The Barbican has announced its forthcoming season of classical music from September 2025 – July 2026
The season will champion new and radical performances, spotlighting diverse and groundbreaking artists whose work is profoundly engaged with the issues of the day. Across 2025 and 2026, there will be premieres from Bushra El-Turk, Hildur Guðnadóttir, Catherine Lamb, Blasio Kavuma, Tansy Davies, and Tyshawn Sorey among others, with performances by Davóne Tines, Seth Parker Woods, Compagnie Amala Dianor, Theatre of Kiribati and many more. The season will also feature Fragile Earth – a series of events that focus on our relationship with the natural world, including UK premieres of work by Julia Wolfe and Lemi Ponifasio. Alongside these will sit international ensembles, artist residencies, and major anniversaries showcasing the widest possible spectrum of classical music – from beloved favourites to groundbreaking new music, from internationally-renowned artists to rising stars.
Joining the Barbican in its announcement are its family of artistic associates: Resident Orchestra London Symphony Orchestra, Associate Orchestra BBC Symphony Orchestra, Associate Ensemble Academy of Ancient Music and Artistic Associate Darbar Arts Culture Heritage Trust – all of whom the Barbican is privileged to host and collaborate with regularly throughout the season.
The 2025-2026 classical season at the Barbican begins with the London Symphony Orchestra and Chief Conductor Sir Antonio Pappano performing a double bill of great American symphonies: Leonard Bernstein’s Symphony No.3, ‘Kaddish‘, and Aaron Copland’s Symphony No.3 on 14 September 2025. The first concert in the Barbican’s own promotion programme is Anna Meredith’s Anno, performed by Scottish Ensemble on 25 September 2025, part of the Fragile Earth series.
Helen Wallace, Barbican Head of Music says: ‘The Barbican is here to platform bold new work that engages with our times, and to bring exciting artists from all over the world to London audiences. I’m thrilled to be presenting a string of new projects from Bushra El-Turk, Tansy Davies, and Hildur Guðnadóttir to Julia Wolfe, Hania Rani and Tyshawn Sorey. It’s also a joy to welcome such a breadth of visiting ensembles onto our stages – from the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Les Arts Florissants to the Theatre of Kiribati, who join our treasured resident, the London Symphony Orchestra and artistic associates the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Academy of Ancient Music and Darbar. Their rich programmes include operatic highlights, special festivals and projects that speak to the Barbican’s own deep dive into our relationship with the environment. We’re proud to be offering residencies to bass-baritone Davóne Tines and pianist Gabriela Montero, as well as honouring Arvo Pärt in his 90th year.’
Highlights:
Fragile Earth – a major new concert series exploring our relationship with the natural world, with works by Julia Wolfe, Anna Meredith, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Lemi Ponifasio, and featuring Robert Macfarlane, Theatre of Kiribati, Ligeti Quartet, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia and many more. Fragile Earth will be part of a wider cross-arts season of events in the autumn.
Barbican artist residencies with bass-baritone Davóne Tines & pianist Gabriela Montero
LSO artist residencies with pianist Seong-Jin Cho, and violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja & violist Antoine Tamestit
Gesualdo Passione – Amala Dianor Compagnie and Les Arts Florissants present Gesualdo Passione as part of Dance Umbrella
Arvo Pärt at 90 – The Barbican welcomes the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir as part of its celebrations of Estonian composer Arvo Pärt in his 90th year
Iceland Focus – An Icelandic focus with works from Hildur Guðnadóttir, Jóhann Jóhannsson and a BBC Symphony Orchestra Total Immersion exploring music from Iceland
Darbar Festival at 20 – of Indian classical music celebrates its 20th anniversary in October
Opera highlights include the Barbican’s presentation of the UK premiere of Bushra El-Turk’s Oum – A Son’s Quest for His Mother, the London Symphony Orchestra’s performances of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde and Janáček’s The Makropulos Affair, BBC Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Puccini’s La rondine, and Academy of Ancient Music’s performance of Handel’s Serse
Visiting ensembles including the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia of London, The Tallis Scholars, Nederlands Kamerkoor and more
Recitals by a wide range of artists from pianists Lang Lang, Maria Joāo Pires and Marc-André Hamelin, to cellist Seth Parker Woods and Consone Quartet x Chiaroscuro Quartet
LIMINAL – a new series signalling the Barbican’s commitment to the future of music
For more full information and how to buy tickets click here
Tickets will go on sale to the general public on 16 April 2025.
Advance tickets go on sale to Barbican Patrons 1 on 9 April, Barbican Patrons 2 on 11 April, Barbican Members Plus on 14 April and Barbican Members on 15 April.