Matteo Bocelli, Jacob Collier and More Set for The Ford 2026 Season

The LA Phil has unveiled the 2026 season at The Ford, its hillside open-air venue, running from May 8 to October 31. The 2026 season brings together a multidisciplinary mix of music, dance, film, theater, comedy and spoken word. The season will also see the return of the beloved family-friendly LA Soundscapes daytime programming series and FordLab, the incubator and accelerator program that gives local and regional artists the opportunity to develop new work and reach wider audiences.

FordLab Productions

The 2026 FordLab series launches with comedian, writer, actor and author Aida Rodriguez. Fresh from the release of her new HBO Max special Fighting Words, she brings “The Remix” to The Ford, her program in which stand-up comedy meets the soundtrack of your life. Rodriguez teams up with comic Frankie Quiñones and DJ D-NICE for a night of laughs, music and a party you don’t want to miss. This event is produced in partnership with De Mi Alma Productions (Friday, July 17, at 8PM). This performance is supported in part by the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture.

First-year FordLab producer Leimert Park Jazz Festival brings a special presentation of its highly regarded Sunday Jazz series to The Ford stage. The program, John Beasley’s UNLIMITED MILES: Miles Davis AT 100, opens with award-winning pianist and composer John Beasley’s one-hour performance tracing the artistic evolution of the jazz icon through distinct creative eras, and concludes with a one-hour jam session featuring 13 outstanding emerging artists from the Sunday Jazz monthly series. In the tradition Davis embodied of assembling young innovators and pushing them toward new artistic terrain, this set highlights the next wave of jazz voices. This event is produced in partnership with Leimert Park Jazz Festival (Sunday, July 19, at 7:30PM). This performance is supported in part by the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture.

Nothing Compares 2 Prince: A Celebration of Life & Legacy featuring Bilal & Special Guests with DJ Rashida presents a powerful live tribute at The Ford honoring the music and cultural impact of Prince. This special evening brings together Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Bilal, known for his extraordinary vocal range and genre-defying artistry and for delivering one of the most unforgettable Prince tributes. He is joined by dynamic special guests and DJ Rashida, Prince’s former touring DJ and longtime collaborator, for a genre-crossing experience inspired by one of the most visionary artists of all time. This event is produced in partnership with Fusicology (Friday, September 25, at 8PM). This performance is supported in part by the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture.

Outside of their home city of Manchester, UK, nowhere have The Smiths had a bigger and more lasting impact than in Mexico, where their music is still huge decades after the band broke up. The LA Phil and co-producers Mariachi Tierra Mia present Mariachi Meets The Smiths, a night of Smiths favorites from across the band’s discography as interpreted by some of the best mariachi artists in Los Angeles (Sunday, September 27, at 7:30PM). This performance is supported in part by the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture.

Artist and cultural strategist Marc Bamuthi Joseph presents America(!)... The Beautiful(?). An immersive evening of performance and civic imagination produced in partnership with For Freedoms, this event brings together artists whose work lives at the intersection of creative expression and collective action (Saturday, October 3, at 8PM). This performance is supported in part by the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture.

The Ford presents Bambu: Bass Building, an evening led by Filipino American emcee and community organizer Bambu. Inspired by the ethos of his album Party Worker, the program reimagines the live hip-hop show as a grassroots organizing session, transforming the amphitheater into a forum for dialogue, connection and shared purpose. Featuring special appearances by The Neighborhood Kids, Kiwi, Rocky Rivera, Prometheus Brown, Ruby Ibarra, DJ Phatrick and Faith Santilla, among others, the evening brings together artists whose practices are deeply rooted in community. This event is produced in partnership with AKB Media (Saturday, October 10, at 8PM). This performance is supported in part by the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture.

