SATURDAY 22 AUGUST 2026
SAT 00:30 Sleep Tracks (m002zd47)
Take flight and sleep tight
Drift over the Andes as you take flight with a Condor through Chile, Argentina and Venezuela; wind whistles as wings beat, blended with relaxing classical music.
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 and Alice Boyd.
A Peanut & Crumb production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.
SAT 06:00 Mindful Mix (m002pbm9)
Gentle classical music for peace and calm
Embrace moments of stillness with this calming collection of peaceful classical melodies and sounds from the natural world. This mix features soothing piano, strings, and orchestral music, to help you let go of stress and reconnect with your inner sense of calm.
Featuring music from Jules Massenet, Max Richter, Alexis Ffrench, Elizabeth Poston, Hayato Sumino and many more.
Produced by James C Taylor
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind, MM
SAT 09:00 Classical Unwind (m002z5sd)
Welcome a peaceful morning with beautiful 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 gently flowing melodies from composers like Schubert, Beach, and Carwithen, this episode also gives you a chance to find your focus through the music of Sophie Hutchings. Sian takes a breath and manages to discharge an unsettling feeling she has woken up with, and Professor Catherine Loveday explores how music can be a source of comfort and support during pregnancy and labour.
SAT 12:00 Piano Focus (m0025cpm)
Reflective piano music to uplift and inspire
Dive into this crafted mix of reflective piano music, inviting you to take a soothing journey into tranquillity and calm. Alongside selections from Classical Music icons such as Fanny Mendelssohn, Robert Schumann and Henry Purcell, we hear fresh piano music from new generations of inspiring composers including Yiruma, Alanna Crouch and Alma Deutscher.
Produced by Álexa Kruger.
A Reduced Listening Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM.
SAT 14:00 Mindful Mix (m0025cm6)
Find solace with serene classical sounds
Let this calming collection of classical music guide you to a place of tranquillity. The perfect soundtrack for slowing down and taking a moment for yourself.
Featuring music by Maurice Ravel, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Thomas Tallis. Plus contemporary sounds from Caroline Shaw, Olivia Belli and Thomas Adès.
Produced by James C Taylor
An Overcoat Media production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind, MM
SAT 17:00 Classical Wind Down (m002zd45)
Float into the evening on a lake 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 Beethoven, Dustin O'Halloran and Poppy Ackroyd. 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 finding awe in ancient things can inspire calm.
To listen on most smart speakers, just ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Wind Down.
SAT 20:00 Cinematic Soundtracks (m002zd54)
Ease your mind with A Streetcar Named Desire and The Magic Faraway Tree
Ease into the chilled worlds of film and TV soundtracks with Edith Bowman. With music from The Magic Faraway Tree by Isabella Summers and Ray Heindorf's A Streetcar Named Desire. Plus a moment from Hannah Peel and her score for Midwinter Break alongside A.R. Rahman, Craig Armstrong's Elizabeth: The Golden Age.
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 (m002z81r)
Music for the darkling hour
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 (p0dhz10v)
Sleep tight, out like a light
Mellow music from BBC Introducing alongside Radio 4’s Shipping Forecast to help you sleep.
Produced by Gabriel Francis
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Sounds
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play The Sleeping Forecast”
SUNDAY 23 AUGUST 2026
SUN 00:30 Sleep Tracks (m002hjb2)
Lie down in the library
Shush your mind in the quiet surrounds and sounds of a warm, bookish space. Bunker down and peacfully turn the page, accompanied by calming classical pieces - a perfect mix to soundtrack your slumber.
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.
SUN 06:00 Mindful Mix (m002m1kk)
Reflective classical music for peaceful moments
Sweet and mellow classical sounds for those rainy days, with wistful shades of light and dark.
Featuring rich and warming harmonies from John Rutter, Christopher H. Harris, and Marianna Martines, plus gentle string textures from George Enescu, Joseph Boulogne Chevalier de Saint-Georges, and Dan Jones.
Produced by James C Taylor
An Overcoat Media production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind, MM.
SUN 09:00 Classical Unwind (m002zd43)
Ease your morning routine with calming 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 soft, enchanting melodies from composers including Elgar, Price, and Bruch, and a chance to Find Your Focus this morning with the gentle piano music of Elliott Jack Sansom. Sian Takes a Breath beside a harbour, and takes inspiration from the boats heading out to sea, and Professor Catherine Loveday explores how the spaces we listen to music in, can alter the way we experience the sounds.
