The Toronto Symphony Orchestra has announced the details of their 2026/27 season, as curated by Music Director Gustavo Gimeno. The lineup includes a wide range of offerings from classical to contemporary to cinematic works, events designed for youth and young families, and more.
Among the highlights are a season opening blockbuster concert with superstar Yuja Wang, the finale of the orchestra’s two-year Beethoven cycle, three members of the Kanneh-Mason familiy in three separate concerts, and a brand new piano concerto composed and conducted by Joe Hisaishi.
“This season celebrates what live music makes possible — shared moments, powerful ideas, and the joy of experiencing something together,” says Mark Williams, Beck Family CEO of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in a statement.
“Under Gustavo Gimeno’s visionary leadership, we are bringing together extraordinary artists, landmark works, and enduring favourites, from Beethoven and Mahler to film, pop, and family concerts. As Toronto’s symphony orchestra, we are here for this city and the people who make it what it is. Whether you have been experiencing the TSO for years or are joining us for the first time, we invite you to be part of it. Bring a friend, come with curiosity, and let’s share the joy of live music, together.”
Subscriptions to the TSO’s 2026/27 season are now available.
TSO 2026/27: At A Glance
Classics Series
The Classics Series (formerly titled Masterworks) includes both iconic works of the classical repertoire and modern music.
“There’s something singularly powerful about coming together with thousands of others to witness 90-plus musicians, in peak form, bringing extraordinary music to life,” says Gustavo Gimeno, “and this experience is what the Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s 2026/27 season promises. For my seventh year with the TSO, we’re shifting into high gear.
“Having already established a past built on a fierce dedication to craft and community, now, more than ever, we’re showcasing works as wonderfully diverse as this extraordinary city. Within our Classics Series, we present a truly broad range of music and music makers, including my good friend Yuja Wang, three of the astounding Kanneh-Mason siblings, and our superb 2026/27 Spotlight Artists, Angela Hewitt and Renaud Capuçon. I invite you to be moved by the power, beauty, and wonder that awaits.”
Opening & Closing
The season opens with Gustavo conducting Yuja Wang in Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3. The program also includes Debussy’s La mer, and the World Première of a piece by Canadian composer Linda Catlin Smith, commissioned by the TSO.
Gimeno also closes the season with dramatic flair. The concert sees the TSO, eight soloists, the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, and the Toronto Children’s Chorus perform Mahler’s glorious Symphony No. 8, which will be recorded live. Altos Karen Cargill and Marie-Nicole Lemieux, and baritone Joshua Hopkins mark their return to the TSO stage, with the TSO débuts of sopranos Elisabeth Teige, Sarah Wegener, and Sarah Dufresne, tenor Andreas Schager, and bass David Steffens.
Pieces
In between the opening and closing concerts, the TSO offers audiences a range of musical possibilities. They include three concerts that honour composer milestones — John Adams’s 80th birthday, with Harmonielehre, conducted by David Robertson, and the 150th anniversary of Manuel de Falla’s birth, with El amor brujo, featuring the TSO début of flamenco singer and pianist María Toledo. The Spanish-inspired program also includes José González Granero’s Canto y Danza, featuring TSO Principal Clarinet Eric Abramovitz.
The 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s death will be marked by performances of Symphonies Nos. 1–5, completing the orchestra’s two-year, full symphony cycle. The Beethoven series includes the conducting début of Riccardo Minasi, who will lead the orchestra for Beethoven’s beloved Symphony No. 5, and the return of Andrew Manze for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 “Eroica”.
Other significant works in the Classics series include:
- Brahms’s Symphony No. 2, featuring the TSO débuts of conductor Antonello Manacorda at Roy Thomson Hall, and Bar Avni at the George Weston Recital Hall;
- Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7;
- Gershwin’s An American in Paris;
- Mozart’s Symphony No. 39;
- Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5, with conductor Tabita Berglund in her TSO début;
- Sibelius’s Symphony No. 2;
- R. Strauss’s Four Last Songs, featuring the TSO début of soprano Rachel Willis-Sørensen, and Ein Heldenleben;
- Stravinsky’s Petrushka;
- Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 and Violin Concerto;
- Dvořák’s Symphony No. 6, with the TSO début of conductor Nuno Coelho;
- Maxim Emelyanychev returns to lead Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 from the piano, and then conduct Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade;
- The overture to Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (which the TSO and Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra will perform side by side);
- Walton’s Violin Concerto, featuring TSO Concertmaster Jonathan Crow as soloist.
Crow also curates a series of intimate performances by The TSO Chamber Soloists which take place before five Classics concerts.
