SATURDAY 07 MARCH 2026
SAT 00:30 Sleep Tracks (m002ng13)
Chill out in the twilight
Feel cool and cosy in the twilight chill. Immerse yourself in the natural sounds that magic hour between daylight and darkness, as faint music hang on the air - 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 environmental sounds to help you relax into sleep. Search 'Sleep Tracks' on BBC Sounds to enjoy more episodes.
Produced by Joy Nkoyo & Alice Boyd.
A Peanut & Crumb production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.
SAT 06:00 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 09:00 Classical Unwind (m002rql0)
Enrich your morning with uplifting 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 uplifting and enriching melodies from Max Richter, Edward Elgar, and Eleanor Daley. Sian takes a breath and goes in search of an owl whose call she can hear, and Professor Catherine Loveday explores whether the format of live classical concerts can change the audience's experience of the music.
SAT 12:00 Piano Focus (m002m06l)
Calming piano music to inspire creativity
Immerse yourself in a captivating piano soundtrack curated to awaken imagination and maintain creative focus. This mix features the shimmering solo piano score Ellis Island by Meredith Monk, a reflective improvisation from contemporary British artist Tony Njoku, and graceful works from Romantic-era composers such as Leoš Janáček and Frédéric Chopin.
Produced by Jamie Green. MM.
A Reduced Listening Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.
SAT 14:00 Mindful Mix (m0025l16)
Calming classical music for a moment of rest
Take this opportunity for a moment of rest and reflection, and let this three hour mix accompany you on your journey to calm.
Featuring warm strings from Alexander Glazunov and Edward Elgar, choral beauty from John Tavener and Trevor Weston, and solo piano tunes from Rosey Chan and Frédéric Chopin.
Produced by Katie Hill.
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM.
SAT 17:00 Classical Wind Down (m002r3hx)
Welcome the night with sublime 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 Henry Mancini, Marika Takeuchi and Brahms. Plus, a chance to Press Pause with meditation teacher Michael James Wong, and some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel on how watching comedy on TV can make you feel calmer.
To listen on most smart speakers just ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Wind Down.
SAT 20:00 Cinematic Soundtracks (m002s4n3)
Experience Cinematic Soundtracks Live in Concert
Be carried into the immersive worlds of film music with a special Cinematic Soundtracks live performance by the BBC Concert Orchestra recorded at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Hosted by Edith Bowman, the show includes the beautiful main theme from American Beauty, the serene Sixth Station from Spirited Away, and the moving Arrival of the Birds from The Theory of Everything.
Conducted by George Morton
Produced by Lucy Winter
Assistant producer Naava Abigail Busenze
A Granny Eats Wolf Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind
SAT 21:00 Ultimate Calm (m0024qyp)
Ólafur Arnalds: Series 3
Soothing soundtracks ft. Atli Örvarsson
Music has magical powers. It can tell stories, make us feel emotions, and transport us to distant worlds, simply through playing a certain combination of notes. In this episode of Ultimate Calm, Ólafur Arnalds celebrates the art of the soundtrack - playing some of his favourite selections from the world of film, television and video games. We’ll be transported to far-off planets, dive beneath the waves and dabble in time-travel, with soundtracks from Hildur Guðnadóttir, Jerskin Fendrix and Andrew Prahlow.
Plus we’ll hear from someone with a great deal of experience in the area of soundtracks, the Bafta-winning Icelandic composer Atli Örvarsson. Atli shares his musical safe haven, the track that brings him ultimate calm, a reflective, thought-provoking piece that helps him disconnect from daily worries, be still and breathe.
Produced by Kit Callin.
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3 and Radio 3 Unwind.
SAT 22:00 Night Tracks (m002qqx0)
Immersive music for after-hours
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 (m002n5tg)
Find sleepy solace with this calming soundtrack
Drift off from the pressures of the day and settle yourself for rest with this calming mix of classical and ambient music from BBC Introducing artists and excerpts from Radio 4's Shipping Forecast, paired with peaceful sounds of sleepy farmsteads and bubbling streams.
