Vienna 2026

 
 

Dear Parents and Carers,

We are pleased to share further details regarding the choir’s upcoming summer tour to Vienna in 2026.  This exciting opportunity will see our singers participate in Season II of the prestigious World Peace Choral Festival, held from 23rd to 26th July 2026.

This is a unique opportunity for the choir to perform in a festival recognised as one of the most influential international choral festivals globally.  Attended by many outstanding choirs and choral enthusiasts from over 20 countries, FYC will have the opportunity to perform in some of Vienna’s most iconic venues, including the United Nations Headquarters and the Golden Hall.

Travel & Accommodation

Cost & Payment Schedule

The final cost per singer is £1,175.

  • Deposit: £185 due by 1st November 2025

  • 1st March 2026: £250

  • 1st April 2026: £250

  • 1st May 2026: £250

  • 1st June 2026: £240

Payments should be made by BACS transfer to the normal FYC Bank account:

 Sort code: 30-93-20

Account number: 00054740

Account name: Farnham Youth Choir

 Please use your singer’s name suffixed with ‘VIE’ so that finance know where to allocate the payment.

Singers not taking the return flights with FYC will have a different total and payment schedule which has been communicated to them via email.

Alternatively, the full amount may be paid in one lump sum.  Please note that payments are non-refundable (see Tour Payment & Refund Policy).

Next Steps

  • Please ensure you have paid your deposit.

  • Please read the Information Sheet.

  • Please ensure that your singer’s passport is valid for at least 6 months after 27th July 2026.

  • Please start to investigate any visas needed if your singer is not a European Passport Holder.

We are grateful for your support and look forward to sharing this memorable experience with your singers.

Information Sheet

Festival Overview

The 15th World Peace Choral Festival (23–26 July 2026) brings together 40 choirs and 1,700 singers from over 20 countries.

More info: www.wpcf.at.

See attached documents for festival overview and schedule.

Itinerary

22 July: Meet at 04:15 at Terminal 3, Heathrow, Meeting point G (outside the terminal). Depart LHR 07:00, arrive Vienna 10:20. Travel to hotel. Lunch. Afternoon Rehearsal.
23 July: Concerts & Opening Ceremony. 
24 July: Rehearsals, Workshops, Concerts.
25 July: Competition & Concerts.
26 July: Gala Concert & Award Ceremony.
27 July: Depart hotel 08:00, Depart VIE 11:00, arrive LHR 12:30.

Flights & Travel

Flights with British Airways.  Flights are booked and deposits paid.  Until the final payment is made, the prices may vary slightly due to the fluctuating tax element.

BA722 (22 July LHR–VIE 07:00–10:20)

BA723 (27 July VIE–LHR 11:00–12:30)

Includes 1 cabin bag and 1 checked bag (23kg). 

Singers to make their own way to Terminal 3 at Heathrow. Drop-off time at LHR is 04:15 at Meeting Point G outside Terminal 3.

Collection at LHR should be in Arrivals of Terminal 3 at around 13:30.

Accommodation

A&T Hostel Vienna, Leibnizgasse 66 • A-1100 Vienna

 https://www.athostel.com/home_en/#Zimmer

2, 4 or 6 per dormitory, ensuite bathrooms.

Towels not included. Singers should bring their own towel.

Hostel located near Reumannplatz metro on U1 line(11 mins to city centre).

All FYC rooms will be close together.

We will aim to room all singers with at least one of their preferred friends. 

Important hostel information:

  • Upon arrival, a cash deposit of €20 per student is required

  • Towels: singers should bring their own towel

  • Free Wi-Fi is available in all areas

  • Each room as its own en-suite bathroom.

  • Each room has lockable lockers. Bring your own padlock but if it doesn’t fit the locker, be prepared to hire a padlock from reception for €5

  • Vending machines are available in the hostel but only accept cash.

Meals

Breakfast buffet provided at hostel. 

Lunch (2-course) and Dinner (3-course) at restaurants near concert venues. Water included. 

Packed meals or Fast Food will be provided if the schedule is tight. 

Dietary requirements will be catered for. 

The first meal provided as part of the tour package is dinner on the evening of 22nd July. Singers should therefore bring money with them to buy their own lunch for 22nd July.

There will be food for sale on the flight, but no ‘free meal’ will be provided. Singers may therefore also want to bring money to buy breakfast at the airport before departure.

Transport in Vienna

There will be a coach transfer between airport and hotel but all other travel will be via public transport.

Singers will travel between 2 to 4 concert venues each day via Public transport and walking. 

15s and under travel free with ID during July and August. Chaperones will carry a photocopy of every singer’s passport with them as proof of id.