SUN 12:00 Piano Focus (m002nfz1)
Restorative piano music to unwind this winter
Immerse yourself in a gently flowing, winter-bright mixtape of restorative piano music and tranquil field recordings from the natural world. This festive edition blends new works by contemporary British artists such as OKOI, Alexis Ffrench and Bill Laurance with timeless pieces by legendary composers, including Ryuichi Sakamoto, Howard Blake and Hildegard von Bingen.
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”.
SUN 14:00 Mindful Mix (m0030jyf)
BBC Proms special: Gentle music for peace and reflection
Take a moment to relax with calming music from this and previous seasons of the world’s greatest classical music festival. Featuring works from Claude Debussy, Vaughan Williams, Florence Beatrice Price, Felix Mendelssohn, Anna Clyne and more.
To listen to performances from this year’s BBC Proms, just search ‘Proms’ on BBC Sounds.
Produced by James C Taylor
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind, MM
SUN 17:00 Classical Wind Down (m0025cpp)
Release the day with serene classical sounds
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 Ennio Morricone, Rebecca Clarke and Robert Schumann – plus a chance to Press Pause with meditation teacher Maude Hirst.
To listen on most smart speakers just ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Wind Down.
SUN 20:00 Cinematic Soundtracks (m002mvx7)
Slip into serenity with Blue Moon and Gravity
Journey into the serene worlds of film and TV soundtracks with Edith Bowman. With music from Gravity by Steven Price and Graham Reynolds' new score for Blue Moon. Plus a moment from Deborah Lurie's soundtrack to Dear John alongside Invictus by Kyle Eastwood and Michael Stevens.
Produced by Lucy Winter
A Granny Eats Wolf Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind
SUN 21:00 Soundwaves (m0030jyh)
Settle into a soothing landscape of sound
Afrodeustche presents new music from UK producers, composers and artists. This episode includes new and recent works by Ananda Chatterjee, guitarist Blue Yates, Welsh composer and sound artist Gwenno Morgan, the instrumental duo Fitkinwall and cellist Julian Lloyd-Webber.
Also, we'll be showcasing new work from BBC Introducing.
To listen on most smart speakers, just 'ask BBC Sounds to play Soundwaves'.
SUN 22:00 Night Tracks (m002z7jt)
Immersive music for late night listening
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 (m002jgtp)
Settle down with a serene soundtrack
Find comfort and calm with this sleepy mix of BBC Introducing artists; excerpts from Radio 4’s The Shipping Forecast and sounds of nature. Giving you the perfect setting to settle down for the night.
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'.
MONDAY 24 AUGUST 2026
MON 00:30 Sleep Tracks (m002hwng)
Snooze by the seashore
Ebb away to sleep with a mix of seashore sounds and calming classical pieces. Take a trip to the coast and let the hours float by amidst sun, sand, and soothing tones - a perfect soundtrack to snooze to.
Sleep Tracks on BBC Radio 3 Unwind combines peaceful classical music and gentle sounds to help you relax into sleep. Search Sleep Tracks on BBC Sounds to enjoy more episodes. To listen on most smart speakers just ask BBC Sounds to play Sleep Tracks.
Produced by Alice Boyd & Joy Nkoyo.
A Peanut & Crumb production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.
MON 06:00 Mindful Mix (m002zd29)
BBC Proms special: Calming music to still your mind
Take a moment to unwind with calming orchestral sounds, featuring music from this and previous seasons of the world’s greatest classical music festival, the Proms.
Featuring music from Edward Elgar, Jean Sibelius, Gustav Holst, Grace Williams, and more.
To listen to performances from this year’s BBC Proms, just search ‘Proms’ on BBC Sounds.
Produced by James C Taylor
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind
MON 09:00 Classical Unwind (m0030k3h)
Lift your spirits with beautiful 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 and enriching melodies from Max Bruch, Jean Sibelius, and Cecile Chaminade, this episode also has a chance to Find Your Focus for the morning with music featuring a harp, strings and electronics by composer Lara Somogyi. Sian explores the comfort of the sound of home as she steps outside to Take a Breath after some time away. Also, Professor Catherine Loveday explains why music is particularly valuable to adolescents.
MON 12:00 Piano Focus (m0025kvb)
Find calm and inspiration with this soothing piano playlist
A soothing playlist of beautiful piano music, carefully selected and sequenced to help you stay focused on the task in hand. Alongside new neoclassical music by Max Richter, Ludovico Einaudi and Fiona Brice are nineteenth- and twentieth-century favourites including a Romance without words from Gabriel Fauré, Johannes Brahms’ Intermezzo in A Major and a much-loved Schubert Impromptu.
To listen on most smart speakers just say, 'ask BBC Sounds to play Piano Focus'.