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'.
SUNDAY 08 MARCH 2026
SUN 00:30 Sleep Tracks (m002qgr0)
Space out on a spaceship
Space out on a spaceship. Float away with a mix of stellar classical music and celestial sounds - a perfect soundtrack to help launch you toward 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.
SUN 06:00 Mindful Mix (m0024qyt)
A soothing mix for classical relaxation
Embrace stillness and sink into the classical sounds of this calming music mix.
Featuring well-known classics from Johann Pachelbel and Edward Elgar, alongside new discoveries by Sarah Class and Valgeir Sigurðsson.
Produced by Katie Hill.
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM.
SUN 09:00 Classical Unwind (m002rgcw)
Make your day shine with beautiful 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.
Today's show features uplifting and soothing music from composers like Lauridsen, Gipps, and Mendelssohn, this episode explores the joy of exploring as Sian Takes a Breath on a new footpath. Plus, Professor Catherine Loveday explores how listening to music can affect our cortisol levels.
SUN 12:00 Piano Focus (m00281sw)
A peaceful piano mix to stimulate creativity
Fade out the noise and hone in on your creative potential with this peaceful piano soundtrack. Stillness and clarity come in the form of new piano music by British artists such as Eamonn Watt, Alanna Crouch and Steve Luck, as well as the work of legendary composers including Franz Liszt, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Germaine Tailleferre.
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”.
SUN 14:00 Mindful Mix (m002m7tt)
Soothing classical melodies to help you unwind
Take a step back from routine and unwind to this three hour mix of soothing classical tunes, paired with natural soundscapes to help you relax.
This mix includes performances from the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, The Mancunium Consort, and Oslo Kammerakademi, alongside pieces by Judith Weir, Adolphus Hailstork, Clara Schumann, and Claude Debussy.
Produced by Katie Hill.
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM.
SUN 17:00 Classical Wind Down (m002r3ll)
Switch off with serene 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 JS Bach, Beethoven, Bryce Dessner, and Max Richter. Plus a chance to Press Pause with meditation teacher Maude Hirst, who teaches us how to accept single-tasking in a multitasking world. Our resident science podcaster Caroline Steel also joins us for an essential Wind Down Wisdom on the benefits of solo games.
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 (m002s50x)
Radiant sound that soothes the soul
Afrodeutsche hosts an hour of new music from the UK's best composers and music producers. On this week's show, new music from The King's Singers, Rachel Kitchlew and Belfast composer Owen Ferguson a.k.a. Owsey.
We'll also have music from BBC Introducing, showcasing upcoming composing talent.
SUN 22:00 Night Tracks (m002qqs6)
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.
SUN 23:30 The Sleeping Forecast (m002qqkx)
Restful waves on the sea of tranquility
Set sail to tranquil rest with help from Radio 4’s The Shipping Forecast paired with classical and ambient tracks from BBC Introducing artists, as well as the calming sounds of streams and windy woodlands.
Produced by Alex Yates.
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 09 MARCH 2026
MON 00:30 Sleep Tracks (m002qqm8)
Amble across the Alps
A charming getaway to one of the world's most calming regions. Step lightly into a scenic sonic journey through peaceful mountain trails, accompanied by musical works from great French and Italian composers.
Sleep Tracks on BBC Radio 3 Unwind combines soothing classical music and leisurely nature sounds to help you relax into sleep. Search 'Sleep Tracks' on BBC Sounds to enjoy more episodes.
Produced by Alice Boyd & Joy Nkoyo.
A Peanut & Crumb production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.
MON 06:00 Mindful Mix (m002gxmq)
Peaceful Proms Special: 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.
MON 09:00 Classical Unwind (m002s3n6)
Boost your morning with soul stirring 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 meditative, and soaring tunes from Elgar, Handel, and Dring. Today's Find Your Focus moment comes courtesy of a magical collaboration between Erland Cooper and Bill Ryder-Jones, Sian takes pleasure in finding a new route while out to Take a Breath, and Professor Catherine Loveday explains how listening to music could help our hearing.
