PRESS ROOM 
seattlesymphony.press 

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 19, 2026 

Derek A. Johnson Chief Marketing Officer
derek.johnson@seattlesymphony.org

Alison Ward Publicist
press@seattlesymphony.org

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Music Director Xian Zhang And The Seattle Symphony Announce The 2026/2027 Season

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Seattle, WA — Today, the Seattle Symphony announced details of the 2026/2027 season, its second with Xian Zhang as Music Director. This season continues an exciting new chapter for the Symphony, seamlessly blending core repertoire and contemporary compositions while celebrating the interplay between the Pacific Northwest’s natural landscapes and the city’s vibrant community — all brought to life by Xian’s dynamic leadership, along with superstar soloists and emerging talent.

“As we welcome audiences to our new season, I find myself returning again and again to two sources of inspiration that shape everything we do: nature and community,” said Xian. “In Seattle, you feel the presence of both — a city embraced by mountains, water and forests, and a vibrant community that enriches and is enriched by its cultural life. Those elements resonate deeply with me, flowing naturally into the music I have chosen for the 2026/2027 season.”?

“I am especially excited to lead a three-week festival celebrating nature, featuring monumental works — Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony, Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite, Webern’s Im Sommerwind (In the Summer Wind), Scriabin’s Poem of Ecstasy, Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending and Respighi’s Pines of Rome,” Xian continued. “Community is equally essential, and throughout the season you will see our continued commitment to local partnerships and artists, including Seattle Symphony Artist in Association Dale Chihuly, whose interpretations of nature have inspired both my programming and the bold visual identity of this season.”

At the start of the 2026/2027 season, Benaroya Hall will fully reopen with reimagined public spaces designed to enhance the guest experience. These updates are made possible through the Amplify capital campaign and will be completed during the spring and summer of 2026. From a new Welcome Desk & Ticket Concierge and a café with expanded seating in The Boeing Company Gallery, to the Overlook Lounge, a vibrant gathering space for guests in the Samuel & Althea Stroum Grand Lobby, to a new Community Room designed to expand education and community events, these updates will introduce fresh elements that enrich every visit.

“Benaroya Hall is more than a concert venue — it’s a cornerstone of Seattle’s cultural life and a gathering place for our community,” said Maria Yang, Acting CEO and Chief Development & Project Officer. “With these updated spaces, we can offer audiences an even more welcoming and inspiring experience as we enter Xian’s second season.”

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2026/2027 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

Opening Night with Yuja Wang

The Seattle Symphony launches its 2026/2027 season on Saturday, September 19, with an Opening Night concert led by Music Director Xian Zhang and featuring pianist Yuja Wang, followed by the glittering Opening Night Gala. The concert program includes Prokofiev’s Suite from Lieutenant Kijé as well as the composer’s Piano Concerto No. 3, beginning the season with virtuosity, wit and electrifying energy.

The evening also marks the debut of Benaroya Hall’s newly reimagined public spaces, offering audiences a refreshed and elevated concert experience following the completion of the Amplify capital campaign.

Music Director Xian Zhang and the Symphonic Series

Xian Zhang takes the podium for a substantial portion of the Symphonic Series, shaping the season’s artistic arc. Highlights include:

• Xian and James Ehnes (September 24, 26 & 27), featuring Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 and Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique.

• Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto and Zarathustra (November 12, 14 & 15), pairing Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with Strauss’ Also sprach Zarathustra.

• Mozart’s Requiem with Xian (November 19, 21 & 22), presenting a Seattle Symphony co-commission and World Premiere of Joe Pereira’s Timpani Concerto, followed by Mozart’s Requiem with the Seattle Symphony Chorale.

• Xian and Emanuel Ax (January 28 & 30), featuring Haydn symphonies and Mozart favorites, including his Piano Concerto No. 25.

• Tchaikovsky’s Manfred with Xian (February 4, 6 & 7), with saxophonist Steven Banks performing a work by Ibert and his own composition, Come As You Are.

