SATURDAY 23 MAY 2026

SAT 00:30 Sleep Tracks (m002vksx)
Keep calm knitting by the fire

By the glow of the fire, the steady rhythm of knitting blends with delicate nature sounds and soothing classical music. A quiet, comforting soundscape to help you drift into sleep.

Sleep Tracks on BBC Radio 3 Unwind combines soothing classical music and gentle nature sounds to help you relax into sleep. Search 'Sleep Tracks' on BBC Sounds to enjoy more episodes.

Produced by Joy Nkoyo.
A Peanut & Crumb production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.


SAT 06:00 Mindful Mix (m002vc3p)
Restful classical music for a clear head

Clear your mind and reset your focus with this calming collection of classical music, paired with soundscapes from the natural world.

This edition features sweeping piano concertos from Dmitri Shostakovich and Dora Pejačević, delicate chamber works by Fanny Mendelssohn and Joseph Horovitz, and breathtaking choral arrangements by Hildegard Von Bingen and Nico Muhly.

Produced by Katie Hill
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM.


SAT 09:00 Classical Unwind (m0029jbx)
Set the tone for your day with calming classical music

Calming classical music to help you focus and set you up for the day ahead. Presented by broadcaster, author and counselling psychologist Dr Sian Williams.

Featuring cheerful and soothing melodies from Hania Rani, Albinoni, and Frederic Chopin, Professor Catherine Loveday opens our minds about what goes on in the brain when someone is composing music, and Sian finds the joy in immersing yourself in nature.


SAT 12:00 Piano Focus (m002dzdv)
Healing piano melodies for focus and flow

Soothe your mind and ease into a gentle state of flow with this two-hour piano-led soundtrack. Featuring the timeless, healing works of Sergei Rachmaninoff, Marie Jaëll, and Franz Liszt, alongside new music from contemporary British artists like Forest_bathing, Ben Crosland, and Alanna Crouch.

Produced by Jamie Green
A Reduced Listening Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.

To listen on most smart speakers, just say, “ask BBC Sounds to play Piano Focus”. MM


SAT 14:00 Mindful Mix (m002qqlh)
Soothing classical sounds for rest and rejuvenation

Find calm with this playlist of glowing melodies and serene musical landscapes.

Featuring flowing strings from Dobrinka Tabakova, Imogen Holst, and Dan Jones, plus classical favourites from Claude Debussy, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Maurice Ravel.

Produced by James C Taylor .
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Sounds, MM.


SAT 17:00 Classical Wind Down (m002vksv)
Sit back and relax with a classical music playlist for your evening

Three hours of calming classical music to help you release the stresses of the day, recharge and prepare to rest - presented by Irish musician and mindfulness expert Niall Breslin.

This episode features a rich blend of music from the likes of William Mival, Helen Habershon and Mozart. Plus, a chance to Press Pause with Michael James Wong and some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel on the benefits of walking in a park.

To listen on most smart speakers, just ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Wind Down.


SAT 20:00 Cinematic Soundtracks (m002vkxj)
Relax to the sounds of The Brutalist and La Grazia

Relax to the sounds of the silver screen with Edith Bowman. Featuring music from The Brutalist, Arco, and La Grazia. Plus Clint Mansell's beautiful score for The Fountain, and music by Thomas Newman from Victoria and Abdul.

Produced by Tom Pooley
Assistant Producer Naava Abigail Busenze
A Granny Eats Wolf Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind


SAT 21:00 Ultimate Calm (m001n292)
Ólafur Arnalds: Series 2

Musical transformations feat. FINNEAS

Join Icelandic composer and pianist Ólafur Arnalds for one more musical adventure to seek out that all too elusive feeling of calm.

In the final episode of the series, Ólafur looks inward with a selection of musical metamorphoses - calming songs inspired by a sense of transformation. He reflects on how we are always transforming ourselves in little ways, and how music plays a part in that, with tracks by Philip Glass, Alice Sara Ott, Boards of Canada and more.

Plus our last guest is the award-winning American musician and producer FINNEAS, who shares his sonic safe haven - the piece of music that brings him ultimate calm. FINNEAS selects a nostalgic song that he has vivid memories of listening to in so many different situations, that always manages to settle him.

Produced by Katie Callin.
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds.


SAT 22:00 Night Tracks (m002vb8g)
Reflective music for the day’s end

Sara Mohr-Pietsch presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.