16s and over will use a Vienna City Card which will be given to them upon arrival in Vienna.

Cost & Payment Schedule

Final cost: £1,175.  This is subject to minor changes until the final payment due to fluctuating government taxes.

Deposit and staged payments (see email). 

Cancellation Policy

Please ensure you are able to meet these payments before committing, as payments are non-refundable if you cancel (see attached Tour Payment & Refund Policy).  

It is important to note that accepting a tour place and failing to meet payment commitments could have financial implications for the choir therefore, if you pull out of the tour, you will remain liable for the full cost.  

Failure to pay the full cost may result in your singer being asked to leave FYC.  

Fundraising

It is vital that all families help with fundraising to reduce the final costs.  

It is expected that everyone will play their part and contribute to the fundraising effort.  

For more information about how you can help please contact Oz at oz.austwick@fyc.org.uk

We will monitor the fundraising amounts and will communicate the revised costs prior to the final payment being made.

A final review of costs and fundraising will be done in July and any refunds of overpayments will be made by end July 2026.

Tickets & Audience Access

The festival has confirmed that:

  • All public performances will be free for parents/carers and family members.

  • Ticket booking will open in May 2026.

  • We will collect numbers and request tickets directly from the organisers on behalf of parents.

  • If you are travelling to Vienna to support our singers, please let Donna know how many tickets she should order on your behalf.

Please note:

  • Performances inside the United Nations Headquarters are not open to parents/carers due to security restrictions.

  • All other concerts, including the Voices for Peace series, the Choral Competition, and the Gala Concerts at the Musikverein, are open to families.

Thursday 23 July
Opening Ceremony (afternoon) – open to parents/carers
Voices for Peace Concert 1 (evening) – open to parents/carers

Friday 24 July
Voices for Peace Concerts 2, 3 & 4 (evening) – open to parents/carers

Saturday 25 July
Choral Competition (daytime) – open to parents/carers
Voices for Peace Concerts 5, 6 & 7 (evening) – open to parents/carers

Sunday 26 July
Gala Concert 1 & Gala Concert 2 – open to parents/carers
Award Ceremony – open to parents/carers

(UN performances on 23rd, 24th and 25th July are not accessible to parents/carers.)

The current WPCF Schedule can be found here.

A Note on Competition Etiquette

The WPCF organisers are keen for parents/carers to be able to watch their children compete but have asked that we show great respect and remain quiet during performances.

Your support and courtesy will help create the best possible environment for every young singer.

Family Attendance

A number of our choir families have independently attended previous competitions and festivals where they have been able to watch competitions, ceremonies and concerts.  You are welcome to talk to Louise Todd and Donna Coxon about their experiences. 

Please do take some Union flags with you to wave in support of our singers.  FYC are the only choir from the UK so are effectively representing our countries.

T-shirts and other merch for our parent supporters can be purchased on Redbubble: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/180170003?ref=studio-promote

Please do wear the FYC brand if you can to promote our small charity.

Parents may attend the festival independently but singers must remain with FYC at all times.  Singers will not be able to spend time with their families during the festival.  They have a very busy schedule, so parents may be able to catch up with their singers briefly before or after performances but other than that, there will be very limited contact with the singers.

Singers travelling to Vienna independently must confirm their arrival times with Donna so that an agreed handover time and place can be arranged.

Singers staying on after the festival must be collected by 07:30 on 27 July.

Safeguarding

There will be 5 adults accompanying the choir: 

  • Music Team

    • Patrick Barrett

    • Matthew Rickard

  • 3 experienced chaperones

    • Louise Todd (Senior Liaison)

    • Aggie Paintin

    • Lizzie Post 

If a singer becomes acutely unwell and needs hospital care, then Janet Ruthven/Melanie Hancox will be called immediately to step in as a chaperone, allowing ratios to remain satisfactory.

Regular headcounts in chaperone groups will occur throughout the tour to ensure safety.

Care plans for each singer and an emergeny plan are in place.

Passport and Visa Information

Passport requirements for Austria

  • Passports should have been issued within the last 10 years and have at least 3 months’ validity beyond the day you plan to leave the Schengen Area.

  • Check expiry dates now and renew early where needed.

  • Keep a printed copy and a digital copy (photo) of the passport photo page while travelling.

Visa requirements — quick summary (start applications early if required)

  • British passport holders: no Schengen visa required for short stays (up to 90 days in any 180‑day period).

    Irish passport holders (EU citizens): no visa required; travel freely within the Schengen Area using your passport.

    Latvian passport holders (EU citizens): no visa required; travel on passport or national ID card.

