Lunchbreak Concerts

Lunchbreak Concerts return to Cowdray Hall at Aberdeen Art Gallery from 22 October to 17 December 2026, with performances held on Thursdays. Each one is 45 minutes long, and the series has long been a fixture of the gallery's public programme.

The stage goes to established and emerging performers, with professional and non-professional musicians from Aberdeen, the north-east and further afield. It's a mix of local talent and visiting acts, so you'll hear a range of styles and backgrounds over the course of the season. The 45-minute format keeps things tight enough to fit into a lunch hour, and because they run every Thursday, you can drop in when it suits you rather than committing to a full schedule.

Cowdray Hall itself has a bit of history. It was funded by a gift from Annie, Viscountess Cowdray, and opened on 25 September 1925 by King George V and Queen Mary. Alexander Marshall Mackenzie designed it, the same architect behind Australia House and the Waldorf Hotel in London. The hall continued the expansion of the Art Gallery, which dates back to 1885, and a redevelopment between 2015 and 2019 placed it at the centre of the complex. The venue is currently marking a centenary season, with music and discussion events running over the coming months.

To give you a sense of the scale, Councillor Martin Greig, Aberdeen City Council's culture spokesman, noted that more than 150 musicians performed at last year's concerts and audiences reached 5,000. The concerts are free to attend, with donations warmly welcomed. They run on Thursdays from 22 October to 17 December at Cowdray Hall, inside Aberdeen Art Gallery.