SAT 23:30 The Sleeping Forecast (m0029x0p)
Comforting music to put you at rest

Lull yourself into a sleepy state with comforting classical and ambient music from BBC Introducing and weather reports from Radio 4’s The Shipping Forecast, paired with gently chirping crickets from a wheat field.

Produced by Cat Gough

A Reduced Listening Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind

To listen on most smart speakers, just say “ask BBC Sounds to play The Sleeping Forecast."

SUNDAY 24 MAY 2026

SUN 00:30 Sleep Tracks (m0025kvj)
Cosy up by the fireplace

Doze off to a mix of comforting sounds and cosy classical music. Warm yourself by a flickering fireplace, and rest awhile with this relaxing soundtrack for slumber.

Sleep Tracks on BBC Radio 3 Unwind combines soothing classical music and calming nature sounds to help you relax into sleep. Search 'Sleep Tracks' on BBC Sounds to enjoy more episodes.

Produced by Alice Boyd and Joy Nkoyo.
A Peanut & Crumb production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.


SUN 06:00 Mindful Mix (m00287nh)
Meditative classical sounds for a positive state of mind

Discover the soothing power of classical music with this selection of peaceful tunes and soundscapes from the natural world. Perfect for unwinding and finding stillness, these pieces will help guide you into a space of calm and relaxation.

Featuring tranquil compositions by Claude Debussy, Johannes Brahms, and Ludwig van Beethoven, alongside the delicate melodies of Yann Tiersen, Caroline Shaw, Rachel Portman, Hayato Sumino, and more.

Produced by James C Taylor
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind, MM


SUN 09:00 Classical Unwind (m002vkqv)
Enrich your morning with enchanting harmonies

Calming classical music to help you focus and set you up for the day ahead. Presented by broadcaster, author and counselling psychologist Dr Sian Williams.

Featuring gentle, enriching music from Ireland, Bruch and Beach, and a chance to Find your Focus for the morning with the music of Chad Lawson. Sian finds solace from stress with the sound of song birds while out to Take a Breath, and Professor Catherine Loveday explores how early we connect with music, via a fascinating study which has found that babies' brains can follow a beat as soon as they are born.


SUN 12:00 Piano Focus (m002vbt3)
Reflective piano sounds to help guide focus

Romantic piano miniatures give way to impressionist colour and quietly radiant contemporary works, drifting across centuries, countries, and genres. From the Mediterranean lyricism of Isaac Albéniz and the serene landscapes of Amy Beach and Dora Pejačević, the programme moves through the shimmering modernism of Toru Takemitsu and the dreamlike minimalism of Harold Budd.

Produced by Áine Devaney.

A Reduced Listening production for BBC Sounds MM.


SUN 14:00 Mindful Mix (m002gxmq)
Gentle classics for rest and relaxation

Unwind with a collection of tranquil Proms performances, curated to bring a sense of peace as you go about your day.

Including the flowing string melodies of William Walton’s 'Touch her soft lips and part’, the meditative beauty of Eric Whitacre’s ‘Alleluia’, the warmth of Grace Williams’s ‘Sea Sketches’, and more.

Produced by James C Taylor.
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM.


SUN 17:00 Classical Wind Down (m002nrfw)
Three hours of calming classical music designed to light up the winter darkness, and help you release the stresses of the day, recharge and prepare to rest - presented by Irish musician and mindfulness expert Niall Breslin.

This episode features a blend of radiant music from the likes of JS Bach, Max Richter, Tchaikovsky, and Debussy. Plus, a chance to Press Pause, and some Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel, all about the benefits of making your home cosy.

To listen on most smart speakers just ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Wind Down.


SUN 20:00 Cinematic Soundtracks (m002qqlf)
Experience release with The Banshees of Inisherin and Broadchurch

Ease into the tranquil worlds of film and TV soundtracks with Edith Bowman. Featuring Carter Burwell's The Banshees of Inisherin and Ólafur Arnalds' Broadchurch. Plus music from Rachel Portman with the Kazuo Ishiguro adaptation of Never Let Me Go.

Produced by Lucy Winter.
A Granny Eats Wolf Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.


SUN 21:00 Soundwaves (m002wsrs)
A reflective musical soundtrack to slow time

Afrodeutsche hosts an hour of escapist and immersive new music from the UK’s brightest contemporary composers and performers.

Featuring music from Norfolk-based multi-instrumentalist Laura Cannell, the collaboration between Kieran Hebden & William Tyler, and an enticing new release from Donna McKevitt. Plus, music from BBC Introducing emerging artists.