• Xian Conducts the Sounds of Spain (February 11 & 13), spotlighting Lalo, Ginastera and Rimsky-Korsakov while featuring Concertmaster Noah Geller.

• Xian Conducts Scheherazade (March 11 & 13), featuring Smetana’s The Moldau, Steven Mackey’s Concerto for Orchestra (a Seattle Symphony Co-commission and World Premiere) and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade.

• Grieg’s Peer Gynt with Xian (April 8 & 10), with music by Vaughan Williams, Webern, Scriabin and Grieg, and featuring Associate Concertmaster Helen Kim.

• Beethoven’s Pastoral and Gil Shaham (April 15, 17 & 18), pairing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 with Dvorák’s Violin Concerto.

• Pines & Fountains of Rome with Xian (April 22, 24 & 25), featuring Gabriela Montero’s Piano Concerto No. 1, “Latin” and Respighi’s Roman tone poems.

• Xian Conducts Brahms (June 17, 18 & 20), encompassing Brahms’ Symphony No. 3 and his Violin Concerto.

• Wagner’s The Ring Without Words (June 24 & 26), closing the season with Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Wagner’s purely symphonic Ring cycle.

Debuts, Artists on the Rise & Local Spotlight?

This season is rich with notable Benaroya Hall debuts and the arrival of artists on the rise, underscoring the Seattle Symphony’s commitment to introducing fresh voices and perspectives. Among the highlights are long-anticipated Seattle Symphony debuts by conductors Jonathan Stockhammer and Jean-Sébastien Vallée, pianists Tony Siqi Yun and Daniel Lozakovich, and acclaimed organist Anna Lapwood. Vocal debuts include Sarah Dufresne, Nicholas Burns, James Ley, Enrico Lagasca, Patricia Westley and Jimmy Herrod. Yuja Wang and Conor Hanick take the stage in their first orchestral appearances with the Symphony. This season also shines a spotlight on artists whose careers are rapidly ascending — George Li, Steven Banks and YouTube sensation Hayato Sumino (“Cateen”) in a recital debut.

The local spotlight remains vibrant, celebrating artists with deep ties to the Pacific Northwest and a strong presence on the Seattle Symphony stage. Works by local composer Samuel Adams will be featured in October, including Etudes for Piano and Devotions for String Quartet and Percussion (a Seattle Symphony Co-commission and U.S. Premiere), which open the Octave 9 Series. His piece No Such Spring will also appear on the mainstage in Morlot Conducts The Sounds of Spring. Timothy Brock — who has West Seattle roots and early experiences with silent film there — makes his Symphony debut, while Bellingham-raised visionary composer Bear McCreary also debuts as a performer. Mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges, raised in Tacoma and now an international operatic force, makes her long-overdue Seattle Symphony debut. Violinist James Ehnes continues his role as a familiar guest, and Broadway and television star Megan Hilty, born in Bellevue, returns for the holidays. Pacific Northwest icon Storm Large and Seattle’s Cornish College of the Arts alum Jimmie Herrod add their distinctive artistry to usher in the New Year. Together, these local favorites complement the season’s many debuts, creating a dynamic blend of global excellence and homegrown talent.

Symphonic Series Guest Conductors

On October 22 & 24, Conductor Emeritus Ludovic Morlot returns to lead a program inspired by springtime, featuring Samuel Adams’ No Such Spring with pianist Conor Hanick, alongside R. Schumann’s Symphony No. 1, “Spring,” and Frank Bridge’s Enter Spring. On November 5 & 7, Jonathan Stockhammer conducts a program featuring violinist Leila Josefowicz in Szymanowski’s Violin Concerto No. 2, framed by Unsuk Chin’s Rocaná (Room of Light) and Stravinsky’s Petrushka.