Performers
Celebrated Canadian pianist Angela Hewitt and esteemed French violinist Renaud Capuçon are the 2026/27 TSO Spotlight Artists. Both artists, selected by Gustavo Gimeno for their exceptional artistry, will appear both as guest performers and headliners for full orchestra concerts throughout the season.
They will interpret two contrasting concerts each. Capuçon will perform a program that includes familiar themes from American and European films, and conduct Mendelssohn’s “Scottish” Symphony in a concert that will also see him playing and leading Robert Schumann’s Violin Concerto, and the rarely heard Thème varié by Charlotte Sohy.
Angela Hewitt, who has been working with the TSO for almost 50 years, will perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4, and Mozart’s Concerto for Two Pianos alongside rising Canadian star Carter Johnson in his TSO début.
Several artists are also making their débuts with the TSO in 2026/27:
- Pianists Jeneba Kanneh-Mason (Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue) and Lang Lang International Music Scholar Ryan Wang (Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3),
- Organist Rachel Mahon (Saint-Saëns’s “Organ Symphony”);
- Cellist Luka Coetzee (Saint-Saëns’s Cello Concerto No. 1).
- Acclaimed performers returning to the TSO include:
- Conductors Stéphane Denève (Saint-Saëns’s “Organ Symphony”), Xian Zhang (Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2), and Conductor Emeritus Peter Oundjian (Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition);
- Pianists Jan Lisiecki (Grieg’s Piano Concerto), Isata Kanneh-Mason (Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3), Charles Richard-Hamelin (Shostakovich’s Concerto for Piano, Trumpet, and String Orchestra, alongside TSO Principal Trumpet Steven Woomert), and Javier Perianes (Jimmy López’s Ephemerae, Concerto for Piano and Orchestra);
- Violinists James Ehnes (Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto), Isabelle Faust (Beethoven’s Violin Concerto), Ray Chen (Sibelius’s Violin Concerto), and Hilary Hahn (Søren Nils Eichberg’s Violin Concerto with the National Arts Centre Orchestra and their new music director, John Storgårds);
- Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason (Elgar’s Cello Concerto);
- Guzheng master Wu Fei (Tan Dun’s Zheng Concerto);
- Guitarist Pablo Sainz-Villegas (Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez);
- Saxophonist Steven Banks (the Canadian Première of Joan Tower’s Love Returns for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra, co-commissioned by the TSO).
11 Premieres
Including the new works by Joan Tower and Linda Catlin Smith, the orchestra will première 11 new compositions throughout the Classics Series. The other premières are:
- Guillaume Connesson’s Maslenitsa (Canadian Première);
- Jay Capperauld’s The Origin of Colour (North American Première);
- Kevin Lau’s Harp Concerto (World Première/TSO Commission), featuring TSO Principal Harp Heidi Elise Bearcroft;
- TSO Composer Advisor Emilie LeBel’s Cello Concerto (World Première/TSO Commission), with TSO Principal Cello Joseph Johnson as soloist;
- New works by TSO RBC Affiliate Composer Liam Ritz and the TSO’s 2026/27 NextGen Composers, Matthias McIntire, Jesse Plessis, and Yike Zhang (World Premières/TSO Commissions).
In addition, a brand-new composition by Canadian creator and former NextGen Composer Andrew James Clark will receive its World Première as part of the Art of Healing program — an ongoing partnership with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).
Pops Series
The 2026/27 Pops Series is curated by TSO Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke.
“It’s always wonderfully exciting to announce a new season of TSO Pops concerts,” says conductor Steven Reineke, “because the calibre and enthusiasm of this great orchestra means that each performance is guaranteed to delight.
“And, the incredible selection of programs we’re presenting in 2026/27 offers something to please all musical palates, whether you prefer the unforgettable themes from your favourite James Bond and sci-fi movies, the nostalgic hits of the incomparable Whitney Houston, the infectious rhythms and sounds of swing, or the shining stars of Broadway — including the phenomenal Cheyenne Jackson, whose talents are matched only by his charisma. It’s a truly spectacular series that we’re eager to share with music lovers from across Toronto and beyond.”
Concerts include:
- The Music of Bond…James Bond celebrates 60 years of the iconic super spy, featuring Bond themes and songs with the Tony Award–winning vocalist Lena Hall and the full TSO;
- Broadway’s Aisha Jackson, The Voice crowd favourite Avery Wilson, and the University of Toronto Faculty of Music Gospel Choir come together for The Greatest Love of All: A Whitney Houston Tribute;
- Sci-fi Throwdown, with epic melodies, and a friendly fandom rivalry, as the orchestra pits franchise against franchise to name the winner of the ultimate sci-fi music crown;
- Swing Is the Thing, featuring the big-band energy of the ’40s and ’50s with champion swing dancers, vocalist of Crystal Monee Hall, and timeless hits from Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, and others;
- Spotlight on Broadway: Cheyenne Jackson closes the series with the GRAMMY® and Emmy nominee in a program of musical-theatre favourites.