To listen on most smart speakers just ask BBC Sounds to play Soundwaves.


SUN 22:00 Night Tracks (m002vcnr)
A bewitching night time soundtrack

Sara Mohr-Pietsch presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.


SUN 23:30 The Sleeping Forecast (m002c1d1)
Settle your mind with a serene sleepscape

Settle in for a deep sleep with this gentle mix of soothing classical music, calming weather reports, and immersive field recordings. Journeying through tranquil wetlands, sleepy forests, and gentle summer rainstorms as your mind unwinds for the night.
Produced by Jamie Green

A Reduced Listening Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind

To listen on most smart speakers, just say “ask BBC Sounds to play The Sleeping Forecast."

MONDAY 25 MAY 2026

MON 00:30 Sleep Tracks (m0025l3y)
Slumber in the city

Switch off to the sound of a city winding down, soundtracked by airy classical music. Power down and drift away to the night-time hum of life in the background - an immersive soundscape to drop you into a peaceful state of rest.

Sleep Tracks on BBC Radio 3 Unwind combines soothing classical music and calming nature sounds to help you relax into sleep. Search 'Sleep Tracks' on BBC Sounds to enjoy more episodes.

Produced by Alice Boyd and Joy Nkoyo.
A Peanut & Crumb production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.


MON 06:00 Mindful Mix (m002ft7l)
A peaceful pause with classical music

Find stillness in your day with this calming collection of classical music and soundscapes from the natural world. From reflective piano, to warm orchestral movements, and flowing vocal textures, this mix offers a tranquil atmosphere to help you rest and restore.

Featuring an exclusive first listen of a new release by Lucy Walker, and tracks by Eydís Evensen, and Rachel Portman. Plus recently rediscovered works from Erik Satie, and gorgeous arrangements of classical favourites from Anna Lapwood, Hayato Sumino, The Kanneh-Masons, and more.

Produced by James C Taylor
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind, MM.


MON 09:00 Classical Unwind (m002wsvh)
Fill your morning with restful melodies

Calming classical music to help you focus and set you up for the day ahead. Presented by broadcaster, author and counselling psychologist Dr Sian Williams.

Featuring relaxing, enriching music from composers including Poulenc, Helen Leach, and Arnold Bax, and a chance to Find Your Focus this morning as composer and pianist Olivia Belli transports us back to Ancient Greece. Sian takes shelter from the weather while out to Take a Breath, and ponders on how aware we are of our breathing throughout the day, and Professor Catherine Loveday joins the show to explain why some of us have a particularly strong relationship with music.


MON 12:00 Piano Focus (m002f8hc)
Timeless piano tracks for mindful listening

Explore the best of piano across the centuries, from early Romantic-era classics to freshly unearthed gems of the contemporary classical canon. Showcasing British excellence, Cyril Scott soothes with his gentle melodies, while London-based newcomer Thibault Ravina impresses with a masterful touch, proving himself a composer in the lineage of the Romantic greats. Electronic pioneer Joanna Brouk brings experimental finesse to classical form, blurring the boundaries between ambient minimalism and composed structure. Meanwhile, Catalan composer Federico Mompou grounds the journey in impressionist stillness and spiritual clarity.
To listen on most smart speakers, just say: “Ask BBC Sounds to play Piano Focus”.

Produced by Áine Devaney.
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Sounds MM.


MON 14:00 Mindful Mix (m002knyf)
Classical sounds for gentle reflection

Unwind and restore your balance with soothing classical music - perfect for peaceful moments.

Featuring new performances by The Kanneh-Masons, Raphaela Gromes, and VOCES8. Plus classical favourites by Maurice Ravel, Joseph Haydn, Amy Beach, and more.

Produced by James C Taylor.
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind, MM.


MON 17:00 Classical Wind Down (m002pblh)
Drift into the night on a current of calming music

Three hours of calming classical music to help you release the stresses of the day, recharge and prepare to rest - presented by Irish musician and mindfulness expert Niall Breslin.

This episode features a rich blend of music from the likes of Amy Beach, Michael Nyman and Akira Kosemura. Plus, a chance to Press Pause with meditation teacher Maude Hirst, and some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel on how a change of bedding can help combat stress.

To listen on most smart speakers just ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Wind Down.