MAROONS is a genre-defying multidisciplinary performance that reimagines the history of marronage (resisting or liberating oneself from slavery) as a living, time-bending practice of escape and collective freedom. The performance blends theater, music, choreography, and visual spectacle to create an immersive world where history fractures and reassembles. At its core, MAROONS treats the stage as a portal, and audiences are invited into a space where time bends and new possibilities emerge from the refusal of oppressive systems. The work asks what it means to move toward freedom together and what signals (seen and unseen) guide that journey. Written by Autumn Breon, Ashley Soto Paniagua and Tristen J. Winger, the work features special guests to be announced. This event is produced in partnership with Studio of Autumn Breon (Friday, October 16, at 8PM). This performance is supported in part by the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture.

Alongside the LA Phil, Discostan presents Music Beyond Borders: Discostan with Lifafa and Arushi Jain. As part of Discostan’s 15-year anniversary series, the creative collective spotlighting innovative artists brings two figures guiding the future of electronic music in India to The Ford’s stage. Lifafa makes his North American debut in his only scheduled US performance, presenting his deeply personal music that highlights Hindi and Urdu influences and fuses disco, sampled loops and cosmic guitar with traditional folk instruments. Composer, vocalist and modular synthesist Arushi Jain presents her original compositions, which draw as much from Terry Riley, Aphex Twin and The Cocteau Twins as traditional ragas and talas and have been hailed by Pitchfork, Fader, and The Guardian (October 24, at 8PM). This performance is supported in part by the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture.

Music, Dance, and Multidisciplinary

Rostam’s American Stories Tour stops at The Ford for one performance with Zsela and Henry Solomon. This event is co-presented with Live Nation Hewitt Silva (Saturday, May 30, at 7PM).

Matteo Bocelli performs at The Ford as part of his Falling in Love World Tour. The singer—and son of Andrea Bocelli—moves from heir to innovator with his eagerly anticipated second album Falling in Love and steps confidently into the spotlight as a next-generation artist with the heart of a poet and the reach of a global pop star. His music is rich in romantic yearning and vulnerability, with passionate showpieces and cinematic, emotionally charged ballads (Sunday, June 21, at 7:30PM).

This season’s Composer-in-Focus, Joe Hisaishi, has established himself as a formidable force in contemporary music for his delicately crafted symphonic and solo works. Hisaishi brings his MUSIC FUTURE series to the LA Phil, highlighting the works and talents of his notable collaborators such as Bryce Dessner and Nico Muhly, as well as his original compositions. The concert will feature chamber performances and works conducted by Hisaishi himself. (Saturday, July 25, at 8PM).

For a decade, Boleros De Noche has honored the timeless beauty of bolero music in Los Angeles. This year, it’s bringing together generations of music lovers for an unforgettable night of romance, nostalgia and cultural pride with the 10th Annual Boleros de Noche featuring iLe. The celebration reaches new heights with a special performance by Grammy Award–winning Puerto Rican artist iLe. With her latest album Como las Canto Yo, she breathes new life into classic boleros, blending tradition with her signature artistry and honoring the passion and elegance that define the genre. Opening the night is Voz Bohemia, a Los Angeles–based trío romántico rooted in bolero and ranchera, whose sound reflects the rich musical tapestry of LA, México and Latin America (Saturday, August 1, at 8PM).

For nearly six decades and across 55 iconic albums, Judy Collins has inspired audiences with sublime vocals, boldly vulnerable songwriting, personal life triumphs and a firm commitment to social activism. Collins brings her Sweet Judy Blue Eyes Farewell Tour to The Ford stage featuring songs from Spellbound, her 29th studio album and the only one composed of entirely original songs. She’s joined by 13-time Juno Award winner Bruce Cockburn for an evening of soul-touching folk by a pair of iconic musical storytellers (Friday, August 7, at 8PM).

Writing with extraordinary insight balanced by empathy and care, Ani DiFranco is an icon for those who find that society’s boundaries have been drawn to exclude them. Her latest album, 2024’s Unprecedented Sh!t, is a poignant political and social commentary, with songs that serve as civil rights rallying cries, calls to action for reproductive freedom and harnessing the power of identity without being overwhelmed—all set to the captivating alchemy of folk, soul, and jazz-pop that’s made her one of the most beloved singer-songwriters of her generation. She’s joined by singer-songwriter Valerie June, who made her Ford debut in 2023 at the Los Angeles Folk Festival (Wednesday, August 12 at 8PM).