MON 12:00 Piano Focus (m0028105)
Timeless Piano pieces for repose and focus
Drift away with this soothing piano mix designed to guide you towards focus and calm. Timeless works by classical icons like Frederick Delius, Edvard Grieg and Robert Nathaniel Dett are interwoven with contemporary brilliance from the likes of Hayato Sumino, Nils Frahm and Paula Präktig.
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 (m0025l3r)
Serene melodies for inner peace
Find peace amidst life’s noise through a curated selection of reflective orchestral and piano music, paired with meditative choral works to soothe your mind and soul.
With music by Ronald Binge, Karl Jenkins, Gerald Finzi, Debbie Wiseman and more.
Produced by James C Taylor.
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind, MM.
MON 17:00 Classical Wind Down (m002bjlk)
Welcome in the evening with calming 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, Alexandra Hamilton-Ayres and Lambert. Plus, a chance to Press Pause with meditation teacher Michael James Wong, and some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel on how a bit of sunlight can bring calm and health benefits.
To listen on most smart speakers, just ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Wind Down.
MON 20:00 Cinematic Soundtracks (m002s3n8)
Take a moment with Never Let Me Go and Duster
Head into the relaxing worlds of film and TV soundtracks with Edith Bowman. With Laura Karpman's Duster and music from Never Let Me Go by Rachel Portman. Plus a moment from Jóhann Jóhannsson from his score for The Theory of Everything.
Produced by Lucy Winter
A Granny Eats Wolf Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind
MON 21:00 Ultimate Calm (m0024qz6)
Ólafur Arnalds: Series 3
Music in the mountains ft. Jordan Rakei
Escape into the embrace of the mountains, with Icelandic pianist and composer Ólafur Arnalds and a selection of music to bring you perspective and peace.
Ólafur reflects on the mountains near Reykjavik that he heads to when the noise of the world gets to be too much, and the feeling of calm that one can get from looking out at a horizon. Inspired by that feeling, he plays a selection of music including Rikuto Fujimoto, Chihei Hatakeyama and Ellen Reid.
Plus we’ll visit the musical safe haven of the singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Jordan Rakei. Jordan shares a track that brings him ultimate calm, giving him goosebumps every time he listens.
Produced by Kit Callin & Derick Armah.
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3 and Radio 3 Unwind.
MON 22:00 Night Tracks (m002s3nb)
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.
MON 23:30 The Sleeping Forecast (m002h758)
Peaceful sleep awaits on the high seas
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'.
TUESDAY 10 MARCH 2026
TUE 00:30 Sleep Tracks (m002r3hz)
Melt away with the snow
Sheets of ice and snow melt into a stream, floating you gently towards sleep. Immerse yourself in the peaceful environmental sounds of a warm winter's day, as orchestral music drifts by.
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.
TUE 06:00 Mindful Mix (m0024qz0)
Mellow classical music for moments of calm
Soundtrack your day with blissful classical music to soothe you and help you relax.
With warming harmonies by Carl Orff, Hubert Parry, and Kerensa Briggs, plus soft melodies from Claude Debussy, Avril Coleridge-Taylor and Amy Beach to gently soothe your mind and soul.
Produced by James C Taylor.
An Overcoat Media production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind, MM.
TUE 09:00 Classical Unwind (m002lmz6)
Elevate your day with soothing classical 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 gently calming music from Cecile Chaminade, Lucy Walker and Philip Glass, Sian delights in the bark of some trees while out to Take a Breath. Plus Professor Catherine Loveday explores what makes a good composer.
TUE 12:00 Piano Focus (m00287mn)
Healing piano music for deeper concentration
Whether you're working, studying or taking up a creative task, immerse yourself in this healing piano mixtape crafted to provide a feeling of stillness and clarity. The mix includes timeless works by renowned composers such as Frédéric Chopin, Helen Hopekirk and Johannes Brahms, alongside compositions by contemporary British artists like Gwenno Morgan, Dylan John Sparkes and Polly Carter. Let the sound of the piano help you find that flow state!
