2026 in classical music

This article is for major events and other topics related to classical music in 2026.

Events

• 1 January
  • At the 2026 Vienna New Year's Concert, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and Yannick Nézet-Séguin perform the "Sirenen Lieder" of Josephine Amann-Weinlich and the "Rainbow Waltz" of Florence Price, in orchestrations by Wolfgang Dörner, the second time that the concert has featured music by female composers and the first time that the concert has featured more than one female composer. ^[1] The inclusion of the Florence Price selection also marks the first appearance of music by a composer outside of Europe and by a composer of colour. ^[2] The orchestra and conductor presented these works in the 30 December 2025 and 31 December 2025 performances of the same programme.
  • The Orchestre symphonique de Mulhouse officially takes national status in France, with the new name of the Orchestre national de Mulhouse. ^[3]
• 6 January – The Opéra national de Paris announces the appointment of Semyon Bychkov as its next music director, effective 1 August 2028, with an initial contract of four years. ^[4]
• 7 January
  • Aurora Orchestra announces that John Harte is to stand down as its chief executive in July 2026. ^[5]
  • The London Symphony Orchestra announces the appointment of John Harte as its next managing director, effective in August 2026. ^[6]

Recordings

• Nadia Boulanger and Raoul Pugno – La ville morte (first recording) ^[7]

Deaths

• 2 January – Lajos Rovátkay, Hungary-born harpsichordist and musicologist resident in Germany, 92 ^[8]

Major awards

2026 Musical America Award Winners

• Artist of the Year: Emanuel Ax ^[9]
• Composer of the Year: Gabriela Lena Frank ^[10]
• Conductor of the Year: Jakub Hrůša ^[11]
• Vocalist of the Year: Gerald Finley ^[12]
• Impresario of the Year: Martha Gilmer ^[13]

References

1. Christoph Irrgeher (1 January 2026). "Der Dirigent strahlte im Publikum: Neujahrskonzert mit Tschuff-Tschuff". Der Standard. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
2. Christoph Irrgeher (29 December 2025). "Diversität im Dreivierteltakt beim Neujahrskonzert". Der Standard. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
3. Louis-Valentin Lopez (2 January 2026). ""Une nouvelle page qui s'ouvre" : l'Orchestre de Mulhouse devient "orchestre national en région"". France Musique. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
4. "Appointment of Semyon Bychkov as Music Director of the Opéra national de Paris" (Press release). Opéra national de Paris. 6 January 2026. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
5. "Some news from the Aurora office team" (Press release). Aurora Orchestra. 7 January 2026. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
6. "Press Announcement: London Symphony Orchestra Names Next Managing Director" (Press release). London Symphony Orchestra. 7 January 2026. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
7. Andrew Clements (1 January 2026). "Boulanger: La Ville Morte album review – The celebrated teacher's early opera is brought back to life". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
8. Keith Bramich (January 2026). "Lajos Rovátkay". Classical Music Daily. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
9. Stuart Isacoff (January 2026). "Artist of the Year: Emanuel Ax". Musical America. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
10. Heidi Waleson (January 2026). "Composer of the Year: Gabriela Lena Frank". Musical America. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
11. Clive Paget (January 2026). "Conductor of the Year: Jakub Hrůša". Musical America. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
12. Mark Thomas Ketterson (January 2026). "Vocalist of the Year: Gerald Finley". Musical America. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
13. Gerard McBurney (January 2026). "Impresario of the Year: Martha Gilmer". Musical America. Retrieved 2 January 2026.