Produced by Alexa Kruger.
A Reduced Listening Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM.
MON 14:00 Mindful Mix (m0025d09)
Calming classical music to help you reset
An uplifting selection of calming classical music to re-energise and rejuvenate.
Featuring orchestral pieces from William Walton and Will Todd, soaring choral lines from Robert H. Harris and Eric Whitacre, and thoughtful solo piano from Hania Rani and Maurice Ravel.
Produced by Steven Rajam.
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM.
MON 17:00 Classical Wind Down (m0025d8r)
Embrace calm with soothing 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 Anoushka Shankar, Aaron Copland and Nadia Boulanger – plus essential Wind Down Wisdom on how something as simple as moving your body 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.
MON 20:00 Cinematic Soundtracks (m002n5xc)
Drift into calm with Spirited Away and Kajillionaire
Drift into the calming worlds of film and TV soundtracks with Edith Bowman. Featuring Joe Hisiashi's Spirited Away, Kajillionaire by Emile Mosseri and Origin by Kris Bowers. Plus a moment from Anna Meredith with her score from The End We Start From.
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 (m0029pz5)
Meditative music for late night solace
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 (p0jjtx8h)
A peaceful soundtrack for a full night’s sleep
Fall into a deep sleep with soothing classical compositions from BBC Introducing, paired with extracts from The Shipping Forecast on Radio 4 and gentle field recordings.
Produced by Cat Gough
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Sounds
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play The Sleeping Forecast.”
TUESDAY 25 AUGUST 2026
TUE 00:30 Sleep Tracks (m002lm6y)
Cycle along the canal path
Saddle up and settle down. Roll into sleep with the sounds of a scenic cycle along a gentle waterway, accompanied by calming music - a soundtrack designed to help your slumber.
Sleep Tracks on BBC Radio 3 Unwind combines soothing classical music and peaceful 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.
TUE 06:00 Mindful Mix (m0024qv5)
Classical sounds for moments of calm
Relax with a playlist of soothing classical music, to help transport you to place of calm.
With music by Gerald Finzi, Maurice Ravel, and Johann Pachelbel. Plus soft melodies from Florence Price, William Walton, and Eleanor Daley 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 (m002r4sy)
Bring peace to your day with restful 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 uplifting, thoughtful music from Robert Schumann, Margaret Bonds, and Francis Poulenc. Sian encourages a moment of focus with a reflective piano piece by Canadian composer Stephan Moccio, and pauses to Take a Breath while out on a forest walk to reconnect with nature and prepare herself for the stresses of the day. Plus, Professor Catherine Loveday looks into a fascinating study which suggests that listening to classical music could have a positive impact on the bacteria in our bodies which is so important for our health.
TUE 12:00 Piano Focus (m0025l3t)
Enchanting piano pieces to sharpen the mind
Find relaxation and focus with this enchanting mix of piano pieces carefully selected from across the centuries and around the globe. Featuring works from today’s new crop of visionary composers such as Duval Timothy, Martha Skye Murphy and Ann Southam together with the music of past greats like Arthur Lourié, Edward Elgar and Camille Saint-Saëns, this is a journey in sound to soothe and sharpen the mind.
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'.
TUE 14:00 Mindful Mix (m0025c4c)
Gentle classical for stillness and calm
Step into a world of calm with a blend of meditative orchestral movements, gentle piano pieces, and choral reflections. Your perfect companion for relaxation, reflection, or simply unwinding.
With soothing melodies from Alexis Ffrench, John Rutter, and Undine Smith Moore, and calming classics from Gustav Holst, Florence Price, Robert Schumann, and more.
Produced by James C Taylor.
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind, MM.
TUE 17:00 Classical Wind Down (m0030k6f)
Restore the calm 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 Joe Hisaishi, Poppy Ackroyd and Schubert. Plus a chance to Press Pause with meditation teacher Maude Hirst, and some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel on how looking to the horizon can help you rest.
To listen on most smart speakers, just ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Wind Down.
TUE 20:00 Cinematic Soundtracks (m002t97j)
Find a calm place with Never Look Away and Don't Look Up
Escape into the calming worlds of film and TV soundtracks with Edith Bowman. With Max Richter's Never Look Away and Don't Look Up by Nicholas Brittel. Also, we dive into the Great Barrier Reef with music from David Schweitzer and Thomas Newman's Finding Nemo.
Produced by Lucy Winter
Assistant Producer Naava Abigail Busenze
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 (m002cbyw)
A meditative moonlight 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 (p0jmlf5w)
Gentle sounds to lull you into a deep sleep
Drift into a calm, tranquil space and sink into sleep with the dreamy tones of the Shipping Forecast, set to soothing classical compositions from BBC Introducing.