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 (m002mjrh)
Calming classical melodies for moments of pause
Soundtrack your day with blissful classical music to soothe your body and soul.
With warming harmonies by Kim André Arnesen, Eleanor Daley and Kerensa Briggs, plus soft melodies from Yann Tiersen, Richard Strauss and Thomas James White to gently soothe your mind and soul.
Produced by James C Taylor.
An Overcoat Media production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind, MM.
TUE 17:00 Classical Wind Down (m002s3s5)
Forget the cares of the day with a soothing classical playlist
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 Mahler, Olivia Belli and Kris Bowers. Plus, a chance to Press Pause with meditation teacher Maude Hirst, and some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel on what happens to us when we watch the light fade, and how it helps us to wind down.
To listen on most smart speakers just ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Wind Down.
TUE 20:00 Cinematic Soundtracks (m0027s8n)
Drift into relaxation through the music of Encanto and Maestro
Drift into relaxation through film soundtracks with Encanto by Germaine Franco, Leonard Bernstein's Maestro and The Promise by Debbie Wiseman.
Produced by Lucy Winter.
A Granny Eats Wolf Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.
TUE 21:00 Ultimate Calm (m0024r03)
Ólafur Arnalds: Series 3
Celestial sounds for stargazing ft. Julianna Barwick
Let the stars be your guide for this journey into Ultimate Calm.
Join Icelandic pianist and composer Ólafur Arnalds for a spot of stargazing as he shares a soundtrack for watching the skies and letting our day-to-day problems melt away. There’ll be celestial selections including Jóhann Jóhannsson, Colleen and Tomo-Nakaguchi, as well as some special words from composer Dustin O’Halloran on one of his own compositions, Constellation.
Plus we’ll be rocketed away to the safe haven of the ethereal LA composer and vocalist Julianna Barwick, who shares a field recording she made whilst in a park in Tokyo.
Produced by Kit Callin.
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3 and Radio 3 Unwind.
TUE 22:00 Night Tracks (m002s3s7)
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.
TUE 23:30 The Sleeping Forecast (m002k185)
Embark on a restful journey to sleep
Relax from the pressures of the day and set sail on the journey to sleep with soothing classical and ambient music from BBC Introducing artists; alongside excerpts from Radio 4’s Shipping Forecast and atmospheric field recordings to help you drift off.
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'.
WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2026
WED 00:30 Sleep Tracks (m0024qwd)
Shelter from the storm
Drift off to a mix of hypnotic stormy sounds and restful classical music. Doze off to immersive sounds of rain, distant thunder and light winds - 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.
WED 06:00 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.
WED 09:00 Classical Unwind (m002lm3f)
Lift your morning routine with serene classical 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 uplifting and gentle music from Bliss, Bonds, and Beethoven. Sian goes on the hunt for some sea treasures and Professor Catherine Loveday explores why some music might feel more friendly to us.
WED 12:00 Piano Focus (m00287n9)
Drift away with dreamy piano music
Cast away your worries and set out on a contemplative journey through piano reveries. Featuring exquisite works by classical pioneers such as Florence Beatrice Price, Benjamin Britten and Frédéric Chopin alongside pieces by rising talents like Büşra Kayıkçı, Saloli and Austin Farwell.
Produced by Áine Devaney.
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”.
WED 14:00 Mindful Mix (m0025myj)
Classical music to reset the mind
Sink into three hours of soothing classical tunes to reset and refresh your mind.
This mix features the orchestral excellence of Jean Sibelius and Vincenzo Bellini, choral melodies from Christopher H. Harris and Kerensa Briggs, as well as well-loved favourites from Henry Mancini, Gabriel Fauré and Franz Schubert.
Produced by Katie Hill.
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM.
