Singing with Nightingales
April 10-Early June 2026 • 7pm-12.30am
Sussex & Bedfordshire
HOW THE ‘EARLY BIRD’ WORKS
The 2026 season will run from April 10th to early June. Dates for the season will be announced and tickets will go on general sale in November 2025. As an ‘Early Bird’ ticket holder, you will have a week-long priority access period to choose your preferred date and location before tickets become available to the general public.
As part of our mission to increase access to our events, we are changing our pricing system for the 2026 season. For each night, we will offer Supporter, Regular and Subsidised tickets (at 60% of the Regular ticket price). In addition, we will be introducing a Bursary Scheme (0-60% of the Regular ticket price), which will be available with the general sale in November. For now, you can buy Early Bird tickets at Supporter, Regular and Subsidised prices. Supporter tickets help us offer subsidised prices to those who need them. For more information, please see our FAQs.
What happens aT Singing with Nightingales?
Each springtime, several thousand Nightingales make the long migration from Sub-Saharan Africa to reside in southern England. It is during this all-night virtuosic mating ritual, celebrated for millennia within prose, poetry, folksong and myth, that folksinger, naturalist and writer Sam Lee welcomes you to experience their sublime and much-decorated song and witness their ability to improvise with human musicians.
Singing with Nightingales is a one-of-a-kind experience. An act of immersive theatre and ritual, both otherworldly and yet something we might collectively have done since the dawn of humans. This communion with the more than human world reminds us that we are nature and nature is in us all.
Tickets to SWN are extremely limited, with a maximum of 40 places per night.
What’s included
Each event is joined by a different special guest musician. The evening includes musical performances by the campfire, an ecological tour of the woods, a two-course vegan dinner and hot and cold drinks, post-dinner tales of this majestic bird’s life, songs and folklore, culminating in the now-famous finale: a silent walk in the dark to hear our signature human-avian musical collaboration under the stars before returning to the campsite.
For a full insight into the concept and idea behind the project, please see our What is SWN page. If you’re planning on coming or are purchasing tickets for someone else, please read this page to get an idea of what the events involve so you and your party can be as prepared for the experience as possible.
Key information
Locations: Sussex & Bedfordshire
We are so happy you are keen to come and experience SWN, however, we would love those purchasing a place to be fully aware of what's involved. Please make sure you have versed yourself in the key information so you and your guests' visit is prepared for, safe and comfortable.
5:30 pm - Campers allowed on-site
6:45 pm - All guests check in
7:00 pm - SWN campfire opens & welcome with drinks
7:30 pm - Introduction and briefing
7:45 pm - Evening chorus and nature walk
8:20 pm - Dinner and drinks served
9:15 pm - Fireside songs and stories
10:45 pm - Nightingale walk begins
00:30 pm - Return to cars and camping
You can find a more detailed schedule here.
-
SWN, although seemingly a gentle experience, is outdoors and at the mercy of the British weather. Although only an evening long (longer if you are staying overnight) it requires full preparation and arriving ready for what the elements deal us. And every night can be different - balmy and dry one evening, muddy and windy the next. We recommend that you pay close attention to your group's level of ability to meet the likely demands of the outdoors before committing.
We get asked many questions about what people are concerned about, and the FAQ page answers many of these questions. Please feel free to get in touch and ask us questions but do check the detailed info we have laid out on this website for our most complete answers to your questions.
-
All the events take place in natural, outdoor locations and involve a substantial amount of walking through uneven terrain at night without the use of artificial light. This may not be suitable for people with limited mobility or special access needs. Each night we can do up to an hour of walking and the routes change nightly depending on which bird is singing. Climbing fence styles are also a common occurrence. Depending on the weather the ground may also be muddy or slippery. SWN team members are there to assist and we give a full briefing on safe night walking every night before we leave but please be the judge on the capability of everyone in your group before purchasing tickets. Please do get in touch with us if you have accessibility requirements and we will do our best to advise and assist. You can read more information on the Accessibility & Welfare page.
-
Please visit the Travel page for full information on getting to and from our sites.
-
SWN 2026 will be taking place at our Sussex and Bedfordshire sites. Exact locations and directions will be sent to ticket holders before the event.
-
Dressing appropriately is crucial for your SWN experience. The evening brings multiple weather conditions - warm by the fire, wet from dew, and often very cold after dark. We recommend plenty of warm layers (preferably wool), waterproof and sturdy footwear, and importantly, 'quiet' clothing that doesn't rustle or crinkle as we move through the woods. We provide fireside seating and portable tripod seats for the Nightingale experience. For complete details about what to wear and bring, including specific recommendations and helpful tips, visit the What, Wear & Why page.
