The Los Angeles Philharmonic announced Tuesday its 2026-27 season at Walt Disney Concert Hall, featuring the debut of Esa-Pekka Salonen as creative director and the return of former music director Gustavo Dudamel as a guest conductor.
Salonen is taking on the newly created role of creative director for the orchestra.
The season will include a wide range of classical and contemporary programming, including a season-long “Rituals” festival curated by Salonen exploring themes of ritual in music and everyday life, according to the LA Phil.
Salonen will lead several major works, including Mozart’s Requiem and Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring,” along with world premieres and collaborations with director Peter Sellars.
Dudamel, returning to Walt Disney Concert Hall for the first time since concluding his tenure as the orchestra’s music and artistic director, is scheduled to conduct three programs. His appearances will include a cycle of Beethoven piano concertos with pianist Rudolf Buchbinder, along with works by Zosha Di Castri, Prokofiev and Stravinsky.
The performances will mark Dudamel’s first appearances at Walt Disney Concert Hall since becoming music and artistic director of the New York Philharmonic.
“It will always be a joy and a privilege for me to make music with my beloved LA Phil family, and to continue these artistic conversations that have grown and evolved over so many wonderful years,” Dudamel said in a statement.
The season will feature 22 commissioned works, including multiple world and U.S. premieres by contemporary composers such as John Adams, Gabriella Smith and Hildur Guonadóttir.
“We are delighted to unveil the artistic program for our upcoming season at Walt Disney Concert Hall — an inspired exploration that celebrates the artistry, curiosity and collective spirit of the LA Phil musicians,” LA Phil President and CEO Kim Noltemy said. “This season stands as a testament to the remarkable depth and range of their talents, and to the vital role they play in shaping the LA Phil’s future.”
Emmanuelle Haim will continue her three-year residency as artist collaborator, leading programs focused on Baroque composers including Handel and Vivaldi, officials said.
Other featured artists throughout the season include pianists Emanuel Ax, Lang Lang and Yuja Wang, violinist Hilary Hahn and jazz musician Herbie Hancock.
The program also includes performances by artists outside the classical genre, including Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, Andrew Bird, Bernadette Peters and Kamasi Washington.
Tickets for the season will be released in phases beginning this month, with single-show tickets going on sale in August, according to the LA Phil.
For a complete list of performances, visit: www.laphil.com.