MON 20:00 Cinematic Soundtracks (m002rh24)
Chill out with Jane Eyre and Mona Lisa Smile

Head into the calming sounds of film and TV music with Edith Bowman. Featuring Dario Marianelli's Jane Erye and Thor by Patrick Doyle performed by the LSO. Plus Rachel Portman's work on Mona Lisa Smile and a moment from True Grit by Carter Burwell.

Produced by Lucy Winter.
A Granny Eats Wolf Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.


MON 21:00 Ultimate Calm (m0024qvn)
Ólafur Arnalds: Series 3

Finding stillness in sound ft. girl in red

Take a moment to stop, be still and breathe.

Icelandic pianist and composer Ólafur Arnalds returns with his third series of Ultimate Calm, each episode a musical journey into a world of calm. Ólafur invites you to join him for an hour of music that he turns to for escape and reflection - finding stillness in sound. There’ll be tracks from the likes of Brian Eno, Hinako Omori and Kelly Moran, and Ólafur reflects on the importance of carving out space for one’s self amidst the busy noise of the modern world.

Plus we visit the first safe haven of the series, discovering the piece of music that brings ultimate calm to Norwegian singer and songwriter girl in red, a personal, nostalgic track that reminds her of a certain time in her life.

Produced by Kit Callin.
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3 and Radio 3 Unwind.


MON 22:00 Night Tracks (m002wggw)
A bewitching night time soundtrack

Sara Mohr-Pietsch presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.


MON 23:30 The Sleeping Forecast (m002wsvk)
Floating off to a serene sleep

Find your soundtrack to a peaceful sleep with this calming classical and ambient mix of music from BBC Introducing artists. Paired with excerpts from Radio 4’s Shipping Forecast and soothing sounds of gentle rain and sleepy windswept meadows.

Produced by Alex Yates

A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind

To listen on most smart speakers, 'ask BBC Sounds to play The Sleeping Forecast'.

TUESDAY 26 MAY 2026

TUE 00:30 Sleep Tracks (m0025tqk)
Find serenity in the temple

Embrace peace and quiet in the surrounds and sounds of sacred space. Ease into sleep with bells, chanting, and calming spiritual song - a perfect mix to soundtrack your slumber.

Sleep Tracks on BBC Radio 3 Unwind combines soothing classical music and peaceful nature sounds to help you relax into sleep. Search 'Sleep Tracks' on BBC Sounds to enjoy more episodes.

Produced by Alice Boyd and Joy Nkoyo.
A Peanut & Crumb production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.


TUE 06:00 Mindful Mix (m00287rk)
Serene classical music for peace and positivity

Tune in and drift off into a state of peacefulness and positivity with this three hour mix of calming classical music. Featuring light orchestral melodies from Quincy Jones and Frederick Delius, relaxing piano lines from Clara Schumann and John Field, alongside well-known favourites from Edgar Bainton and Léo Delibes.

Produced by Katie Hill
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM


TUE 09:00 Classical Unwind (m0028hgd)
Ease into the day with peaceful classical music

Calming classical music to help you focus and set you up for the day ahead. Presented by broadcaster, author and counselling psychologist Dr Sian Williams.

Featuring soothing, restorative melodies from William Walton, Meredith Monk, and Minoru Miki, this episode explores the power of background music. Plus, Sian considers the art of reflection while out to Take a Breath.


TUE 12:00 Piano Focus (m002fh2g)
Gentle piano music for a peaceful mind

Fade out distractions and find a peaceful, centred headspace with this specially curated mix of beautiful piano pieces from across the centuries. Featuring the meditative piano work of early electronic pioneer Halim El-Dabh, an ethereal performance of Mel Bonis’s Les Gitanos, Op. 15, and contemporary gems from Alexis Ffrench, Ollie McGill, and Amina Claudine Myers.

Produced by Jamie Green
A Reduced Listening Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM

To listen on most smart speakers, just say, “ask BBC Sounds to play Piano Focus”


TUE 14:00 Mindful Mix (m002r4zc)
Gentle classical music for ultimate relaxation

Indulge in three hours of relaxing classical music to accompany your day and soothe your soul.

This edition features chamber music from Elisabeth Kuyper and Chiquinha Gonzaga, choral favourites from Morten Lauridsen and Samuel Barber, and orchestral works from Bernard Hermann and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.

Produced by Katie Hill
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM.