Helado Negro’s spectral experimental pop draws imagined beings, ghosts, haunted machines and atmospheres into a beautiful and heartfelt world. His most recent album, 2024’s Phasor, was hailed by Pitchfork for its “space-age synths, wistful romance, and the breeziest vibe in town.” He’s joined by Reyna Tropical, best known for their rhythmic, hip-swaying tropical beats featuring Afro-Indigenous drum patterns and environmental samples—expertly mixed and produced with dreamy guitar riffs and soft vocals by Fabi Reyna on The Ford stage (Thursday, August 13, at 8PM).

Tercera Raíz, produced in partnership with Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company, comes to The Ford in a performance that celebrates and honors the African diaspora’s vital contributions to Mexican culture, illuminating its impact on the country’s history, music, dance and daily life. While Mexico’s Indigenous and Spanish roots are widely recognized, the African influence has often been overlooked. This production seeks to reclaim and highlight that “third root,” giving voice to Afro-Mexican communities and their enduring legacy. Through dynamic dance, vibrant music and storytelling, the production not only honors the past but also engages with contemporary issues of visibility, inclusion and unity. More than a performance, Tercera Raíz is a movement, reaffirming that Afro-Mexican heritage is an essential, living part of Mexico’s identity. (Friday, August 21, at 8PM).

Element Band marks another milestone in its musical journey in this legendary venue with its performance of Pyur, a showcase of the beauty of traditional Armenian music. Established in 2005 by Ara Dabandjian, the band has become a leading force in bringing Armenian music to audiences around the world. Dabandjian has created a sound that resonates across generations, reviving and preserving songs that might otherwise have faded away and the evening—a mix of new works and beloved classics—features a remarkable ensemble of 12 musicians along with several vocalists, including Soseh Aramouni Keshishyan and Natalie Avunjian (Sunday, August 30, at 7:30PM).

¡Viva La Tradición! LA’s Mujeres Divinas is a vibrant, all-women-led celebration honoring the voices, stories, and legacy of women in mariachi. At the heart of the evening, Las Colibrí revive the romance and elegance of early mariachi with their all-string sound and rich vocal harmonies. They are joined by Mariachi Las Catrinas and Grupo Bella, led by Grammy-winning vocalist and composer Vanessa Ramirez, in a powerful showcase of artistry and sisterhood. Ballet Folklórico Ollín completes the experience with breathtaking dance, illuminating the beauty and diversity of Mexico’s cultural traditions. This event is co-presented with Colibrí Entertainment (Saturday, September 5, at 8PM).

“Flamenco Ambassador” Maria Bermudez returns to The Ford with Flamenco! Convivencias. Spanish for coexistence or building of community, Convivencias brings together dancers and musicians from Spain and Southern California for an evening of passion and drama. Featuring flutist Juan and violinist Bernardo Parrilla, from one of Jerez de la Frontera’s legendary flamenco families, alongside powerhouse singer Carmen Grilo, and an international gathering of stunning musicians and dancers, Convivencias celebrates flamenco as a universal language (Saturday, September 12, at 8PM). This performance is supported in part by the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture.

Lido Pimienta brings her visionary new album La Belleza to The Ford in an immersive performance blending orchestral composition, electronic experimentation, and Afro-Caribbean musical traditions. Known for her commanding voice and genre-defying artistry, Pimienta creates emotionally charged performances exploring identity, ancestry, migration, and resistance through lush soundscapes that are both intimate and expansive (Saturday, September 19, at 8PM).

British singer-songwriter Paris Paloma has emerged as one of music’s most vital feminist voices, with her platinum-certified breakthrough “Labour” sparking over 11 billion social views and soundtracking movements worldwide. Following her critically acclaimed 2024 debut Cacophony, the Brighton-based artist brings The Fatal Flaw Tour to The Ford for her debut, offering anthemic, socially conscious pop shaped by soaring vocals, cinematic production, myth, grief, rage, love, and a touch of fairy magic (Tuesday, September 22, at 8PM).

