New Survey Finds 83% in the UK Intend to Experience Classical Music This Christmas

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s latest survey show increased interest among UK adults in attending classical or choral music concerts this Christmas

New research from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) revealed that 83% of UK adults say they will engage with classical and choral music in some format this Christmas — an increase from 76% surveyed earlier this summer.

From a representative sample of 2,000 adults on how they would experience classical music during December, the results found that nationally, 88% of those new to the genre say they will listen more to the genre over the festive period.

In particular, 51% of adults in the UK who have no relationship with the classical and orchestral music genre say they intend to give it a try over Christmas.

According to the survey results, the top 10 ways people will experience the classical genre this month are:

1. Listen to Christmas carols / choral music at home: 48%
2. Enjoy Christmas orchestral music at home or in the car: 25%
3. Watch a film / TV programme with an orchestral score: 22%
4. Add classical Christmas music to a streaming playlist: 20%
5. Sing Christmas carols with family / friends at home: 20%
6. Listen to classical / orchestral music on the radio: 17%
7. Attend an orchestral concert to see the year out: 14%
8. Play Christmas carols at work: 12%
9. Watch orchestral concerts / documentaries on YouTube: 11%
10. Will stream a Christmas / festive concert online: 10%

The RPO also revealed that people who usually prefer other genres of music will wander into the orchestral category over Christmas; adults in the UK favoring rock and metal music say they will listen to some classical Christmas music in the car (26%), and Blues and Country fans will switch to classical radio over Christmas (22%). 

Further, Dance and Rap listeners will sing Christmas carols at home with family over the festive period (21%), and Indie music fans intend to add classical music to their Christmas streaming playlists (21%).

Across the UK, Welsh people are most likely to enjoy listening to Christmas music at home when the tree and decorations go up (56%), while Londoners are most likely to add classical music to their on-the-go playlists (25%) and attend an orchestral concert over the holiday season (24%). 

In the North East of the UK, people are most likely to get together and sing Christmas carols at home (30%), and those in the South East are most likely to listen to classical radio over the festive period (21%).

Additionally, six of the top 15 pieces of music selected for go-to songs or music  for the Christmas countdown were from the choral and classical genre.

“Over the last 18 months, our research has quantified the size and diversity of new audiences that are experiencing the orchestral world for the first time,” said RPO’s Managing Director, Sarah Bardwell in the press release. “Technology has played its part in making the genre more accessible, but our data also suggests that the thrill of a live performance and the  diversity of concert programming is also playing a significant role. 

“Our latest research suggests many people will experience classical and choral music for the first time over Christmas, whilst others will take their journeys of discovery a step further,” she added. “At the RPO, we are committed to presenting the joy of orchestral music to the broadest possible audience and this is reflected in our 2025 season which offers a diverse range of orchestral music - from film scores and video game music to family-friendly concerts, alongside a wide range of traditional repertoire both old and new, including Christmas music.”

(Photo credit: Andy Paradise/The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra)