250 Years of American Innovation
Marking the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence, the 2026 season places American creativity at its heart. Highlights include the highly anticipated Proms debut of The Met Orchestra and the return of the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Gustavo Dudamel.
Audiences will experience UK premieres of major works by Wynton Marsalis and Jessie Montgomery, alongside a centenary celebration of jazz icon Miles Davis. Conductor Marin Alsop leads an American Classics Prom, while the 40th anniversary of Paul Simon’s Graceland is reimagined with Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
World-Class Maestros and Soloists
The season welcomes a glittering roster of international stars:
Pianists: Martha Argerich returns 60 years after her debut, alongside Yuja Wang, Yunchan Lim, and Kirill Gerstein.
Orchestras: The Berlin, Munich, and Oslo Philharmonics return, while the Spanish National Orchestra makes its first Proms appearance.
British Talent: Marking 10 years since his BBC Young Musician win, Sheku Kanneh-Mason premieres a new concerto alongside fellow 2016 finalists Jess Gillam and Ben Goldscheider.
Expanding Horizons
The 2026 Proms continues to push boundaries with cross-genre explorations, including Prog Rock, Turkish psych-folk, and a celebration of soul legend Marvin Gaye. Regional residencies also return to Gateshead, Bristol, and Sunderland, with a brand-new debut in Mold, North Wales.
For families, the festival introduces a collaboration with Horrible Science and a celebration of Disney composer Alan Menken.
Accessible to All
Maintaining its mission to bring world-class music to everyone, the BBC has held Promming (standing) tickets at £8, with over 70,000 available throughout the summer. Every note will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds, with 24 programs televised on BBC TV and iPlayer.
With 20 premieres and 41 different orchestras, the 2026 Proms promises to be a vibrant, inclusive celebration of music’s past, present, and future.