Special Performances
This series includes film concerts and more.
- Year of the Goat: A Lunar New Year Celebration, an evening of music and tradition featuring comedian Dashan, guest conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong, Chinese Canadian pianist Sophia Liu in her TSO début, and the Inner Mongolian Art Theatre.
- Beloved composer Joe Hisaishi returns for Hisaishi’s Piano, leading the TSO in a concert of his own music, including the Canadian Première of a new piano concerto, co-commissioned by the TSO and performed by acclaimed artist Alice Sara Ott.
- Murdoch Mysteries in Concert: Celebrating 20 Years, featuring Detective William Murdoch himself, Yannick Bisson, as host.
- The TSO’s Films in Concert Series brings Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas and Star Wars: A New Hope — celebrating its 50th anniversary — to the big screen at Roy Thomson Hall, with live to picture accompaniment by the TSO.
Holiday Concerts
The TSO offers multiple ways to enhance your holidays with music during the month of December, 2026. They include:
- Elf, the family-favourite movie, screened while John Debney’s score is played by the TSO;
- Canadian fiddling icons Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, and the rest of the MacMaster Leahy Family, headline TSO Holiday Pops: A Celtic Celebration in a concert that includes a singalong, conducted by Lucas Waldin, and joined by choir Modern Sound Collective.
- The TSO’s grand Messiah will be led by British conductor Ivor Bolton in his TSO début, and featuring soprano Louise Alder, mezzo-soprano Deepa Johnny (both also making their TSO débuts), tenor Paul Appleby, and baritone Joshua Hopkins as soloists, and voices of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir.
Young People’s Concerts
“Our Young People’s Concerts are designed to be joyful, welcoming gateways into the world of orchestral music,” says Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, TSO Principal Education Conductor & Community Ambassador
“In the 2026/27 season, we’re inviting young listeners and their families to explore music through imagination, storytelling, and shared discovery, from the playful spookiness of Symphony Spooktacular to the festive sights and sounds of Lunar New Year, and the animal-filled adventures of Dan Brown’s Wild Symphony. Each concert is crafted to spark curiosity, encourage creativity, and create moments that families can experience together and remember long after the final note.”
- Symphony Spooktacular on Halloween weekend, including spooky symphonies, mysterious melodies, and hair-raising surprises;
- Sounds of Lunar New Year to celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Goat with lanterns, lion dances, and festive melodies, including Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf reimagined with Asian instruments;
- Dan Brown’s Wild Symphony, featuring the bestselling The Da Vinci Code author narrating a story where animal antics are represented by the instruments of the orchestra;
- The TSO and special guests amp up the volume for Symphonic Singapalooza, embracing the power of song — from pop hits to folk favourites — from all over the globe.
Relaxed Performances
Relaxed Performances are designed for the Neurodiverse and Disability communities, and anyone who prefers a more casual concert setting. Audience members can move around, vocalize, and experience the orchestra their way.
Dedicated resources, including noise-dampening earmuffs, a Quiet Room, and a Venue Guide, are available to accommodate specific needs.
Three Relaxed Performances will be presented in the 2026/27 season:
- Sounds of Lunar New Year, with guest conductor Monica Chen;
- Symphonic Singapalooza, conducted by Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser;
- Mozart & Beethoven, led by Gustavo Gimeno, featuring selections from Mozart’s Symphony No. 39 and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4.
Relaxed Performances can be purchased as a package, or individual performances can be added to any TSO subscription package.
Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra Performances
The Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra (TSYO) features talented musicians aged 22 and under. They’re led by TSO RBC Resident Conductor & TSYO Conductor Nicholas Sharma. There are three programs in the 2026/27 season:
- Shostakovich Symphony No. 10 at the Meridian Arts Centre’s George Weston Recital Hall;
- Brahms’s Second Symphony at the Meridian Arts Centre’s George Weston Recital Hall;
- Gershwin’s An American in Paris is the youth orchestra’s season finale at Roy Thomson Hall.
TSYO performances can be purchased as a package, or individual performances can be added to any TSO subscription package.
Tickets & Details
- Subscriptions to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s 2026/27 season [HERE].
- Single tickets for all TSO performances will be released in July 2026.
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