TUE 17:00 Classical Wind Down (m002wv89)
Calm the soul with classical music

Three hours of calming classical music to help you release the stresses of the day, recharge and prepare to rest - presented by Irish musician and mindfulness expert Niall Breslin.

This episode features a rich blend of music from the likes of Mozart, Sophie Hutchings and Fanny Mendelssohn. Plus, a chance to Press Pause with Niall, and some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel on the wellbeing benefits of completing a task.

To listen on most smart speakers, just ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Wind Down.


TUE 20:00 Cinematic Soundtracks (m002r3ln)
Journey into relaxation with Charlotte's Web and The Woman King

Head into the relaxing worlds of film and TV soundtracks with Edith Bowman. With Terence Blanchard's The Woman King and Mirage by Quincy Jones. Plus some Charlotte's Web by Danny Elfman and Nami Melumad's More Beautiful For Having Been Broken.

Produced by Lucy Winter.
A Granny Eats Wolf Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.


TUE 21:00 Ultimate Calm (m0024qw9)
Ólafur Arnalds: Series 3

Blissful musical blossoms ft. Erland Cooper

Being amongst nature brings inspiration to so many of us. In this episode of Ultimate Calm, Icelandic composer and pianist Ólafur Arnalds takes inspiration from blossoms and blooms with a selection of music related to flowers. There’ll be music from Celia Hollander, Duval Timothy and Dora Pejačević, and Ólafur gives us an insight into what’s growing in his Reyjavik greenhouse.

Plus we’re transported to the safe haven of the Scottish composer Erland Cooper, an artist very much inspired by the natural world and the magic of the everyday. He shares a field recording of a particular bird song that brings him ultimate calm, transporting us to his own safe haven in the Orkney Islands.

Produced by Kit Callin.
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3 and Radio 3 Unwind.


TUE 22:00 Night Tracks (m002wgch)
Miles Davis 100: In a Silent Way

As part of Miles Davis 100 on Radio 3, Sara Mohr-Pietsch presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack celebrating the centenary of one of the most influential figures in 20th-century music. Focusing on his groundbreaking 1969 album 'In A Silent Way' she explores some of the music Miles Davis admired and inspired, from jazz to classical to contemporary and everything in between.


TUE 23:30 The Sleeping Forecast (m002d6x7)
Rest easy with the ultimate dreamy soundtrack

Rest easy with this soundtrack of peaceful classical compositions from BBC Introducing, paired with coastal weather reports from around the UK, courtesy of Radio 4’s the Shipping Forecast, and the sounds of a woodland recorded in summertime, in north Wales.

Produced by Cat Gough
A Reduced Listening Production for BBC Radio 3Unwind

To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play The Sleeping Forecast."

WEDNESDAY 27 MAY 2026

WED 00:30 Sleep Tracks (m002wv8f)
Find peace in the greenhouse

Drift off dreaming of your greenhouse, full of life on a rainy day, with the sound of rain drops and leaves and gentle classical music.

Sleep Tracks on BBC Radio 3 Unwind combines soothing classical music and peaceful nature sounds to help you relax into sleep. Search 'Sleep Tracks' on BBC Sounds to enjoy more episodes.

Produced by Joy Nkoyo.
A Peanut & Crumb production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.


WED 06:00 Mindful Mix (m002f76r)
Peaceful melodies for ultimate relaxation

Press play and enjoy three hours of peaceful classical music, hand-picked to aid your relaxation.

Featuring glowing orchestral tones from Edouard Lalo and Ronald Binge, choral delights from Alonso Lobo and J.S. Bach, as well as soothing piano trios from Mel Bonis and Judith Lang Zaimont. Plus, recent releases from Tenebrae, Kotaro Fukuma, and Vittorio Forte, all paired with transporting soundscapes from the natural world.

Produced by Katie Hill
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM


WED 09:00 Classical Unwind (m0029xws)
Soothing classical sounds to elevate your morning

Calming classical music to help you focus and set you up for the day ahead. Presented by broadcaster, author and counselling psychologist Dr Sian Williams.

Featuring peaceful, energising music from Errollyn Wallen, Joseph Haydn, and Camille Saint-Saëns, this episode explores how music can affect us, and our brains. Plus, Sian explains how a bird's song can change as the animal ages.


WED 12:00 Piano Focus (m002wfll)
Still piano sounds to hold attention

From the intimate worlds of Lili Boulanger, Arnold Bax, and Leoš Janáček to the suspended tones of Harold Budd, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Masakatsu Takagi, the programme unfolds in a slow, reflective arc. Contemporary composers including Delphine Dora, Christina Vantzou, and Jerome Ellis bring a soft, exploratory edge, where melody dissolves into atmosphere. A quiet, continuous flow, designed to steady attention and soften the day.