    Chinese passport holders: Schengen visa required — apply via the Austrian embassy/consulate or VFS centre serving your area; allow time for appointment booking and document preparation.

    Ukrainian passport holders: many Ukrainian nationals require a Schengen visa (exceptions depend on passport type and current EU measures) — check Austrian embassy/consulate guidance and apply early.

    Hong Kong SAR passport holders: typically visa‑free for short stays (tourism/business) up to the Schengen visa‑exemption period; confirm passport type and current rules before travel.

    Other nationalities: requirements vary — check the Austrian embassy/consulate in your country; Schengen (C) visa applications typically require travel medical insurance, proof of accommodation, return/onward travel, and evidence of sufficient funds.

EES and ETIAS

  • EES (Entry/Exit System) records entry/exit data (including biometrics) for non‑EU/EEA nationals entering the Schengen Area; be prepared for biometric checks if asked at the border.

  • EU citizens (for example, Irish and Latvian) are not processed under EES when travelling within the EU/Schengen as citizens of a Member State.

  • ETIAS is not yet fully operational for most travellers; current guidance anticipates rollout in 2026 (expected late 2026) so ETIAS authorisation will not be required for travel in July 2026, but this timing is subject to EU scheduling and short delays are possible.

    • Once ETIAS is live, visa‑exempt third‑country nationals (for example, many British and Hong Kong SAR passport holders) will need to obtain an ETIAS electronic travel authorisation linked to the passport they travel with before entering the Schengen Area.

    • EU citizens (for example, Irish and Latvian passport holders) will not need ETIAS and will continue to travel freely on their EU passports or national ID cards.

For the Vienna tour 22–27 July 2026, you do not need to apply for ETIAS now; however, check official ETIAS updates before final travel documents are issued in case the operational date or transition arrangements change.

GHIC / EHIC / health cover

Apply here: https://overseas-healthcare.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/get-healthcare-cover-travelling-abroad/start

  • British citizens: apply for a GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) to access state‑provided healthcare in Austria for medically necessary treatment; the GHIC is free from the NHS — apply early (aim by May 2026) to ensure the card arrives in time.

  • EU/EEA citizens (for example, Irish and Latvian): bring your national health insurance card or EHIC where applicable.

  • Non‑EU/EEA citizens (for example, China, many Ukrainian, Hong Kong SAR nationals): there is no UK GHIC equivalent from the UK; check whether your home country issues a reciprocal healthcare card for Austria, but rely primarily on comprehensive travel insurance for medical cover.

  • GHIC/EHIC do not replace travel insurance — they only cover part of state‑provided care.

  • Although FYC is arranging group travel insurance, we also recommend that singers take out their own travel insurance.

Travel insurance

Group travel insurance has been arranged through JS Travel Insurance (use reference: JS Travel Insurance JTI636)

Singers should also have their own personal travel insurance and policy details should be forwarded to Donna Coxon.

The group travel insurance policy is held by the choir and provides a general safety net for the organisation in the case of cancellation and cover for medical emergencies during the tour.  We haven’t done any screening questions, so it doesn’t cover individual’s pre-existing medical conditions for example.

The policy can’t be extended, personalised or relied on as sole cover for individual children, which is why we still ask families to arrange separate travel insurance for their own child when travelling without a parent.  This makes sure your singers are properly covered while they are travelling without a named parent, and it also means the policy reflects their own circumstances (for example, any medical considerations). It also gives you direct ownership of the policy and any claims, rather than everything having to go through a group policy held by FYC.

This is different from school trips. Schools often arrange insurance that is specifically designed to replace individual travel policies, sometimes backed by local authority arrangements. As a voluntary youth choir and registered charity, FYC doesn’t operate under that framework, so we need to be clear that the group policy sits alongside (rather than instead of) parents arranging individual cover for their own children.

VIENNA 2026 - PACKING LIST

All clothing must be clearly named - particularly items like t-shirts and hoodies as they all look the same! If possible, pack in a wheeled suitcase as we do not know how close the coach can park to the accommodation.

The baggage allowance is:

- 1 checked bag (23kg/51lb)

- 1 cabin bag (56 x 45 x 25cm)

- 1 handbag or backpack (40 x 30 x 15cm)

ESSENTIALS

  • Passport plus a photocopy of your passport 

  • EHIC / GHIC card

  • Visa (if relevant)

  • Painkillers and personal medication (these should be in their original packaging and in a named plastic bag and handed to Lizzie Post (if under 16 or kept in your bags if over 16) at the airport. Even if you are over 16, we would be grateful if you could let Lizzie, or another tour adult, know if you are feeling unwell or if you take medication.

