The Chester International Summer Camps 2026 came to a close after four action-packed weeks of language learning, international friendship, sport and activities, with the performance of two major Musical Theatre productions: The Jungle Book, performed by our Junior campers, and Sister Act, featuring our Senior group.
The End-of-Camp Show took place on Sunday 26 July at the ABANCA Auditorium in Santiago de Compostela, in front of campers' families and friends, bringing the 41st edition of the Chester International Summer Camps to a memorable close.
Over four decades of international language immersion in Spain
Organised by Chester College International School since 1985, the Chester International Summer Camps are language immersion programmes for children and teenagers of different ages and nationalities.
Throughout July, Chester College's campus in Teo, just outside Santiago de Compostela in north-western Spain, once again became an international environment where language learning was combined with sport, music, drama, outdoor activities, excursions and plenty of opportunities to make new friends.
The 2026 edition was particularly international, welcoming children and teenagers from the United States, Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Iceland, Germany, Ukraine, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Poland and Israel.
This international diversity is an essential part of the Summer Camp experience. Campers from different countries live, learn and take part in activities together for several weeks, using the target language as a real means of communication and building friendships that often continue long after the summer has ended.
Musical Theatre: a Chester Summer Camps tradition
Music and the performing arts have traditionally played an important role in the Chester International Summer Camps. Beyond the stage itself, Musical Theatre provides numerous opportunities to develop communication skills, oral expression, diction and voice projection, confidence, creativity and teamwork.
Over the four weeks of the International English Summer Camp, campers prepared two full Musical Theatre productions in English, adapted to their different age groups.
Our Juniors, aged 8 to 12, entered the colourful world of The Jungle Book, while the Seniors, aged 13 to 18, took on the challenge of bringing Sister Act to the stage.
Rehearsals, music, acting, choreography, costumes and teamwork gradually brought both productions to life, culminating in the final performance in Santiago de Compostela.
Andrea Cleary and Paul Russell led the productions
The artistic direction of the two productions was led by Ms Andrea Cleary, Head of Drama, and Mr Paul Russell, Head of Music, working alongside the rest of the Chester Summer Camps' international teaching team.
Throughout the preparation process, they worked with the campers not only on the musical and dramatic aspects of the productions, but also on expression, stage presence, communication skills and the confidence to perform in front of an audience.
The results of those weeks of work came together on stage at the ABANCA Auditorium, in an afternoon shared by campers, teachers, families and members of the Chester community.
English and Spanish Summer Camps in Spain
The 2026 edition brought together participants from Chester's International English Summer Camp and Spanish International Summer Camp, two language immersion programmes that welcome children and teenagers from Spain and around the world each summer.
While English is the common language of communication and activities in the English Camp, the Spanish Camp offers international participants the opportunity to learn and practise Spanish in an immersive environment, while also sharing activities and experiences with the wider Chester Summer Camps community.
The Spanish Camp was also represented at the End-of-Camp Show. During the interval between The Jungle Book and Sister Act, a group of participants gave a special musical performance directed by Ildiko Oltai, a member of the Real Filharmonía de Galicia.
Bringing both programmes together on the same stage was a fitting reflection of the international and multilingual spirit that defines the Chester International Summer Camps.
Languages, sport, creativity and international friendship
Although Musical Theatre is one of the most eagerly anticipated projects at the Chester Summer Camps, it is only one part of a much broader experience.
Over four weeks, campers combined language learning and practice with sport, water activities, games, music, drama, excursions and cultural experiences, in an environment designed to encourage them to use their language skills naturally and confidently.
The Chester International Summer Camps offer both Day Camp and Residential Camp options, welcoming local families as well as children and teenagers travelling to Santiago de Compostela from elsewhere in Spain and around the world.
After 41 editions, this combination of language immersion, international friendship and shared experiences continues to be one of the defining features of the Chester International Summer Camps.
With the final performances of The Jungle Book and Sister Act, the curtain came down on the 2026 edition, bringing four weeks of learning, creativity, friendship and shared experiences to a memorable close.