To listen on most smart speakers, just 'ask BBC Sounds to play Piano Focus'.

Produced by Áine Devaney

A Reduced Listening Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.


WED 14:00 Mindful Mix (m002h7mg)
Calming classical tunes for quiet reflection

Enjoy a ‘peaceful Proms morning’ with this three hour collection of the most mindful classical pieces that have been performed at the BBC Proms.

This mix includes Isobel Waller-Bridge’s The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse, featured at the 2024 21st Century Soundtracks Prom, as well as VOCES8’s cover of Radiohead’s Pyramid Song from the 2023 Mindful Mix Prom. Plus a whole host of well-known favourites from Edward Elgar, Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel.

Produced by Katie Hill
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM.


WED 17:00 Classical Wind Down (m002pblx)
Relax with a calming selection of classical music

Three hours of calming classical music designed to light up the winter darkness, and help you release the stresses of the day, recharge and prepare to rest - presented by Irish musician and mindfulness expert Niall Breslin.

This episode features a blend of radiant music from the likes of Mel Bonis, Max Richter, Handel, and Alice Sara Ott. Plus, a chance to Press Pause, and some Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel, all about the benefits of learning music.

To listen on most smart speakers just ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Wind Down.


WED 20:00 Cinematic Soundtracks (m002wvbz)
Settle into a calm state with Brokeback Mountain and The Mercy

Settle in for some calming movie music with Edith Bowman. Featuring scores from Brokeback Mountain and The Mercy, along with Erik Satie and also James Horner's birdsong-infused score to The New World.

Produced by Tom Pooley
Assistant Producer Naava Abigail Busenze
A Granny Eats Wolf Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind


WED 21:00 Ultimate Calm (m0024qwv)
Ólafur Arnalds: Series 3

Calm music for connection ft. Sheku Kanneh-Mason

Music has always been an important part of community and relationships - a way for us to feel connected to each other. It gives us a reason to gather together and helps us relate to one another. Ólafur celebrates that aspect of music with an episode inspired by community, family, friendship and togetherness. He’ll play a selection of soothing sounds including tracks by the likes of Aksuna, Shida Shahabi and the husband-wife duo Windy & Carl, as well as his own collaborative work as part of the duo Kiasmos, with Faroese musician Janus Rasmussen, and his work with the OPIA Community, a travelling festival series, record label and community hub.

Plus the British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason transports us to his musical safe haven. Sheku is no stranger to collaborations, he frequently works with his siblings to create beautiful works together. He shares a piece of music that brings him ultimate calm, a track that reminds him of a sunrise.

Produced by Kit Callin.
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3 and Radio 3 Unwind.


WED 22:00 Night Tracks (m002wgbn)
Harmonious music for night-time listening

Sara Mohr-Pietsch presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.


WED 23:30 The Sleeping Forecast (m002dxkf)
Sleep tight with this dreamy soundtrack

Switch on this relaxing soundtrack of gentle classical compositions from BBC Introducing artists, excerpts of weather reports from the Shipping Forecast and field recordings of a summer garden at night, and settle in for a good night’s sleep.

Produced by Cat Gough

A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind

To listen on most smart speakers just 'ask BBC Sounds to play The Sleeping Forecast'.

THURSDAY 28 MAY 2026

THU 00:30 Sleep Tracks (m0025vrd)
Travel through twinkling stars

Launch into sleep with a stellar mix of space sounds and intergalactic classical music. Drift through the starry sky with twinkling tones - a perfect soundtrack to help guide you to a peaceful state of slumber.

Sleep Tracks on BBC Radio 3 Unwind combines soothing classical music and calming nature sounds to help you relax into sleep. Search 'Sleep Tracks' on BBC Sounds to enjoy more episodes.

Produced by Alice Boyd and Joy Nkoyo.
A Peanut & Crumb production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.


THU 06:00 Mindful Mix (m0028hwk)
Classical music for reflection and relaxation

Let soothing classical music be your companion on a journey of relaxation. This collection of peaceful melodies invites stillness and tranquility, perfect for moments of reflection or simply unwinding after a busy day.

Featuring works by J.S. Bach, Gustav Holst, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, as well as contemporary voices such as Hania Rani, Max Richter and Debbie Wiseman.