-
Enjoy locally sourced food and drink around the warmth of the fire in preparation for the evening's adventure.
Please visit the Food & Drink page for full information.
-
Our Sussex site offers overnight camping on the land within the farm and by the woods. It’s the perfect way to allow the power of the night before not to be blasted away by a direct return to indoor living.
Please visit the Camping & Where to Stay page for full information.
“Gigs don’t come much more secret than this.”
The Guardian
‘Early Bird’ FAQs
-
When we announce the full Singing With Nightingales 2026 programme later this year, 'Early Bird' ticket holders will have a week-long priority access period to choose their preferred date and location before tickets become available to the general public.
-
Singing With Nightingales runs from mid-April to late May each year. We will announce specific event dates later this year when the general sale of tickets are released.
-
No, 'Early Bird' tickets only include musical performances by the campfire, an ecological tour of the woods, a two-course vegan dinner and hot and cold drinks (including wine/beer/cider), post-dinner tales of this majestic bird’s life, songs and folklore, culminating in the now-famous finale: a silent walk in the dark to hear our signature human-avian musical collaboration under the stars before returning to the campsite.
You will be able to purchase add-ons such as parking, DIY camping and boutique bell tents when dates are announced.
-
Early Bird tickets can be refunded until 1 February 2026 with a £15 administration fee per booking
Refunds will be processed to the original payment method within 10 working days
If you cannot attend any available dates, you may transfer your Early Bird ticket to someone else
-
In the checkout window, click "Do you have a promo code?" and enter your promo code. Please note that codes are case-sensitive and time-limited.
New Ticketing Policy FAQs
-
Starting in 2026, we're introducing a new community-centred ticketing approach to make Singing with Nightingales events more accessible to everyone. Instead of fixed pricing, we now offer three ticket types for each performance: Supporter, Regular, and Subsidised tickets, plus a Bursary Scheme for those who need additional financial support.
-
We know our events have the ability to heal, inspire, and bring communities together, but we've recognised that fixed pricing can create barriers for many who would deeply benefit from attending them. Our new sliding scale approach allows us to welcome people from a broad range of economic backgrounds while maintaining the quality and sustainability of our programming.
-
Our ticket structure is designed so that Supporter tickets (and other fundraising) help subsidise Subsidised and Bursary tickets while Regular tickets cover the true cost of presenting our events - including artist fees, venue costs, production expenses, and supporting our mission to create transformative experiences in nature.
Supporter Tickets: Help us offer reduced-price tickets to others while supporting our artistic vision
Regular Tickets: Cover the actual cost of producing our events
Subsidised Tickets: Available at 60% of the Regular price for those on lower incomes
Bursary Scheme: Sliding scale from 0-60% of Regular price for those facing financial hardship (launching November 2025)
-
We ask you to reflect honestly on your financial circumstances and choose the option that feels most appropriate. Here are some guidelines:
Consider a Subsidised ticket if you:
Have a lower income but are not receiving benefits
Can meet your basic needs and may be employed but on a modest wage
Would find the Regular price challenging but could manage the Subsidised rate
Are employed but on a modest wage
Consider a Regular ticket if you:
Have stable income that covers your basic needs comfortably
Can afford your housing and monthly bills without difficulty
Have some disposable income for entertainment and leisure
Consider a Supporter ticket if you:
Want to actively help others access our events
Have earning power that affords you financial flexibility
Consider a Bursary ticket (available from November 2025) if you:
Receive government benefits
Are a young person (35 and under) facing financial constraints
Have significant debt or financial obligations
Would experience genuine financial difficulty paying even the Subsidised price
-
Our Bursary Scheme will offer tickets from 0-60% of the Regular price for those who would face financial hardship paying for a Subsidised ticket but would still love to attend. The scheme will be available when general tickets go on sale in November 2025, and we will provide more information on it then.
-
Absolutely! If you're able to contribute beyond the Supporter ticket price, you can add a donation during booking. Even small additional amounts on Subsidised or Regular tickets help us expand accessibility. Every contribution helps us create a more inclusive community.
-
Early Bird tickets at Supporter, Regular, and Subsidised prices are available now. The full Bursary Scheme will launch when general ticket sales begin in November 2025.
-
No. We operate on trust and community good faith. We believe in moving away from transactional mindsets toward a gift economy model where everyone contributes what they're able to the collective experience we're creating together.
-
For more general FAQs, please see the FAQ page.