By Grace Hatchell, currently wondering if I can sneak a glitter flag into me satchel without anyone noticing
DT Communities presents Derbyvision 2026 which returns to Derby Friday 22 May with a full line-up of 12 community acts performing original songs in a Eurovision-style contest celebrating local talent across Derby.
Now listen… I get a lot of post through me hands, right. Big West End names, serious press releases, all very polished and proper. But every now and then… something lands that makes me stop, tilt me head, and go:
“Hang on a minute… this sounds lovely, this does.”
And Derbyvision? Oh, it’s one of those.
It’s back on Friday 22 May 2026, and I’ll tell you now — if you’ve ever watched Eurovision and thought “I wish this felt a bit more… real”, then this might just be your cup of tea. Because this isn’t about pyrotechnics and politics. It’s about people. Real people. Proper community spirit.
Twelve acts, all representing different parts of Derby, stepping up with original songs, all hoping to be crowned Derbyvision champion by the end of the night. And I don’t know about you, but that already sounds like the sort of evening where you leave smiling whether you win or not.
And the line-up? Oh, it’s got a bit of everything tucked inside it.
You’ve got The Soulmates Family bringing proper family harmonies — the kind that probably start in the kitchen and end up on a stage. Then there’s Livi Louise, full of emotion and energy, stepping into a new chapter of her music. And Lilly Sphire, who’s out here with live electronic sounds and trance-infused vibes like she’s quietly turning Derby into Ibiza for the night.
Then just when you think you’ve got the tone pinned down… along comes Willow Millard with a full-blown musical comedy rock opera about a spider they once saw.
A spider.
I mean… I’m already invested. I want to know everything about that spider.
There’s heart too, mind — proper heart. Artists like Kelvin Ossai, balancing life as a nurse and a songwriter, pouring real-life moments into music. And Jonathan Dawkins, whose songwriting is shaped by love and loss, aiming to create that deep connection you only really get when something means a lot to the person singing it.
And that’s the thing with Derbyvision… it’s not just a show. It feels like a snapshot of people’s lives, all stitched together through music.
Even the past winners are cheering it on. Terrianne, who won back in 2023, called it “a dream come true” and spoke about the confidence it gave her — the kind that carries on long after the applause fades.
And I’ll be honest with you… that’s the bit that gets me.
Because yes, there’s a winner. Yes, there’s judging and points and all that. But underneath it, this feels like one of those nights where the real win is just being there, being heard, being part of something.
It’s happening at St Luke’s Church in Stockbrook — which already tells you this isn’t your usual stiff theatre setup. Blankets and cushions welcome, light refreshments on offer… it’s giving “settle in and enjoy yourself” rather than “sit still and behave.”
Tickets are pay-what-you-can, starting from a fiver, which I absolutely love — because it means this isn’t just for a certain crowd. It’s for everyone.
And if you ask me… that’s exactly what theatre — or music, or any of it really — should be.
Something that brings people together, not shuts them out.
So no, it might not have the wind machines or the voting drama of Eurovision…
…but I’ve got a funny feeling it might have something better.
Heart.
https://derbytheatre.co.uk/event/derbyvision
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