Produced by James C Taylor
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind, MM


THU 09:00 Classical Unwind (m002b5rh)
Get set for the day with peaceful classical music

Calming classical music to help you focus and set you up for the day ahead. Presented by broadcaster, author and counselling psychologist Dr Sian Williams.

Featuring energising and soothing melodies from Borodin, Beethoven, and Cecile Chaminade. Sian takes a trip to the seaside and feels a cathartic release as she throws stones into the sea. Also, Professor Catherine Loveday explores if music training can improve people's ability to recognise emotion in others.


THU 12:00 Piano Focus (m002wvc3)
Melodic piano pieces for calm and creativity

Immerse yourself in a peaceful, melodic piano journey that inspires calm and fuels creativity, weaving together gentle nature recordings, contemporary works by artists such as Harold O'Neal and Marie Awadis, and the timeless melodies of Frédéric Chopin and Ethel Smyth.

Produced by Jamie Green
A Reduced Listening Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.

To listen on most smart speakers, just say, “ask BBC Sounds to play Piano Focus”.


THU 14:00 Mindful Mix (m002kyth)
Reflective tunes to help you unwind

Relax and sink into this three-hour mix of calming classical music, chosen especially to help you relax.

This mix features beautiful symphonic works by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Benjamin Britten and Gustav Mahler, gentle piano tracks from Dalal, Alexis Ffrench and Betty Jackson King, and calming choral works by Jeremy Dibble, Tomaso Albinoni and Morten Lauridsen.

Produced by Katie Hill.
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM.


THU 17:00 Classical Wind Down (m002pp8m)
Slide into the evening with classical music

Three hours of calming classical music to help you release the stresses of the day, recharge and prepare to rest - presented by Irish musician and mindfulness expert Niall Breslin.

This episode features a rich blend of music from the likes of Beethoven, Ruth Gipps and Alexis Ffrench. Plus, a chance to Press Pause with Helen Marie, and some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel, on how drinking a particular tea can help you de-stress from the pressures of your day.

To listen on most smart speakers just ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Wind Down.


THU 20:00 Cinematic Soundtracks (m002rql2)
Take a moment and escape with The Pianist and Palm Royale

Drift into the calming worlds of film and TV soundtracks with Edith Bowman. With a moment from The Pianist by Chopin and Jeff Toyne's Palm Royale. Plus music from Shrek by Harry Gregson Williams and John Powell.

Produced by Lucy Winter.
A Granny Eats Wolf Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.


THU 21:00 Ultimate Calm (m0024qxk)
Ólafur Arnalds: Series 3

Relax and flow with river-inspired music ft. Nanna

Icelandic composer and pianist Ólafur Arnalds goes with the flow in this episode, with a selection of relaxing music inspired by rivers, and the change they can represent in ourselves. He’ll play music by Brian Eno, KMRU and Sophia Subbayya Vastek, and share thoughts on the river systems and glaciers in the landscape around him in Iceland.

Plus fellow Icelander Nanna brings us along to her safe haven. Nanna is a singer, songwriter and guitarist, formerly part of the indie folk band Of Monsters and Men, and now writes a lot of her own solo material in a cabin outside Reykjavik. We join her there, beside the banks of a small river where she spends a lot of time with her dog and the birds, to hear more about what brings her ultimate calm.

Produced by Kit Callin.
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3 and Radio 3 Unwind.


THU 22:00 Night Tracks (m002whnl)
Blissful sounds for night owls

Sara Mohr-Pietsch presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.


THU 23:30 The Sleeping Forecast (m002fjf9)
Comforting music to put you at rest

Settle into sleep with this soothing soundtrack of dreamy classical and ambient compositions from BBC Introducing artists, paired with weather reports for coastal stations from Radio 4's Shipping Forecast, and immersive field recordings made on a summer night in a desert shrubland.

Produced by Cat Gough

A Reduced Listening Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind

To listen on most smart speakers, just say “ask BBC Sounds to play The Sleeping Forecast."

FRIDAY 29 MAY 2026

FRI 00:30 Sleep Tracks (m00260s1)
Coast into the harbour

Glide into sleep with a mix of watery sounds and gently rocking classical music. Bob along on a wave of boating ambience and hypnotic piano pieces - a perfect soundtrack to help guide you to a peaceful state of slumber.