Punch Brothers, formed by mandolinist Chris Thile in 2006, is known for pushing the boundaries of acoustic music. In addition to Thile, the band currently comprises guitarist Chris Eldridge, bassist Paul Kowert, banjoist Noam Pikelny and violinist Brittany Haas. They come to The Ford to celebrate 20 years since the group’s founding and to present their riveting and risk-taking version of Americana as showcased on their Grammy-nominated 2022 album Hell on Church Street (Thursday, October 8, at 8PM).

Following his triumphant solo concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall, the multi-instrumentalist musician Jacob Collier brings his The Light For Days Tour to The Ford. With an ambitious, universal sound that encompasses orchestral composition, folk songwriting, jazz, R&B, rap and pop, Collier already has seven Grammy wins under his belt, and he’s teamed up with musicians the world over—from SZA to Coldplay to Hans Zimmer (Sunday, October 11, at 7:30PM & Monday, October 12, at 8PM).

Sam Beam is a singer-songwriter who has been creating music as Iron & Wine for nearly three decades. Through the course of eight albums, numerous EPs and singles and the initial volumes of an Archive Series, Iron & Wine has captured the emotion and imagination of listeners with distinctly cinematic songs. He comes to The Ford to present selections from his latest record, Hen’s Teeth, along with songs from his back catalog. He is joined on the first night by Ken Pomeroy (Saturday, October 17, at 8PM) and second night by DUG (Sunday, October 18, at 7:30PM).

Acclaimed guitarist Julian Lage makes his debut at The Ford, collaborating with his quartet—made up of Lage, John Medeski, Jorge Roeder and Kenny Wollesen—to explore the far reaches of their expansive jazz palette. Hailed as one of the most prodigious guitarists of his generation and “highest category of improvising musicians" (New Yorker), Lage has spent more than a decade searching through the myriad strains of American musical history via impeccable technique, free association and a spirit of infinite possibility. (Friday, October 23, at 8PM).

Thomas Brenneck and Jared Tankel started Diamond West Records in 2022 as a label with an appetite for the adventurous that’s grounded in soul music. To celebrate their first four years, the two present a trio of Diamond West artists who embody the label’s aesthetic. Latin Grammy nominee Rogê’s samba-funk and raspy voice won him a gig as co-writer of the theme song for the 2016 Rio Olympics. The Sha La Das are the doo-wop group of 79-year-old Bill Schalda and his two sons whose silken family harmonies make their music feel timeless. And headlining the evening is Menahan Street Band, the exploratory soul and funk group (Tom Brenneck, Leon Michels, Nick Movshon, Homer Steinweiss, Dave Guy) whose songs have been sampled by Eminem, Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar (Sunday, October 4, at 7:30PM).

Ford Film

Produced in partnership with the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF), the LA Phil celebrates the 45th anniversary of Zoot Suit with a special screening featuring an introduction by director Luis Valdez and Edward James Olmos. Adapted from Valdez’s landmark stage production, Zoot Suit brings to life the story of Henry Reyna and the 1942 Sleepy Lagoon case, set against the backdrop of the Zoot Suit Riots in Los Angeles. Blending stylized storytelling, music and myth, the film remains a defining work of Chicano cinema, exploring identity, injustice and the power of cultural expression (Wednesday, July 8, at 8PM).

Presented by ARRAY, Ava DuVernay’s Main Character Energy is an evening of film, conversation, and participation. For one night only, host and curator Ava DuVernay and special guests transform The Ford into... cinematic storytelling experience with clips from iconic films that honor our shared humanity are paired with vibrant voices from today’s most captivating thought leaders, artists, actors, and filmmakers (Thursday, October 29, at 8PM).

In collaboration with Street Food Cinema, The Ford presents a 30th anniversary screening of From Dusk Till Dawn, Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino’s movie about two criminals and their hostages who seek temporary refuge in a truck stop populated by vampires, with chaotic results (Saturday, October 30, at 8PM).

