BBC Symphony Orchestra

For over 90 years, the BBC Symphony Orchestra has been a driving force in the British musical landscape, championing contemporary works, highlighting neglected composers and performing music at the heart of the classical repertoire.

As Orchestra in Residence at the BBC Proms, the BBC SO performs regularly throughout the season, including the First and Last Nights.

The orchestra gives 12 concerts across the 2026 Proms. Principal Guest Conductor Dalia Stasevska opens the festival with the First Night, joined by pianist Yunchan Lim. Chief Conductor Sakari Oramo returns for major symphonic statements, including Mahler’s Sixth Symphony, Dvořák’s New World Symphony and for the Last Night of the Proms featuring pianist Yuja Wang.

A focus on new music includes premieres by Dani Howard and Mark-Anthony Turnage, and a collaboration with Jules Buckley and Altın Gün.

The 2026/27 Barbican season continues this breadth, with Sakari Oramo conducting seven concerts ranging from Liszt's Faust Symphony and Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique to world premieres by Britta Byström and Charlotte Bray. Semyon Bychkov conducts Mahler’s Seventh Symphony, and star soloists include Yeol Eum Son in Rachmaninov's Third Piano Concerto and Randall Goosby in Barber’s Violin Concerto.

Dalia Stasevska will conduct programmes featuring Caroline Shaw and John Adams, and Total Immersion days in 2026/27 explore music and wellbeing, the work of Rebecca Saunders and the world of Tove Jansson and the Moomins.

The BBC SO performs throughout the UK and internationally, with most concerts broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds.

A wide‑ranging education and community programme sees the BBC SO working with schools, young people and families in East London ahead of its move to Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. In 2026/27 this includes performances of CBeebies’ award-winning Musical Storyland, side‑by‑side coaching for young musicians, and BBC Ten Pieces schools concerts.