BBC Proms to celebrate American classical music

The line-up of this year’s BBC Proms will feature a season-long celebration of American music to mark 250 years since the signing of the US Declaration of Independence.

It will include the Proms debut of The Met Orchestra and the highly-anticipated return of the Los Angeles Philharmonic after nearly 25 years, while it will premiere new work from American composers Wynton Marsalis and Jessie Montgomery.

The world’s biggest classical music festival will also see debut performances by the Spanish National Orchestra and the Mahler Academy Orchestra from Italy, along with the return of the Berlin, Munich and Oslo philharmonic orchestras.

Audiences can also expect appearances from conductors and star soloists including Marin Alsop, Angel Blue and Joyce DiDonato, as well as internationally-renowned pianists Martha Argerich, Kirill Gerstein, Yunchan Lim and Yuja Wang.

Although focusing on classical music, there will be new cross‑genre musical explorations include a 40th anniversary concert of Paul Simon’s Graceland with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a Prom with singer-songwriter Nadine Shah, a night exploring prog rock and a celebration of soul legend Marvin Gaye.

Younger audiences can look forward to a new collaboration with BBC Children’s Horrible Science, a Prom celebrating the music of composer Alan Menken for Disney, a matinee with Fantasia Orchestra and a Prom at Bristol Beacon with the National Open Youth Orchestra.

There will be performances from 41 orchestras and choirs from across the UK while British soloists making appearances include euphonium player David Childs, who will appear as part of a programme of brass band music with the Black Dyke Band.

The BBC Proms 2026 will feature 86 concerts over eight weeks at venues across the UK, with more than 70,000 tickets available for £8.

Every Prom will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 & BBC Sounds, with selected concerts on BBC TV and iPlayer.

It will run from July 17 to September 12.

Sam Jackson, controller at Radio 3 and BBC Proms, said: “With 86 Proms across eight weeks, I’m delighted to be announcing a 2026 season that brings together the world’s great orchestras, the finest British talent and an extraordinary breadth of music-making.

“From the long-awaited return of the LA Philharmonic to the Proms debut of The Met Orchestra, and world-class pianists including Martha Argerich and Yuja Wang, this summer we celebrate classical music at its most vibrant.

“With Promming tickets remaining at just £8, we look forward to welcoming both first-timers and long-time Prommers to the Royal Albert Hall and to venues across the UK.”