BBC Proms — Season 2026

The classical music festival gets under way live from the Royal Albert Hall. Petroc Trelawny and Georgia Mann guide viewers through a night of music-making to kick off the summer's Proms season. Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man opens, followed by Gershwin's An American in Paris, and Ravel's bluesy Piano Concerto, performed by pianist Yunchan Lim. A world premiere by Josephine Stephenson starts the second half, followed by Finzi's ode to the patron saint of music - For St Cecilia - with tenor Thomas Atkins. Dalia Stasevska conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Singers and BBC Symphony Chorus.

Petroc Trelawny and Georgia Mann present a specially curated night of musical gems from the Royal Albert Hall featuring the BBC Symphony Orchestra and conductors Marin Alsop and Elim Chan. Alongside a performance of one of the best-known of all symphonies is Mussorgsky's A Night on a Bare Mountain and Richard Strauss's Don Juan.

Classical arrangements of music by ELP, Genesis, Mike Oldfield, Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, Yes and more, in a rock-classical crossover performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra alongside a group of rock veterans. Presented by Stuart Maconie from the Royal Albert Hall. The BBC Concert Orchestra, conductor Robert Ames, Guy Garvey, Jane Weaver, Gruff Rhys, Carl Palmer, Peter Hammill. ELP/Copland, arr Robert Ames: Fanfare for the Common Man. Jethro Tull, arr Sam Gale: Out Bloody Rageous Pt 1. Genesis, arr Adam Dennis: A Trick of the Tail. Genesis, arr Sam Gale: I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe). Renaissance, arr Christian Balvig: Northern Lights. Moody Blues, arr Fiona Brice: Nights in White Satin. Van der Graaf Generator, arr Adam Dennis: Refugees. Yes, arr Chaines: And You And I; Close to the Edge; Siberian Khatru. Mike Oldfield: Tubular Bells Pt 1 - excerpts. Interval. ELP, arr Robert Ames Karn: Evil; First Impression Part 2. Osibisa, arr Christian Balvig: Komfo 5. Frank Zappa, arr Christian Balvig: Peaches En Regalia. Focus, arr Christian Balvig: Sylvia. King Crimson, arr Fiona Brice: 21st Century Schizoid Man; I Talk to the Wind; Court of the Crimson King. Jethro Tull: Reasons for Waiting. Genesis, arr Fiona Brice: Entangled. Gentle Giant, arr Sam Gale: On Reflection. Incredible String Band, arr Christian Balvig: Maker of Islands. Pink Floyd, arr Fiona Brice: Great Gig In the Sky. Supertramp, arr Christian Balvig: Crime of the Century. ELP/ Mussorgsky, arr Robert Ames: Great Gate of Kiev.

The powerhouse conductor brings Respighi's sun-soaked Roman Trilogy to life, leading his Sinfonia of London Orchestra through a colossal program also featuring Walton & Verdi.

A night celebrating the famed British composer with two of his best-loved works, the First Symphony & Cello Concerto, masterfully performed by Sheku Kanneh-Mason.

Nick Mohammed presents music inspired by Iberian rhythms as the Spanish National Orchestra makes its Proms debut with works by Manuel De Falla, Maurice Ravel & Joaquín Rodrigo.

Katie Derham presents a look at some of the great performances on the violin that have graced the Royal Albert Hall stage. Rising star Sueye Park makes her Proms debut with the Sibelius Violin Concerto, also featuring archive gems from Liya Petrova, Nicola Benedetti and Nigel Kennedy.

A specially curated programme, featuring a trio of pieces inspired by the wonders of the sky, opens with the BBC Philharmonic, under the baton of John Storgårds, in Strauss's Also Sprach Zarathustra. Judith Weir's Moon and Star follows, performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Singers and Ryan Wigglesworth. The evening finishes with a debut performance by the Spanish National Orchestra in Ravel's Alborada del gracioso, conducted by David Afkham. 

Coverage of the classical music festival.

