Dive into the 2026 season of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, where musical masterpieces come alive. From Ray Chen's profound violin displays with Nielsen and Tchaikovsky to the spellbinding symphonies of Shostakovich and Beethoven, this year's lineup promises an immersive experience. The Valentine's Opera Gala adds a touch of romance, and Strauss’ vibrant compositions leave audiences in awe. With world-class conductors and virtuosos, each performance is set to captivate audiences worldwide.

A Symphony of Greatness: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's 2026 Highlights

This February and March, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is set to captivate audiences with an array of performances at the iconic Cadogan Hall in London. The series features a remarkable blend of operatic gala nights, classical symphonies, and unique orchestral pieces, celebrated under the baton of distinguished conductors and acclaimed soloists. From Valentine's serenades to the timeless symphonies of Beethoven, each event promises an unforgettable evening, making it a perfect gathering for music lovers and cultural enthusiasts alike.

A Symphony of Love and Emotion: Highlights from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's 2026 Gala Season

From the grandiose melodies of romantic opera to the stirring symphonies of classical greats, February at Cadogan Hall was nothing short of a musical odyssey. As the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Cadogan Hall hosted a series of spellbinding performances, audiences were treated to the rich tapestry of love, passion, and timeless artistry. With notable performances from acclaimed conductors and soloists, each event painted a vivid picture of musical excellence, capturing the essence of human emotion through sound.

A Melodic February: Celebrating Love and Masterpieces at Cadogan Hall

Anne-Marie MacIntosh

Jordan de Souza

Nicky Spence OBE

Cadogan Hall

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

From Flanders looking westwards across the Channel, and eastwards to Bohemia’s hills and forests, this is a concert inspired by nature.

Butterworth and Vaughan Williams’ sumptuous works were set in motion by English poetry. But in a richly burnished orchestral tone poem, and in Vaughan Williams’ ever-popular, ravishing violin rhapsody, you can almost smell the warm earth, hear the dawn chorus and imagine yourself bathing in the still, sweet air of the English countryside.

Flanders Symphony Orchestra

Following a sold-out 2025 performance at Cadogan Hall, a symphony of Kate Bush, an orchestral celebration of This Woman’s Work returns by overwhelming popular demand.

The world‑renowned ensemble Cloudbusting – The Music of Kate Bush joins forces with more than 40 musicians from the West London Sinfonia for this very special event. Spanning the full breadth of Kate Bush’s extraordinary career, the programme brings to life original arrangements by luminaries including Michael Kamen, Michael Nyman, and Andrew Powell, while reimagining other iconic songs with the power and colour of orchestral voices.

Classical Kate Bush (2026)

Following her hugely successful 2025 date, Harriet returns in 2026, by popular demand.

Trying To Get The Feeling Again sees Harriet perform new interpretations of her favourite sounds of the ’70s with her live band following the release of her new album of the same name. Including hits by The Carpenters, Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Carole King, Barry Manilow, Christopher Cross and more, interlaced with her nostalgic original material.

This nostalgic show transports audiences back to the 1970s where they are able to connect through a mutual love of this wonderful music while experiencing all the feelings that this coveted era evokes in us.

Harriet (2026)

Cadogan Hall 

Through her luminous voice and soulful storytelling, acclaimed vocalist and songwriter Lizz Wright returns to the stage with the grace and honesty that have defined her remarkable 20-year career. Described by The New York Times as possessing “a smooth, dark alto” reminiscent of “barrel-aged bourbon or butter-soft leather”, Wright’s sound bridges generations and genres, uniting gospel, jazz, blues, and folk traditions into something deeply human and uniquely her own.

Raised in Georgia, Wright’s musical roots trace back to the church where her father preached, and she led the choir – experiences that continue to shape her resonance and emotional depth. Over the years, she has released a string of acclaimed albums, including Salt, Dreaming Wide Awake, and Grace, earning her place among America’s great modern voices.

Lizz Wright with Kenny Banks Sr.

A double bill show from the Andy Sheppard Trio and Normal Winstone & Kit Downes.

The Andy Sheppard Trio marks an unprecedented encounter between master saxophonist Andy Sheppard, Italian jazz icon pianist Rita Marcotulli, and one of the most prominent bassists on the European circuit, French bassist Michel Benita. Three highly individual musicians, each of whom has played a significant role in shaping what we now recognise as the sound of European jazz.