WED 17:00 Classical Wind Down (m002s3wp)
Colour your evening with the dulcet sounds of 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 Anton Arensky, Olivia Belli, and Mozart. Plus, a chance to Press Pause with meditation teacher Maude Hirst and some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel on the advantages of taking part in reformer pilates.
To listen on most smart speakers, just ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Wind Down.
WED 20:00 Cinematic Soundtracks (m0027s1l)
Immerse yourself in sound with Ozark and South Pacific
Escape into a world of immersive soundtracks with film fanatic Edith Bowman. Featuring Ozark, classic music from South Pacific by Alfred Newman and Hannah Peel's score for Game of Thrones.
Produced by Lucy Winter.
A Granny Eats Wolf Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.
WED 21:00 Ultimate Calm (m0024r1h)
Ólafur Arnalds: Series 3
Restful music for recovery ft. Laufey
It seems that more and more of us are suffering from burnout - a state of mental, physical and emotional exhaustion.
Ólafur Arnalds invites you to take this hour of Ultimate Calm as a breather from the stresses of your everyday life. He reflects on his own relationship to pressure and burnout, and shares music that feels like taking a deep breath including tracks from Voces8, Cephas Azariah and Alice Sara Ott.
Plus we hear from the Icelandic singer, pianist and cellist Laufey on the song that brings her ultimate calm - a classical piece from childhood that always reminds her of home.
Produced by Kit Callin.
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3 and Radio 3 Unwind.
WED 22:00 Night Tracks (m002s3wk)
Sublime sounds for nightfall
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 (m002hwnd)
A soundtrack for falling deeply asleep
Drift off to a soundtrack of serene classical music from BBC Introducing artists alongside excerpts of Radio 4’s The Shipping Forecast and calming sounds of nature.
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'.
THURSDAY 12 MARCH 2026
THU 00:30 Sleep Tracks (m0024qwy)
Ride on the waves
Drift off to a mix of ocean wave sounds and restful classical music. Doze off to immersive sounds of lapping waves, ocean breeze and coastal ambience - 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 (m0024qzx)
Classical melodies to inspire calmness and clarity
A selection of soothing classical harmonies to help you find calm in your day.
With a relaxing selection of music by Antonín Dvořák, Léo Delibes and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, along with performances from VOCES8, the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Anna Lapwood.
Produced by Katie Hill.
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM.
THU 09:00 Classical Unwind (m002s3zs)
Start your day with softly glowing classical 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 a wealth of relaxing, recharging melodies from composers like Dvorak, Takemitsu, and Laura Snowden. Sian spies a crescent moon while out to take a breath and finds encouragement in it to look up more often. Also, Professor Catherine Loveday explores whether understanding music can help us learn other languages too, and there's music by Ludovico Einaudi to help us to find our morning focus.
THU 12:00 Piano Focus (m00287q4)
Flowing piano music for peace of mind
Find peace of mind amidst the noise of everyday life with this mixtape of soothing piano music. Featuring timeless classics from Eric Coates, Mel Bonis and Frédéric Chopin, alongside music by contemporary British composers including Tanya Ekanayaka, Polly Carter and Barry Hudson-Taylor.
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”.
THU 14:00 Mindful Mix (m0025tqf)
Gentle music for moments of calm
Immerse yourself in a collection of peaceful classical music to bring calm and clarity.
Featuring beautiful works by Caroline Shaw, George Butterworth, Florence Price, Carl Orff and more.
Produced by James C Taylor.
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind, MM.
THU 17:00 Classical Wind Down (m002btfd)
Sink into relaxation with serene 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 Alexis Ffrench, Debussy and Belle Chen. 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 benefits of taking time out to do nothing.
To listen on most smart speakers just ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Wind Down.
THU 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.
THU 21:00 Ultimate Calm (m0024r0n)
Ólafur Arnalds: Series 3
Take flight with the sound of birdsong ft. Jacob Collier
Across three series of Ultimate Calm, there is one particular sound that seems to feature more than any other - birdsong. Birds have been inspiring humans with their songs, their flights and fancies for centuries - this episode is dedicated to them.