Actor Nick Mohammed journeys through the Proms archive to celebrate the music that transformed people's view of the universe. Featuring Richard Strauss's Also sprach Zarathustra from 2001: A Space Odyssey, Gustav Holst's The Planets, John Williams's scores for Star Wars and ET the Extra-Terrestrial, Hans Zimmer's Interstellar and Max Richter's On the Nature of Daylight, heard in Arrival.

Petroc Trelawny presents from the Royal Albert Hall as Thomas Adès conducts the National Youth Orchestra on a musical journey to the underworld and back. The programme opens with Liszt's Mephisto Waltz No 1, a whirlwind score based on Nikolaus Lenau's epic poem Faust, followed by Adès' own Dante - Part 2: Purgatorio, the central act of his Grammy Award-winning ballet. To round off the concert, the orchestra delivers the dazzling Symphonie fantastique by Berlioz. Liszt: Mephisto Waltz No 1. Thomas Adès: Dante - Part 2: Purgatorio. Berlioz Symphonie fantastique. National Youth Orchestra, Thomas Adès (conductor).

Fresh from his surprise appearance during the World Cup Final half-time show, Gustavo Dudamel leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic in its first Proms appearance for more than two decades. Beethoven's Seventh Symphony, hailed by Wagner as 'the apotheosis of the dance', is paired with Gabriela Ortiz's Revolucion diamantina, a score inspired by Mexico's 2019 'glitter revolution'. Georgia Mann presents.

Clive Myrie presents a concert by the Nu Civilisation Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall celebrating 40 years of Paul Simon's groundbreaking album. Ladysmith Black Mambazo, who featured prominently on the album, are joined by James Bay, Laura Mvula and others on thestage to perform tracks including You Can Call Me Al, Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes and The Boy in the Bubble.

Katie Derham presents a celebration of moments that made Proms history, with landmark premieres and remarkable debuts, including the first appearances of artists, orchestras and even instruments. Featuring a Betsy Jolas debut inspired by Shakespeare's Tempest, music from the Spanish National Orchestra,, soprano Angel Blue's triumphant first appearance, and the first accordion soloist to grace the Last Night of the Proms stage with Ksenija Sidorova's rendition of Piazzolla's Libertango.

Clive Myrie presents a night at the Royal Albert Hall in tribute to the legendary trumpeter who would have celebrated his centenary in 2026. The concert combines the musician's influences - works by Rodrigo and Gershwin - with his own hits from classic albums such as Porgy and Bess, Sketches of Spain and Miles Ahead, amongst others.

Andi Oliver presents a concert from the Royal Albert Hall in which Edwin Outwater conducts the BBC Concert Orchestra, singer Luke James and the LJ Singers in a celebration of the singer-songwriter and musician. Featuring arrangements of hits including Ain't No Mountain High Enough, I Heard It Through the Grapevine, What's Going On, Sexual Healing. and Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing.

Georgia Mann presents a concert from the Royal Albert Hall as Benjamin Marquise Gilmore directs the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, horn player Felix Klieser and bassoonist Amy Harman in Mozart, Thea Musgrave, Britten and Elgar. The orchestra highlights the French horn and bassoon in two concertos - one classic, one contemporary, with Scottish composer Thea Musgrave's bassoon concerto Out of the Darkness receiving its world premiere. Mozart's good-natured Horn Concerto No 3 ends with a rollicking Allegro that's hard to resist, while there are more dancing rhythms from Britten's playful Simple Symphony, based on themes written by the composer before the age of 12. Britten: Simple Symphony. Mozart: Horn Concerto No 3 in E flat. Thea Musgrave: Bassoon concerto Out of the Darkness (BBC commission, world premiere). Elgar: Romance for bassoon and orchestra. Mozart: Symphony No 35 in D, Haffner. Felix Klieser (horn), Amy Harman (bassoon), Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Benjamin Marquise Gilmore (director/leader).

New York's Met Orchestra make their much-anticipated Proms debut under the baton of Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin. An all-Richard-Strauss programme ensures a night of musical passion, with Der Rosenkavalier, Ein Heldenleben and the final scene of Salome sung by coveted soprano Elza van den Heever. Presented by Petroc Trelawny from the Royal Albert Hall.

