Philharmonia 2026/27 Season

The Philharmonia continue their residence at the Hall in 2026 and 2027.

Across five concerts, the Leicester season brings the best of classical music to the Hall, promising an enriching depth of repertoire and top-of-their-class artists. Enjoy two jewels of the piano repertoire performed by Seong-Jin Cho and Emanuel Ax, experience Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in the hands of Bomsori Kim, and revel in the rare opportunity to see percussion take centre-stage as we’re joined by the enigmatic Vivi Vassileva in a concerto by James MacMillan.

Santtu-Matias Rouvali, the Philharmonia’s Principal Conductor, returns to the Hall twice. He opens the season in October with music by Shostakovich, and returns in February as part of the Philharmonia’s concert series honouring 200 years since the passing of Beethoven. Manfred Honeck also joins the Beethoven party – he leads the Orchestra in the energetic Seventh Symphony.

The Philharmonia expertly demonstrate the power and vibrance of a live orchestra, taking audiences on sweeping journeys through the classical repertoire. This season promises more of the outstanding musicianship teamed with emotional and exuberant melodies that fans have come to expect from the Philharmonia.

Multi-Buy Discounts Available

Don’t forget, you can get a discount when you book multiple concerts at once! Book three or four concerts and receive 10% off, or book all five concerts and receive 15% off your ticket price!

Tickets start from £15, with the best seats in the house at £39. Plus, Students get tickets for just £6, under 25s for £11, Universal/Pension Credit get half price tickets, and groups of 10+ get £5 off per ticket.

You can fill your calendar with great classical concerts, for less!

Seong-Jin Cho Plays Tchaikovsky Wednesday 21 October 2026, 7pm

Santtu-Matias Rouvali conductor
Seong-Jin Cho piano

Tickets £39 £27 £15
Students £6
Under 25s £11
Universal/Pension Credit Half-price tickets
Strictly ages 7+

BORODIN In the Steppes of Central Asia
TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Concerto No. 1
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 11 ‘The Year 1905’

Star pianist Seong-Jin Cho joins forces with his regular collaborator and ‘musical soulmate’ Santtu, and the outstanding musicians of the Philharmonia Orchestra. This concert takes audiences through majestic and fiery pieces, showcasing some of the highlights of the classical repertoire.

Manfred Honeck and Emanuel Ax Wednesday 11 November 2026, 7pm

Manfred Honeck conductor
Emanuel Ax piano

Tickets £39 £27 £15
Students £6
Under 25s £11
Universal/Pension Credit Half-price tickets
Strictly ages 7+

J STRAUSS II Overture, Die Fledermaus
MOZART Piano Concerto No. 25, K. 503
R STRAUSS Elektra Suite (arr. Honeck and Ille)

Emanuel Ax plays one of Mozart’s greatest concertos, framed by music from two operas that couldn’t be more different. Experience the joviality of Die Fledermaus, followed by “maybe the most magnificent of all the concertos which have ever been written.”, before ending with the visceral intensity of Elektra.

Santtu Conducts Beethoven and Reich Wednesday 10 February 2027, 7pm

Santtu-Matias Rouvali conductor

Tickets £39 £27 £15
Students £6
Under 25s £11
Universal/Pension Credit Half-price tickets
Strictly ages 7+

ADAMS Short Ride in a Fast Machine
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 1
REICH The Desert Music

Few composers have had such an impact on the course of musical history as the three brought together in this evening’s concert: Ludwig van Beethoven in the opening years of the 19th century, John Adams, and Steve Reich in our own time. Experience pieces by all three, with the orchestra expertly showcasing the ever-changing face of classical music.

Manfred Honeck and Vivi Vassileva Tuesday 6 April 2027, 7pm

Manfred Honeck conductor
Vivi Vassileva percussion

Tickets £39 £27 £15
Students £6
Under 25s £11
Universal/Pension Credit Half-price tickets
Strictly ages 7+

PÄRT Cantus in memoriam Benjamin Britten
MACMILLAN Veni, Veni, Emmanuel
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 7

Vivi Vassileva brings her exuberant virtuosity to James MacMillan’s percussion concerto, the centrepiece of a programme that balances grief and joy, reflection and action, the spiritual and the physical.

Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto With Bomsori Kim Sunday 16 May 2027, 3pm

Alpesh Chauhan conductor
Bomsori Kim violin

Tickets £39 £27 £15
Students £6
Under 25s £11
Universal/Pension Credit Half-price tickets
Strictly ages 7+

FARRENC Overture No. 2
MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4

The Philharmonia pulls out all the stops for a season finale packed with energy, excellence, and copious amounts of drama. Experience the full force of the Philharmonia sound through vibrant and spellbinding pieces. What better way to send off the season?