Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Unveils 2026/27 Season

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra has announced its 2026/27 season, featuring new commissions, international collaborations, anniversary celebrations, and performances by guest artists and conductors from around the world. The season marks Chief Conductor Domingo Hindoyan’s sixth year leading the orchestra.

The season will include a complete Beethoven symphony cycle conducted by Hindoyan across five concerts in January 2027, commemorating 200 years since the composer’s death. The orchestra will also mark the 50th anniversary of Benjamin Britten’s death through performances of works including Sinfonia da Requiem, The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, and the Cello Symphony.

GRAMMY-winning composer Caroline Shaw has been named the orchestra’s first Composer In Focus. Her music will appear throughout the season in performances by both the full orchestra and Liverpool Philharmonic’s contemporary ensemble 10:10.

The season will feature six major new commissions, including a clarinet concerto by Gavin Higgins for Artist in Residence Mark Simpson and a BBC co-commission by Carmel Smickersgill premiering at the BBC Proms. Additional premieres will include new works by Dani Howard, Rob Hughes, Andrew Barney, George Stevenson, and Errollyn Wallen.

London appearances include a return to the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall and a concert at Alexandra Palace marking the 15th anniversary of Bill Ryder-Jones’s album If….

Guest conductors during the season include Andrew Manze, Vasily Petrenko, Adam Hickox, Karel Deseure, Kristiina Poska, Joshua Weilerstein, Andris Poga, and Dinis Sousa, alongside conducting debuts from Alena Hron, Kellen Gray, and Bar Avni.

Featured soloists will include Guy Johnston, Tabea Zimmermann, Víkingur Ólafsson, Simon Trpčeski, Boris Giltburg, Jeneba Kanneh-Mason, Nobuyuki Tsujii, Johan Dalene, Clara-Jumi Kang, Nemanja Radulović, and Bryn Terfel.

Chief Conductor Domingo Hindoyan

Hindoyan’s season opens with Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection” on October 1, followed by the orchestra’s annual Classic FM Hall of Fame concert on October 4, featuring a new work by Dani Howard commissioned to celebrate the orchestra’s 25-year partnership with Classic FM.

In April, Hindoyan reunites with pianist Simon Trpčeski for a program including works by Turina, Ginastera, and Ravel, before leading Liverpool Philharmonic’s 10:10 ensemble in a concert featuring music by Caroline Shaw and Rob Hughes.

The season concludes with Carl Orff’s CARMINA BURANA, featuring the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir and youth ensembles.

Caroline Shaw: Composer In Focus

As Composer In Focus, Caroline Shaw’s works will be featured throughout the season, including Entr’acte, Is a Rose, Blueprint, Three Essays for String Quartet, and The Observatory.

Shaw said in a statement, “I'm always interested in how music brings people together - how it connects us to language, to history, and to each other.”

Liverpool Philharmonic’s 10:10

The orchestra’s contemporary ensemble 10:10 will continue its focus on new music and British and American repertoire. Programming includes Steve Reich’s Different Trains with film by Bill Morrison, a Britten anniversary program, and Beethoven-inspired contemporary works.

Made in Merseyside

The Made in Merseyside series will feature collaborations with Bill Ryder-Jones, MT Jones, and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, alongside performances by artists from across the North West.

Film Music and Video Game Concerts

The orchestra’s film and gaming concerts will return with programs including How to Train Your Dragon live in concert, May the Fourth Be With You: The Music of Star Wars, and Game On, featuring music from video games including The Witcher 3, World of Warcraft, and Assassin’s Creed.

Family Programming

Family programming during the season includes performances of Room on the Broom and Zog, The Snowman, Magical Musicals, Get Singing!, and Under-5s concerts led by Claire Henry.

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