Nick Mohammed presents a concert at the Royal Albert Hall in which Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser conducts the BBC Concert Orchestra and guest singers in music from the James Bond franchise, including the songs Goldfinger, Nobody Does It Better and Diamonds Are Forever.

Tom Service introduces the classics of tomorrow in a special compilation performed at the classical music festival, with bold and brave compositions, illustrious orchestral pieces and more. The programme showcases three world premieres, an exciting bassoon concerto and interviews with composers including Thomas Adès and Gabriella Ortiz, who reveal the inspiration behind their pieces. With performances from the Royal Albert Hall by the National Youth Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, the BBC Singers and the BBC Symphony Chorus.

An exclusive first-hand insight into the mind of one of the world's most renowned musical figures. The conductor reflects on her history-making Last Night of the Proms in 2013 and a favourite moment from 2026 - Yunchan Lim's triumphant season opening performance of Ravel's Piano Concerto.

Nick Mohammed presents a concert from the Royal Albert Hall with Sarah Hicks conducting the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra in a concert featuring Alan Menken's music for Disney films. The American composer's acclaimed catalogue of shows, songs and scores includes many of Disney's greatest hits, and conductor Hicks and the BBC Philharmonic are joined by singers Marisha Wallace, Lucie Jones and other West End stars, as well as performers from the National Youth Music Theatre, in a celebration of this classic songwriter, including excerpts from the scores for The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast and Enchanted.

Katie Derham presents a concert at the Royal Albert Hall in which Marin Alsop conducts the Philharmonia and the Marcus Roberts Trio a celebration of music from her homeland. Featuring the urban rhythms of Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story and On the Town, George Gershwin's jazz-infused Rhapsody in Blue and the wide-open landscapes of Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring and Jerome Moross's The Big Country.

Petroc Trelawny presents a concert from the Royal Albert Hall, which opens with Lahav Shani conducting the Munich Philharmonic in Louise Farrenc's dramatic Overture No 2. Pianist Argerich then joins the orchestra for Beethoven's Second Piano Concerto, before the programme concludes with Brahms' warm and joyful Brahms' Fourth Symphony.

Three 2016 BBC Young Musician finalists - Jess Gillam, Ben Goldscheider and Sheku Kanneh-Mason - perform former BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist Gwilym Simcock's Triple Concerto. Britten's The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra and Dvorák's 'New World' Symphony complete a the programme. Georgia Mann presents. Britten: The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra 18'. Gwilym Simcock: Triple Concerto for Soprano Saxophone, Horn and Cello 20' BBC co-commission (world premiere). Interval. Dvorák Symphony No 9 in E minor, 'From the New World' 40'. Jess Gillam (saxophone), Ben Goldscheider (horn), Sheku Kanneh-Mason (cello), BBC Symphony Orchestra, conductor Sakari Oramo.

Katie Derham and Nick Mohammed lead the celebrations live from the Royal Albert Hall as the biggest party in classical music gets under way. Superstar pianist Yuja Wang and operatic sensation Nicky Spence top the bill as Sakari Oramo conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, and the BBC Singers, with highlights including Bernstein's sparkling Overture to Candide, Barber's Piano Concerto and Smetana's epic Má vlast.

Katie Derham and Nick Mohammed host the second half of the closing concert, conducted by Sakari Oramo, returning for his fifth Prom this summer, with pianist Yuja Wang. Tenor Nicky Spence celebrates his homeland with a rousing medley of Scottish songs and a rendition of Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat from the hit musical Guys and Dolls, before performances of Holst's Jupiter and all the Last Night traditions, from Land of Hope and Glory to Auld Lang Syne.

Highlights from a summer of extraordinary music at the world's biggest classical music festival. From Berlioz to Beethoven, Miles Davis to Marvin Gaye, this is a special selection of the best musical moments from across the season, including performances by Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Jess Gillam, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and more. Presented by Petroc Trelawny, Georgia Mann, Katie Derham, Nick Mohammed, Andi Oliver and Clive Myrie.