The BBC Proms, the United Kingdom’s leading classical music festival, will return from 18 July to 13 September 2025 with 86 concerts held across the country, most notably at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Widely regarded as one of the most accessible and ambitious classical music festivals in the world, the Proms were founded in 1895 with the aim of bringing classical music to a broad public. This year’s edition introduces new formats, celebrates major composer anniversaries, and features both established and emerging artists from around the globe.
A historic night
For the first time in Proms history, the festival’s concluding concert—the Last Night of the Proms—will be led entirely by women. Hong Kong-born conductor Elim Chan will conduct the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, joined by British soprano Louise Alder and trumpeter Alison Balsom. The programme includes works by Elgar, Holst, and Coleridge-Taylor, as well as new commissions by Rachel Portman and Camille Pépin.
Global performers and new formats
The 2025 season includes appearances by major international orchestras such as the Vienna Philharmonic, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and the Budapest Festival Orchestra. Among the soloists is South Korean pianist Yunchan Lim, who continues his rising global career.
Organist Anna Lapwood will curate a rare overnight Prom, titled From Dark Till Dawn, running from 11 PM to 7 AM. The event will feature performances by pianist Hayato Sumino, cellist Anastasia Kobekina, and the ensemble Barokksolistene, creating an immersive, night-long musical journey.
Another notable entry is the Traitors Prom, a thematic concert inspired by the BBC’s hit reality series The Traitors. Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, the event will explore themes of deception and suspense through a mix of classical and popular repertoire.
Composers anniversaries
Several concerts will mark key anniversaries of major composers:
- Dmitri Shostakovich, 50 years after his death, with performances of Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk and Symphony No. 10
- Maurice Ravel, in celebration of his 150th birthday, with works including Boléro and the Piano Concerto for the Left Hand
- Centenary tributes to Pierre Boulez and Luciano Berio, with performances by Ensemble intercontemporain
The opening night, conducted by Sakari Oramo, will feature the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture, Sibelius’s Violin Concerto (with Lisa Batiashvili), and a new work by Errollyn Wallen, alongside Vaughan Williams’s Sancta Civitas.
Broader reach and access
The Proms will also continue its tradition of reaching diverse audiences, with events like the CBeebies Bedtime Story Prom and a family-friendly concert marking the centenary of the BBC Shipping Forecast.
While most concerts take place at the Royal Albert Hall, performances will also be held in cities such as Bradford, Bristol, and Gateshead, aiming to broaden regional participation.
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