protect, promote and develop the city’s music sector.