Produced by Cat Gough
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Sounds
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play The Sleeping Forecast.”
WEDNESDAY 26 AUGUST 2026
WED 00:30 Sleep Tracks (m0030k6h)
Nod off on a night bus
Nod off on a night bus through the city, as doors softly open and close, rain taps the windows and the steady hum of the engine blends with restful classical music.
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 and Alice Boyd.
A Peanut & Crumb production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind.
WED 06:00 Mindful Mix (m0024qvd)
Gentle harmonies to help you relax
Take a moment to centre yourself with this collection of soothing classical music.
This mix features building melodies from Herbert Howells, Will Todd and Rebecca Dale, warm orchestral tones from Frederick Delius and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and mindful solo piano from H. Leslie Adams and Karen Tanaka.
Produced by Katie Hill
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM.
WED 09:00 Classical Unwind (m0030k37)
Restore your morning with tranquil 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 uplifting and enriching melodies from composers including Rachmaninov, Bizet, and Avril Coleridge-Taylor. There's a chance to Find Your Focus this morning with a lullaby by Marie Awadis, and Sian Takes a Breath and finds peace in the solitude she finds in the dappled shade of a forest. Also, Professor Catherine Loveday explains the science behind how music and words work together to create emotional tension and release.
WED 12:00 Piano Focus (m0025vfs)
Gentle piano music to boost your concentration
Allow distractions to melt away and immerse yourself in this carefully crafted mix of serene piano music designed to calm the mind and help you find focus. Featuring a seventeenth-century hornpipe by Henry Purcell and an Elizabethan song by John Dowland - both reworked for solo piano - alongside contemporary pieces by April Chung, Tigran Hamasyan and Elena Kole.
Produced by Alexa Kruger.
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 (m0025c3j)
Comforting classical music for warmth and positivity
Warming, gentle classical music to help you boost your energy and positivity. With well-known classics from Edward Elgar and Dmitri Shostakovich, as well as calming picks from Angela Morley, Philip Herbert and Clara Schumann.
Produced by Katie Hill.
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM.
WED 17:00 Classical Wind Down (m0025c4h)
Elevate your evening with glorious 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 Jóhann Jóhannsson, Margaret Bonds and Erik Satie – plus some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcast Caroline Steel on how cooking a simple dinner 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.
WED 20:00 Cinematic Soundtracks (m0030k39)
Re-charge to music from The Invite and Westworld
Escape into the immersive worlds of film and TV soundtracks with Edith Bowman. Featuring music from The Invite and TV series Westworld, with scores from long-time Almodovar collaborator Alberto Iglesias and David Lowry's go-to composer Daniel Hart.
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 (m002cc0t)
Music for the darkling hour
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 (m0024qy5)
Nod off with gentle classical music
Get cosy with the sleep-inducing sounds of the Shipping Forecast, paired with classical music from BBC Introducing and some gentle field recordings of rain.
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Sounds
Produced by Cat Gough
THURSDAY 27 AUGUST 2026
THU 00:30 Sleep Tracks (m002m7ss)
Drop off with dripping icicles
Slide towards sleep with a mix of crisp, ice-cool sounds and calming classical music. Glide into an immersive adventure among the icicles - a restful soundtrack to guide you through bedtime.
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.
THU 06:00 Mindful Mix (m0024qvx)
Refreshing classical music to quieten your mind
Take a step back from the busy world with a selection of serene harmonies and calming melodies.
Featuring soothing instrumental textures by Sergei Rachmaninoff, Felix Mendelssohn, plus uplifting and inspiring sounds by Betty Jackson King, Isobel Waller-Bridge, and Jan Garbarek.
Produced by James C Taylor.
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind, MM.
THU 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.
THU 12:00 Piano Focus (m002pnq9)
Soothing piano to settle the mind
Late Romantic piano classics give way to 20th-century minimalism and reverb-drenched contemporary vignettes. Drifting across eras and decades, this mix is designed to guide focus and relaxation. Vanessa Wagner’s interpretation of Suzanne Ciani’s Inverness paints a frosty landscape glimpsed from a warm fire, while Chilly Gonzales’s Gentle Threat renews like a sun-touched morning.
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.
THU 14:00 Mindful Mix (m0025knk)
Step away from the daily grind with serene classical sounds
Blissful classical harmonies to calm your mind and bring peace to your soul.
Featuring reflective harmonies from Mel Bonis, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Avril Coleridge-Taylor and calming textures by Ludwig van Beethoven, Charles Koechlin and Lili Boulanger.
