LABBS Convention Harrogate 2026: 50th Anniversary Weekend Guide

The short answer

The LABBS Convention Harrogate weekend celebrates 50 years of the Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers, from Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November 2026 at Harrogate Convention Centre. The easiest way to plan it is to stay in central Harrogate, within a short walk of Kings Road, so you can move between sessions, meals and rehearsals on foot. A serviced apartment or townhouse gives a chorus or group of friends shared space, a kitchen and somewhere comfortable to warm up.

The LABBS convention Harrogate weekend at a glance

This is a landmark year, and LABBS has planned a packed programme of contests, showcases and celebrations for its 50th anniversary. The action takes place in the Main Auditorium at Harrogate Convention Centre, one of the largest purpose-built auditoriums in the UK. Two headline guests are joining the celebrations from the United States: Smoke Ring Quartet from New York and Parkside Harmony Chorus from Hershey, Pennsylvania. It promises to be a very special weekend for singers and supporters alike.

• Dates – Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November 2026
• Venue – Main Auditorium, Harrogate Convention Centre, Kings Road, HG1 5LA
• Organiser – LABBS, the Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers

Passes and the programme

Passes, the full timetable and the latest news are all on the LABBS convention website, so it is worth checking there as you plan which days to attend. Once you know your sessions, you can build the rest of the weekend around them. Inside the Convention Centre, payments are by card and contactless, which keeps things quick and easy. The venue also links to visitor discount offers from local partners, a nice bonus for a weekend in town.

Getting there

• By train – Harrogate station is about a seven-minute walk from the Convention Centre. LNER runs four direct trains a day from London King's Cross, taking around 2 hours 46 minutes. Our guide to arriving by train helps you get your bearings.
• By air – Leeds Bradford Airport is about 12 miles away, roughly 20 minutes by car, and the A2 bus runs hourly in about 31 minutes.
• By car – use HG1 2HR for the Convention Centre car park. The venue lists over 1,200 parking spaces in the centre of town, and once you are settled you can walk everywhere.

Where to stay for a chorus or group

A convention weekend is far more relaxed when your bed is a short walk from the auditorium. Our homes across central Harrogate suit choruses, quartets and families travelling together, with separate bedrooms, a full kitchen and a living room that doubles as a rehearsal space. Sharing one larger home is often better value and more sociable than several hotel rooms. Our Convention Centre accommodation guide and our guide to choosing the right neighbourhood cover the best areas, and our group and longer stays team can help with bigger bookings.

Eating and drinking

Harrogate has a wide choice of restaurants and cafes within walking distance of the Convention Centre, which makes a group meal easy to fit around the programme. A big chorus dinner is best booked ahead for Friday or Saturday evening. Our guide to where to eat in Harrogate has our favourite tables for groups, and the perfect pub in Harrogate is ideal for a celebratory drink. Having your own kitchen also means an easy breakfast before an early call time.

Making the most of the weekend

Late October is a lovely time to be in Harrogate, with autumn colour across the town. If you have a free hour, a walk through Valley Gardens is a gentle way to rest your voice. After the final session on Sunday, the Turkish Baths are the perfect way to unwind before heading home. For everything else on in town, see what's on in Harrogate from October to December 2026.

Stay with Short Stay Harrogate

We look after 20 homes across Harrogate and have welcomed 2,000+ guests since 2020, with 1,500+ five-star reviews and a 4.9 average rating. Our central homes are within walking distance of the Convention Centre and are ideal for choruses and groups staying the whole weekend. Browse our properties, or see our business and group stays for larger bookings.

Written by Youcef Scott, founder of Short Stay Harrogate. Last updated October 2026.