The Boston Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2026–27 season, which will mark the final season of Andris Nelsons as Music Director, following recent tensions surrounding the decision to end his tenure in 2027.
According to the orchestra’s announcement, the season will run from September 18, 2026, to May 9, 2027, with Nelsons conducting 15 of 25 subscription programs.
The announcement comes at a time of heightened scrutiny over the orchestra’s leadership, after the decision not to renew Nelsons’ contract prompted public reactions from musicians and expressions of support from across the international classical music community.
A final season shaped by large-scale projects
Nelsons’ final season is structured around a series of thematic and composer-focused projects. Among the central pillars is a monthlong Tchaikovsky cycle in January, featuring all six numbered symphonies alongside a concert performance of The Queen of Spades.
In February, Nelsons will lead performances of Stravinsky’s three early ballet scores — The Firebird, Petrushka, and The Rite of Spring — across two consecutive programs.
The season also includes a Creation Festival in November, pairing Haydn’s The Creation with the world premiere of a newly commissioned work by Osvaldo Golijov, with libretto by David Henry Hwang.
Another thematic focus, Technology & Our Humanity, will centre on a new work by composer Tod Machover, incorporating live AI elements.
Premieres and collaborations
The 2026–27 season will feature three world premieres and two U.S. premieres, continuing the orchestra’s long-standing commissioning activity.
Among them is a posthumous world premiere by Sofia Gubaidulina and Elena Firsova, as well as new works by Carlos Simon, Alex Nante, and Francisco Coll.
The season will also bring together a wide range of soloists, including Yo-Yo Ma, who joins Nelsons for the opening gala, as well as Lang Lang, Hilary Hahn, Seong-Jin Cho, and Jean-Yves Thibaudet.
Cellist Alisa Weilerstein will serve as Artist in Residence, appearing both as a soloist and in chamber performances.
Touring and final concerts
The orchestra will undertake a European tour with Lang Lang in March, with dates to be announced, and return to Carnegie Hall in April with programs featuring Yo-Yo Ma and violinist Himari.
Nelsons’ final Boston concert as Music Director is scheduled for April, when he will conduct Mahler’s Symphony No. 3, a work he has previously described as a personal favourite.
A season announced in a moment of tension
While the announcement outlines an ambitious artistic programme, it is inevitably framed by the current situation surrounding Nelsons’ departure. The decision to conclude his tenure has led to visible tensions between the orchestra’s leadership and its musicians, as well as a series of public statements and gestures of support for the conductor.
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