Produced by Steven Rajam.
An Overcoat Media production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind. MM.
THU 17:00 Classical Wind Down (m0025kvd)
Calm your senses with soothing 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 Stephan Moccio, Maya Youssef and Ravel. Plus, a chance to Press Pause with meditation teacher Maude Hirst, and some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel on how keeping a journal can help reduce stress.
To listen on most smart speakers just ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Wind Down.
THU 20:00 Cinematic Soundtracks (m002m7sx)
Chill out with Tarzan and Barbie
Take a moment to chill through the music of film and TV with Edith Bowman. Featuring Mark Mancina's Tarzan and a moment from Andrew Wyatt and Mark Ronson's score for Barbie. Plus music from Anne Chmelewsky's soundtrack for the TV series 'To Cook A Bear' and Bill Conti's composition for the classic film The Karate Kid Part III.
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 The Night Tracks Mix (m00310p7)
Countdown to the Proms
Sit back and get set for our special Ultimate Calm Prom.
THU 22:15 BBC Proms (m0030dvr)
2026
Ultimate Calm
Live at the BBC Proms: Erland Cooper, the City of London Sinfonia and director Alexandra Wood perform music inspired by nature and landscape, blending classical, ambient and electronic sounds.
Presented by Sara Mohr-Pietsch, live from the Royal Albert Hall, London.
Erland Cooper (presenter/piano)
City of London Sinfonia
Alexandra Wood (director/violin)
With presenters including Ólafur Arnalds, Hania Rani and Erland Cooper, Radio 3 Unwind's Ultimate Calm takes listeners on immersive and reflective journeys through classical and ambient music. This late-night Prom includes the UK premiere of music by Cooper, the Orkney-born composer and pianist whose work explores themes of nature and landscape, alongside the City of London Sinfonia and special guest artists. Atmospheric soundscapes and soothing electronic elements intertwine to create a uniquely serene and escapist concert for the night hours.
THU 23:45 The Sleeping Forecast (m0027bwl)
Sink into a cosy slumber
Sleep peacefully with classical music from BBC Introducing, paired with Radio 4’s Shipping Forecast.
Produced by Cat Gough
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Sounds
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play The Sleeping Forecast”
FRIDAY 28 AUGUST 2026
FRI 00:45 Sleep Tracks (m002mjkf)
Wander in the wintertime
Step lightly into sleep, through the surrounds and sounds of a wander in wintertime. Unearth some peace amidst the mist, the nature, the stillness, the solitude and the music - a perfect mix to soundtrack your 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 (m0024qw3)
A classical meditation to inspire calmness
Peaceful classical melodies to accompany your journey to calmness and relaxation, no matter the time of day.
Allow the soothing music of Johannes Brahms, Claude Debussy and Franz Schubert to whisk you off to a place of serenity and enjoy the hidden gems of this 3 hour calming classical mix.
Produced by Katie Hill.
An Overcoat Media Production for BBC Radio 3 Unwind, MM.
FRI 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.
FRI 12:00 Piano Focus (m0025vr8)
A peaceful piano soundtrack to aid your focus
Fade out the noise and let this gentle piano soundtrack help you to focus on what’s important. Featuring timeless piano classics from Erik Satie, Claude Debussy and Mel Bonis, alongside new music by British composers including Izzy Flynn, Alanna Crouch and Neil Foster.
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 (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.
FRI 17:00 Classical Wind Down (m0025l6f)
Restore calm with relaxing 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 Jasdeep Singh Degun, Daniela Mars and John Williams. Plus, a chance to Press Pause with meditation teacher Rod Stryker, and some essential Wind Down Wisdom from science podcaster Caroline Steel.
To listen on most smart speakers just ask BBC Sounds to play Classical Wind Down.
FRI 20:00 Cinematic Soundtracks (m002ng2x)
Clear your mind with music from Gladiator and Ad Astra
Ease into the relaxing worlds of film and TV soundtracks with Edith Bowman. Featuring Hans Zimmer's iconic score for Gladiator and Laura Karpman's Inventing Tomorrow. Plus a moment from Ad Astra by Lorne Balfe.
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 (m002zcxb)
Meditative music for night owls
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 (m002bhwc)
Sink into a deep slumber
Sink into a deep sleep with this soundtrack of calming classical music from BBC Introducing and weather reports from BBC Radio 4’s Shipping Forecast alongside field recordings made in late spring at the Fens at night time. Featuring gentle call of a Scops owl, young long-eared owl, nightingale, cuckoo, marsh frog and cowbells.
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."