In this new trio, Sheppard has the opportunity to develop an entire programme of new compositions, taking a spirited and fresh approach to his writing for the project – honouring jazz tradition while allowing space for interpretation through the unique voices within the trio. Collectively exploring the possibilities of improvisation and interplay, the music is anchored in structure yet open to lyricism, free to discover new paths and evolve in different directions as it unfolds.

Andy Sheppard Trio

A Norwegian trumpeter and a Greek pianist: it is hard to imagine greater contrasts in temperature and temperament. And yet, Nils Petter Molvær and Tania Giannouli meet effortlessly in a surprisingly organic dialogue. Improvising all possible directions, they explore an eclectic sonic universe where boundaries between genres blur.

Even the limits of their instruments are pushed: Giannouli ventures inside her piano with various objects, while Molvær manipulates his trumpet sounds with electronics or blows directly into the piano.

Tania Giannouli & Nils Petter Molvaer

Six-time GRAMMY-nominated pianist-composer and Blue Note Artist Gerald Clayton searches for honest expression in every note.

An alumnus of Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, USC’s Thornton School of Music and the Manhattan School of Music, Clayton won second place in the Monk Institute of Jazz Piano Competition in 2006. For the following decade, he toured globally both as a band leader and special guest sideman to critical and commercial acclaim.

Gerald Clayton Trio

The sixth annual Swingin’ with Strings concert features a concert performance of Porgy and Bess, along with a wonderful selection of songs by Gershwin and others, as performed by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.

Enrico Tomasso takes the role of Louis, and Nicola Emmanuelle performs as Ella. Their recent performances of Porgy and Bess have been with the Hallé Orchestra and Dublin’s RTÉ Concert Orchestra.

Swingin’ with Strings: Ella and Louis sing Gershwin

A sequence of great orchestral works that balance turbulence with tranquillity, weathering musical storms in music of drama and heightened emotional intensity.

Yet all three works on tonight’s programme share moments where clouds are magically broken by shafts of sunlight. The ever-present swaying of Mendelssohn’s Overture was prompted by a journey by small boat over a surging Hebridean sea to cavernous basalt caves.

The agitation and pathos that opens Mozart’s Concerto is leavened by a songful slow movement and an ebullient finale, whilst all of Brahms seems to be condensed into his enigmatic Symphony. Encompassing vigour and introspection, heft and tenderness, it is a compelling, profoundly moving experience.

Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra

The Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra continues its Cadogan Hall season with conductor James Blair and pianist Ronan O’Hora in a compelling programme of Russian and German masterpieces.

Glinka’s Ruslan and Ludmilla Overture opens the concert with sparkling energy and vivid orchestral colour. Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 follows, with the distinguished pianist Ronan O’Hora bringing out its lyricism, intimacy and dramatic depth in one of the composer’s most inventive works.

Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra With Ronan O’Hora, piano

Following a sold-out 2025 concert, Colosseum + Soft Machine return by popular demand.

Colosseum came to fame in 1969 when the band led by legendary drummer Jon Hiseman released its debut album Those Who Are About To Die Salute You. Best-selling studio albums followed, notably Valentyne Suite (1969) and The Daughter of Time is Truth (1970). Personnel changes included the arrival of the soulful Chris Farlowe, famed for his Sixties chart hit ‘Out of Time’, and Clem Clempson, the young blues guitarist and vocalist, as well as bass player Mark Clarke. However, the group broke up in 1971, and the musicians went their separate ways.

Colosseum + Soft Machine

Rebecca Ferguson MBE brings The Hits at Christmas to Cadogan Hall for a special festive performance this December.

Celebrating 15 years of an extraordinary career, the critically acclaimed singer-songwriter will perform a selection of her greatest hits alongside seasonal favourites. Rising to prominence in 2010 on The X Factor, Rebecca has since established herself as one of the UK’s finest live vocalists.

Audiences can expect powerful renditions of beloved songs including ‘Glitter & Gold’, ‘Nothing’s Real but Love’, and ‘Shoulder to Shoulder’, alongside beautifully reimagined Christmas classics.

Rebecca Ferguson

If music be the food of love, opera is the ultimate candlelit dinner – an endless banquet of soaring passion, tender emotions and melodies that go straight to your heart.

This Valentine’s Day, treat the special people in your life to the full menu: a whole evening of operatic romance at its most indulgent, dressed in the silken sound of the full Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and delivered with love by maestro Jordan de Souza and a glittering line-up of opera stars.

Expect glorious tunes, beautiful singing and the elegant atmosphere of Cadogan Hall. All for just one wonderful night… and you know they’re worth it.

Valentine’s Opera Gala

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