  • All relevant music in named folder 

  • Please have a decent breakfast before you arrive at the airport or money to buy food at the airport or on the aircraft. 

  • Please bring some Euros so that you can buy yourself some lunch upon arrival in Vienna

  • Please bring a 20 Euro note for the Hostel deposit.

  • Additional Euros in cash for the vending machines.

  • Spending money via debit card or prepaid card.  £60 should be more than enough

FLIGHT BAG

  • Please use a small backpack for both cabin baggage and daily use when we are in Vienna.

  • Snacks for the journey (no fresh food / bring items in sealed packets)

  • Spare socks/ underwear / t-shirt.

  • Headphones (if needed).

  • Neck pillow (if needed).

  • Ear plugs and eye mask (if needed).

  • Antibacterial wipes & a small bottle of hand sanitiser.

  • A book, cards, travel games. 

  • Glasses and spare contact lenses if applicable

  • Ensure any power packs are in your hand luggage and not suitcase

  • British Airways information about cabin baggage can be found here: https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/baggage-essentials

UNIFORM 

All clothing must be clearly named - particularly items like t-shirts and hoodies as they all look the same!  Please pack in a wheeled suitcase and be mindful of the luggage allowance!

  • Purple embroidered FYC t-shirt - ironed and named 

  • Smart black choir uniform, ironed & named and hanging in a dress bag. Shoes must not be stored in the dress bag, but packed separately in the suitcase. Your dress bag should be folded carefully at the top of your suitcase. 

  • Smart black trousers - not 'skinny', not jeans, not ripped, straight-leg. They must be ironed and then carefully rolled before packing. 

  • Tour t-shirts (these will be supplied)

  • Blue FYC hoodie

  • Other past FYC tour t-shirts (if you have them) 

  • Black shoes and black socks or black pop socks. Please ensure that you have underwear (bra/vest) that can be worn invisibly underneath your black uniform, purple t-shirt and under your tour t-shirt

  • Hairstyling accessories (brush, comb, hairspray, gel, elastics, clips, grips etc.)

INFORMAL CLOTHES

  • Blue FYC hoodie (named).

  • Comfortable clothes for travelling on the plane.

  • Enough comfy trousers, leggings, shorts, or skirts for five days.

  • Enough t-shirts (the more FYC branded of these, the better), tops and jumpers for five days.  Please consider the possible warm weather in Vienna in July.

  • Underwear and socks 

  • Towel

  • Comfy shoes or trainers (we will be doing a lot of walking in Vienna!)

  • A waterproof coat with a hood in case of rain.

  • A sun hat and sunglasses

OTHER ESSENTIALS 

  • Sleepwear and slippers for inside the accommodation 

  • Toiletries - including soap, toothpaste and toothbrush, shampoo etc. 

  • Suncream

  • Phone charger, named (where appropriate), 

  • Plug adapter for Europe (UK to EU plug adapters (UK 3-pin Type G plugs to EU 2-pin Type C, E, and F sockets)

  • One small extension lead per room 

  • One alarm clock per room (for the morning when phones have been handed in)

  • Named water bottle 

  • Plastic bag for dirty laundry

  • A pencil (or two) 

  • A small padlock

  • Travel sickness pills (if needed)

  • 20 Euros for the Hostel deposit

  • Cash for the vending machines

  • Keep an eye on the weather forecast and if necessary bring portable hand held fans, face sprays etc.. if the forecast is for hot weather.

Mobile Phones on tour

We recognise that many choir members will have mobile phones with them whilst on tour.  We accept that they're part of life.  However, we have a few rules:

Singers will be briefed on expectations regarding mobile phone usage which will be as follows:

○ No phones out during mealtimes.

○ Phones switched off/on silent during all rehearsals/concerts.

○ Phones handed to chaperones each evening at 10pm.

○ Not to take photos of other singers if they are uncomfortable with that.

The FYC mobile phone will be with Lizzie Post at all times, and singers will have this number available to them.

Out and About

If an occasion arises, singers will be allowed to spend free time away from chaperones in groups of no less than 3 and will be given a specific meeting point and time to return to. Chaperones will largely stay in the vicinity of the meeting area.

REPERTOIRE

Give Me the River - Toby Young

Gaudete   - Suzie Vango

Lilies of the Field - Errolyn Wallen

The Water of Tyne - Michael Neaum

Panta Rhei - Jim Papoulis

Take This Gift - Tracy Wong

Ave Maria - Cecelia McDowall

Wahbadabadoobee - Ivo Antoghini

Popule Meus - Javier Busto

May the Road Rise to Meet You - Michael Higgins

La Foi - Rossini