The Barbican Centre has unveiled its 2026–27 classical season, combining major anniversaries, composer-focused series, and a substantial commitment to new music across more than fifty premieres.
Running from September 2026 to July 2027, the programme brings together the Barbican’s resident and associate ensembles alongside a wide international roster of artists and orchestras.
Composer in focus and anniversaries
A central strand of the season is a Composer in Focus series dedicated to Caroline Shaw, featuring performances across multiple formats, including the UK premiere of Pastoral, a collaboration with choreographer Pam Tanowitz, and a new orchestral film project, Trees, with the London Symphony Orchestra.
The season also marks the 200th anniversary of the death of Ludwig van Beethoven with two orchestral residencies led by Lang Lang and Andris Nelsons. Across two three-night visits with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, the performers will present the complete cycle of Beethoven’s five piano concertos alongside major symphonic works.
In parallel, the Barbican celebrates the 90th birthday of Steve Reich with a series curated by percussionist Colin Currie, including a new co-commissioned work and performances of Music for 18 Musicians.
New music and staged projects
Contemporary music remains a defining feature of the season, with more than fifty world, UK and London premieres announced.
The LIMINAL series returns for its second year, exploring works that blur the boundaries between acoustic, electronic, and experimental practices. Meanwhile, the Concert Theatre strand will present staged productions spanning opera, dance, and music theatre, including new works by Tyshawn Sorey and Hannah Peel.
A new London edition of Always, Already There, an Afrodiasporic incubator project curated by Elaine Mitchener, will bring performances, installations, and premieres across a dedicated weekend festival.
Residencies and artists
The Barbican expands its residency programme with four artists in residence: violinist Isabelle Faust, sitarist Jasdeep Singh Degun, violist Lawrence Power, and the Scottish Ensemble. Each will curate projects across the season, including premieres and cross-genre collaborations.
Degun’s residency, for example, includes the world premiere of his Sitar Concerto No. 2, while Faust will present a wide-ranging programme from Bach to new concertos.
Orchestras and international visitors
The Barbican’s resident orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, continues its season under Chief Conductor Antonio Pappano, with a focus on new commissions alongside core repertoire, including works by Mahler, Vaughan Williams and Verdi.
The BBC Symphony Orchestra also returns with a programme featuring multiple premieres and a wide range of repertoire, from Britten and Debussy to contemporary composers, with concerts broadcast on BBC Radio 3.
Guest ensembles across the season include the Czech Philharmonic, Bach Collegium Japan, Il Pomo d’Oro and Pygmalion Ensemble, alongside appearances by soloists such as Evgeny Kissin, Hélène Grimaud and Beatrice Rana.
More info here.
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