On Halloween, join the LA Phil and co-producer Street Food Cinema at The Ford for a screening of the 1975 classic Rocky Horror Picture Show. Audiences can sing along with the 1975 rock musical classic led by Sins O’ the Flesh (Sunday, October 31, at 8PM).

Spoken Word, Theater and Comedy

The Improvised Shakespeare Company®— one of the most critically acclaimed improv troupes in the world—and creator Blaine Swen bring a brand new, fully improvised Shakespearean masterpiece to The Ford stage right before your eyes, based on an audience suggestion (a title of a show that has never been written). Nothing has been planned out, rehearsed or written. All of the dialogue is said for the first time, the characters are created as you watch and, if the audience is ever wondering where the story is going...so are the performers (Saturday, August 8, at 8PM)!

The legendary Flypoet Summer Classic returns to The Ford. Flypoet brings an all-star roster of Grammy nominees, HBO-featured artists and national spoken word champs to the mic for an evening of spoken word and music backed by a live band (Saturday, August 29, at 8PM).

LA Soundscapes Daytime Family Programming Series

Journey Through Cahuenga: Indigenous Storytelling and Dance brings a celebration of first peoples and place to The Ford, featuring songs and stories from generations before and honoring contemporary Native expressions through music, storytelling, poetry and dance. Participants include Dennis Garcia (Fernandeño-Tataviam, Chumash, Tongva), Chad Hamill/ čnaq'ymi (Spokane), Eric Hernandez (Lumbee) and Carolyn M. Dunn, PhD. (Creek, Cherokee, Tunica/Chocktaw-Biloxi, Acadian Creole), hosted by DeLanna Studi (Cherokee), Artistic Director, Native Voices. Co-presented by Indigenous Arts @CalArts and Native Voices (Sunday, July 12, at 11:30AM).

Bob Baker Marionette Theater performs Summertime!, a marionette variety show created in collaboration with musician and actor Kate Micucci. Celebrating the spirit of the season, the program features a lively mix of musical tunes to dance along to, playful storytelling and signature puppetry, offering audiences an upbeat, family-friendly experience designed to invite movement, laughter and a silly-good time (Sunday, August 9, at 11:30AM)!

The Filharmonic—the internationally recognized Filipino American a cappella group known for its appearances on NBC’s The Sing-Off, in Pitch Perfect 2 and The Late Late Show—performs LA Cover to Cover, a high-energy show featuring innovative vocal arrangements of today’s biggest hits, nostalgic favorites and culturally inspired mashups blending pop, R&B and hip-hop alongside signature humor and audience interaction. With world-class vocals and dynamic Stage Presence, The Filharmonic delivers an engaging, all-ages concert experience that celebrates music, culture and community (Sunday, September 6, at 11:30AM).

The creative percussion company DrumatiX brings Rhythm, Redefined!, an interactive, high-energy performance that transforms recycled and found objects into rhythmic and musical soundscapes. Performed by dance artists Jeze Zankich, Emma Edyth, Amanda Martz, Amaya Rodriguez and Anessa Davies, and led by artistic director and choreographer Noa Barankin, this family-friendly show uses tap dance, body percussion, drumming, technology, theatrical storytelling and inventive choreography to celebrate creativity, sustainability and the joy of making something new from what already exists (Sunday, October 25, at 11:30AM).

Partnerships

Since 2021, The Ford's Community Residencies program has invited five photographers from the Las Fotos Project’s Creative Entrepreneurship Opportunities (LFP CEO) program to capture select concerts at The Ford for the “Emerging Concert Photographers” residency. This partnership has expanded to include the "Through Our Lens" series, where photographers from LFP's Creative Career Center and the Black Image Center create photo essays on select artists performing at The Ford. Las Fotos Project and Black Image Center are photography education organizations in Los Angeles dedicated to empowering their participants to tell their own narratives and gain paid hands-on experiences for the success of their creative careers. This collaboration highlights The Ford's commitment to the LA Phil's dedication to Los Angeles communities and youth, increasing opportunities for youth-centered career development in the arts.

2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats

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