Ólafur Arnalds shares a selection of music that features birdsong, or is inspired by the birds themselves, from the likes of Patricia Wolf, Ottorino Respighi and the duo of Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita.
Plus we get to hear another, very unusual, kind of birdsong through the safe haven of the inventive singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier. He shares a field recording he made during a concert in Helsinki, and explains how chaos brings him a feeling of calm.
Produced by Kit Callin.
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3 and Radio 3 Unwind.
THU 22:00 Night Tracks (m002s3y9)
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.
THU 23:30 The Sleeping Forecast (m002q4sm)
Six and a half hours of soothing sounds to ease your mind
Coinciding with World Sleep Day 2026, drift into an oasis of calm with this extended 6.5-hour musical journey, weaving together extracts from The Shipping Forecast with gentle music curated from BBC Introducing and immersive field recordings. A spacious, slow-moving soundscape designed to soothe, settle and accompany long stretches of listening.
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Sounds.
To listen on most smart speakers just 'ask BBC Sounds to play The Sleeping Forecast'.
FRIDAY 13 MARCH 2026
FRI 06:00 Mindful Mix (m0024r15)
Block out the noise with calming classical music
Take a moment for yourself as you enjoy restful classical music combined with beautiful soundscapes from the natural world.
Featuring a host of orchestral and piano favourites from Gabriel Fauré, Maurice Ravel, and Claude Debussy, and gorgeous harmonies from Eleanor Daley, Christopher H. Harris and Ivo Antognini.
Produced by James C Taylor.
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind, MM.
FRI 09:00 Classical Unwind (m002m26n)
Recharge your morning with tranquil 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 mellow, recharging melodies from Grace Williams, Peter Warlock, and John Ireland, Sian discovers an incredible seaside musical instrument while out to take a breath and Professor Catherine Loveday explores whether classical musicians rely on deliberate thought or intuition when performing.
FRI 12:00 Piano Focus (m0028hf8)
Arrive into a space of calm and clarity
Time to find calm and clarity with the help of this carefully-curated piano mix. Serene works by classical greats like Maurice Ravel, Dmitri Shostakovich and Frank Bridge are interwoven with captivating pieces by contemporary voices including Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch, Kelly Moran and Sarah Neutkens. Expect ethereal tones from Harold Budd, introspective keyboard ruminations from Rachel Grimes and the sound of Ludovico Einaudi’s homespun piano melodies.
Produced by Áine Devaney.
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 (m002s48p)
Capture a moment to yourself with stress-busting classical.
FRI 17:00 Classical Wind Down (m002spq4)
Music to help you destress and find calm.
FRI 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.
FRI 21:00 Ultimate Calm (m0024r12)
Ólafur Arnalds: Series 3
Musical peace and quiet ft. Kelly Lee Owens
This journey into calm is dedicated to two of the most valuable things in the world - peace and quiet. Icelandic pianist and composer Ólafur Arnalds allows the music to speak for itself today, with plenty of spacious selections.
Ólafur shares pieces that use pauses and silences, giving us ample time to sit and reflect in the gentle quiet, from musicians like Helena Basilova, Jónsi and JJJJJerome Ellis.
Plus we’ll visit the musical safe haven of the Welsh electronic musician and producer Kelly Lee Owens. Kelly shares the song that brings her ultimate calm - a lengthy track of swirling synths that always gives her the time and space to dream, switch off and find peace.
Produced by Kit Callin & Derick Armah.
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3 and Radio 3 Unwind.
FRI 22:00 Night Tracks (m002r45z)
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.
FRI 23:30 The Sleeping Forecast (m002krdq)
Journey to calm with this sleepy soundtrack
Settle down for a good night’s rest with this mix of relaxing classical and ambient sounds from BBC Introducing artists, alongside excerpts from Radio 4’s Shipping Forecast and field recordings of peaceful streams and woodland.
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'.