Sleep Tracks on BBC Radio 3 Unwind combines soothing classical music and calming nature sounds to help you relax into sleep. Search 'Sleep Tracks' on BBC Sounds to enjoy more episodes.

Produced by Alice Boyd and Joy Nkoyo.
A Peanut & Crumb production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.


FRI 06:00 Mindful Mix (m0028hf4)
Lose yourself in classical calm

Indulge in this collection of relaxing music and lose yourself in a sea of classical calm.

Featuring established favourites from Edward Elgar, Maurice Ravel, and Ludovico Einaudi, alongside hidden gems by Judith Weir, Edward Margetson and Henrique Oswald.

Produced by Katie Hill
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM


FRI 09:00 Classical Unwind (m002bhjs)
Lift your morning with revitilizing classical music

Calming classical music to help you focus and set you up for the day ahead. Presented by broadcaster, author and counselling psychologist Dr Sian Williams.

Featuring comforting and enriching melodies from Fanny Mendelssohn, Maurice Ravel, and JS Bach, this episode explores why listeners' opinions of music changes when they think it has been composed by AI. Plus, Sian delights in a magnificent flowering magnolia.


FRI 12:00 Piano Focus (m002g1db)
Enter flow state with serene piano music

Tune in, centre your mind, and immerse yourself in a creative venture, work, or study with this gently flowing mix of contemporary and classical piano. Featuring a shimmering piece by Marie Jaëll, a heartening piano cover of Nick Drake’s Place to Be, the gospel-rooted playing of Amina Claudine Myers, and timeless works from Liszt, Ravel, and Chopin.

Produced by Jamie Green
A Reduced Listening Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM

To listen on most smart speakers, just say, “ask BBC Sounds to play Piano Focus”


FRI 14:00 Mindful Mix (m002wt6d)
Serene music for calm reflection

Find peace amidst life’s noise with reflective orchestral, choral and solo piano music. Paired with meditative choral works to soothe your mind and soul.

Featuring music from Claude Debussy, Rachel Portman, Olivia Belli, Rosey Chan, and more.

Produced by James C Taylor
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind, MM.


FRI 17:00 Classical Wind Down (m002pphq)
Let go of the day with a calm classical soundtrack

Three hours of calming classical music to help you release the stresses of the day, recharge and prepare to rest - presented by Irish musician and mindfulness expert Niall Breslin.

This episode features a rich blend of music from artists including Alice Coltrane, Max Richter and Gabríel Ólafs.

Plus, a chance to Press Pause with meditation teacher Michael James Wong, and some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel on the value of a nightly bedtime routine.

To listen on most smart speakers just ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Wind Down.


FRI 20:00 Cinematic Soundtracks (m002rg97)
Find inner peace with The Lightkeepers and The Truman Show

Drift through the immersive realms of film and TV soundtracks with Edith Bowman. Featuring The Lightkeepers by Pinar Toprak and music from The Truman Show by Philip Glass. Plus Joe Hishiashi's Ponyo and a surprisingly calming moment from A Thousand Blows by Federico Jusid.

Produced by Lucy Winter.
A Granny Eats Wolf Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.


FRI 21:00 Ultimate Calm (m0024qy3)
Ólafur Arnalds: Series 3

A musical moment to press pause ft. Anoushka Shankar

There are some pieces of music that can make you feel like time has paused, which force you to stop in your tracks and take you away from your everyday life. Ólafur Arnalds plays a selection of time-related pieces that have that quality, including tracks from Hania Rani, Belle Chen and Hiroshi Yoshimura.

Plus we’re transported to the musical safe haven of the musician Anoushka Shankar. Anoushka is drawn to music that either gives her a gut punch of emotion or a deep peace. She shares a very special track that brings her ultimate calm; a piece by her father, the Indian sitarist and composer Ravi Shankar.

Produced by Kit Callin.
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3 and Radio 3 Unwind.


FRI 22:00 Night Tracks (m002vnqv)
Blissful sounds for night owls

Hannah Peel presents an adventurous, immersive soundtrack for late-night listening, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.


FRI 23:30 The Sleeping Forecast (m002g2wv)
A tranquil soundtrack for a good night's rest

Settle in for a night of restful sleep with this soothing soundtrack of BBC Introducing artists, excerpts from Radio 4’s Shipping Forecast and field recordings of sleepy lakesides and farmsteads.

Produced by Alex Yates

A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind

To listen on most smart speakers just 'ask BBC Sounds to play The Sleeping Forecast'.