1940 in British music

This is a summary of 1940 in music in the United Kingdom.

Events

30 January – Sophie Wyss gives the first complete performance of Benjamin Britten's Les Illuminations, with Boyd Neel conducting his Orchestra at the Wigmore Hall, London.
28 March – Antonio Brosa gives the first performance of Britten's Violin Concerto with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by John Barbirolli in Carnegie Hall, New York.
21 April – Michael Tippett's Concerto for Double String Orchestra is given its first performance in London.
May – Ilona Kabos and Louis Kentner record William Walton's Duets for Children for Columbia.
22 June – John Ireland is evacuated from Guernsey just over a week before the island is invaded by Germany.
date unknown – D'Oyly Carte bass L. Radley Flynn marries contralto Ella Halman.

5 March – The Beggar's Opera. London revival, directed by John Gielgud, opened at the Haymarket Theatre.
20 March – White Horse Inn. London revival opened at the London Coliseum and ran for 268 performances until ended by bombing raids.
11 April – New Faces London revue opened at the Comedy Theatre, then moved to the Apollo Theatre on 14 March 1941.
27 August – Apple Sauce. London production opened at the Holborn Empire, then moved to the London Palladium on 5 March 1941, after the Holborn Empire was destroyed in the Blitz. Total run 462 performances.