Infant Voices Festival 2026

Infant Voices Festival is an opportunity for KS1 children to join with other schools across the city to sing together and share performances.

Infant Voices comprises of a festival week held at schools across the city, followed by an optional showcase performance at Portsmouth Guildhall for Year 1 and 2.

This year, we will be using song from the Hub’s songbook Bombay’s Big Adventure.

What do Schools have to do?

  • Attend the twilight session on Tuesday 4 November at 4:30pm on Zoom

  • Teach the selected community songs from Bombay Big Adventure prior to the allocated festivals in February.

  • Select and teach 1 solo song prior to the allocated festivals in March.

  • Attend allocated festival in March

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The Festival takes place the week beginning Monday 23 February to Friday 27 February 2026.

    The optional Infant Voices Showcase will take place on Tuesday 17 February at Portsmouth Guildhall.

  • The festivals are held at host schools across the city.

    You will be allocated a festival based on your preferences given when signing up:

  • Morning Festivals: Arrive by 9:35 for a 9:45 start. The festival will finish by 11:00

    Afternoon Festivals: Arrive by 13:05 for a 13:15 start. The festival will finish by 14:30.

  • Schools can bring up to 3 classes in total in what ever configuration of Year R, 1 and 2, that suits your school (subject to space at festivals).

    For example you can bring 1 class of Reception, 1 class of Year 1 & 1 class of Year 2, or bring 3 classes of just Year 2.

  • Schools will sing 5 community songs from Portsmouth Music Hub's songbook Bombay’s Big Adventure.

    Schools taking part in the showcase event in March, will then sing 1 solo song which will be allocated at the planning meeting.

    Schools not taking part in the showcase event, will sing 1 solo song of their choosing. This can be on any theme.

    Please note if you would like your children to be considered for an individual slot at the Guildhall, the actual 30 children performing at the Guildhall need to sing together at the Festival. Massed performances with two or more classes cannot be considered.

  • Your children are welcome to wear costumes and use props at the Festival however this is not essential and the aim is to come along and enjoy the singing.

    Decisions about solo slots at the Guildhall will be made on quality of singing, not costumes or use of props.

    If you need a CD or MP3 file for your solo performance, remember to bring it to the venue. You should use an instrumental version without adult or children’s voices on the backing track.

  • Please bring a list of all the children and staff you will have with you to give to the host school office staff for health and safety.

    If you need a CD or MP3 file for your solo performance, remember to bring it to the venue. You should use an instrumental version without adult or children’s voices on the backing track.

  • This exciting opportunity for Year 1 and 2 children will take place on Wednesday 26 March at 6pm at Portsmouth Guildhall.

  • Not necessarily - some schools will be chosen to sing their individual schools songs. The schools selected will be informed following the Festival Week.

    All schools should prepare a solo song even if they are only taking part in the festival week.

  • Schools can bring 1 class (30 children approx.) to the Showcase performance at Portsmouth Guildhall. This can be either Year 1 or Year 2.

    If there are any spaces left for additional children these will be offered on a first come, first served basis.

Festival Information

Community Songs Choir A

Bombay Rock

Cool Cat

The Marching Band

Fairground (Lemons)

Music Makes Me Feel Alive

Possible Solo Festival Songs Choir A

Musical Theatre

The Very Fat Crab

Deep Deep Down In The Sea

Showcase Performance Information

Community Songs Choir A

Bombay Rock

Cool Cat

The Marching Band

Fairground (Lemons)

Music Makes Me Feel Alive

Tickets

Tickets for this concert will be available to purchase through the Music Hub in advance. Tickets purchased in advance are £9.50 per ticket including a ticket levy charged by the venue.

Please also find above a template parent letter detailing information about tickets and a booking slip. This is a template, which we recommend you adapt to detail your own school deadline for parents and your preferred payment process.

Please collate all replies and let us know the number of tickets your school requires, via email, by 3 March. Once ordered, the Music Hub will arrange for an internal journal transfer or invoice to be raised to each school for the tickets, to reduce cash handling. Tickets will be distributed to schools during the week commencing 9 March.

 Please note that tickets will be available to purchase, direct from Portsmouth Guildhall from 10 March onwards including the evening of the performance but will be subject to additional booking fees.