On February 25, 27 & 28, Timothy Brock conducts Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times, bringing the iconic film to life with live orchestral accompaniment. On March 18, 20 & 21, Hugh Wolff leads Berlioz’s dramatic symphonic choral work Roméo et Juliette, featuring mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges and the Seattle Symphony Chorale. On April 29 & May 1, David Afkham conducts a program highlighted by Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10, alongside works by Saariaho and Lutoslawski, with Steven Osborne as soloist. On May 13 & 14, Alexander Shelley takes the podium for Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with Benjamin Grosvenor, paired with Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2 and Ian Cusson’s 1Q84: Sinfonietta Metamoderna.

On June 3, 5 & 6, Nicholas Carter leads Mahler’s Symphony No. 4, featuring soprano Patricia Westley, with additional works by Strauss and Debussy.

In Recital Series & Classical Specials

The 2026/2027 In Recital Series will feature solo and duo performances by some of the world’s most celebrated musicians. On October 27, pianist Paul Lewis performs a recital featuring works by Mozart, Weber and Chopin. On February 23, pianist Víkingur Ólafsson returns to Seattle with a program exploring the music of Debussy and Rameau alongside works by Philip Glass. On March 31, pianist Yeol Eum Son will present a wide-ranging recital spanning Beethoven, Bach, Rachmaninov and contemporary works, culminating in Wild’s Reminiscences of Snow White. And on May 15, cellist Alisa Weilerstein and pianist Inon Barnatan deliver Chopin’s only sonata with cello and Rachmaninov’s demanding take on the cello-piano sonata, among other selections.

The season also includes must-see Classical Specials. On January 24, violinist Itzhak Perlman returns to Benaroya Hall for an afternoon recital with longtime pianist Rohan De Silva. On March 19, pianist and composer Hayato Sumino, otherwise known as “Cateen,” makes his Seattle Symphony debut in a genre-spanning solo recital blending classical repertoire and original works. And on May 20, superstar organist Anna Lapwood makes her Seattle Symphony debut performing on Benaroya Hall's Watjen Concert Organ, featuring Max Richter’s Cosmology, composed specifically for Lapwood, and Jongen’s Sinfonia Concertante.

Seattle Pops Series & Holiday Specials

The John & Ginny Meisenbach Foundation Seattle Pops Series includes four presentations. From October 2–4, Ennio Morricone: The Official Symphonic Experience brings the legendary composer’s iconic film scores to life, conducted by Thiago Tiberio. From December 4–6, the much-anticipated Seattle Symphony tradition of Holiday Pops returns, featuring vocalist Megan Hilty and conductor Enrico Lopez-Yañez. Symphonically Spielberg: The Music of John Williams celebrates the unforgettable scores of one of cinema’s greatest composers from February 19–21, conducted by Steven Reineke. And from June 11–13, Bear McCreary makes his Benaroya Hall debut with Bear McCreary Conducts Bear McCreary, featuring music from his celebrated career in film, television and video games.

In December, our festive Holiday Specials include Elf in Concert with the Seattle Symphony on December 9 & 12. Returning is the annual presentation of Handel’s Messiah December 17, 19 & 20, conducted by Jean-Sébastien Vallée, featuring the Seattle Symphony Chorale, soprano Sarah Dufresne, countertenor Nicholas Burns, tenor James Ley and bass-baritone Enrico Lagasca. On December 21, Jacob Winkler conducts A Festival of Lessons & Carols featuring the Northwest Boychoir, Vocalpoint! Seattle and Northwest Sinfonia, followed by the New Year’s Eve Concert & Party on December 31 with vocalists Jimmie Herrod and Storm Large. On January 7 & 9, Steven Spielberg’s beloved epic Hook celebrates its 35th anniversary with a spectacular film-to-concert presentation by the Seattle Symphony.

Octave 9 Series?

The Seattle Symphony’s groundbreaking Octave 9 Series, taking place in the immersive Octave 9: Raisbeck Music Center, combines sophisticated digital acoustics and projection technology with innovative compositions to host emerging and established artists who are redefining the concert experience. The 2026/2027 Octave 9 Series will feature six unique offerings.

On October 16, pianist Conor Hanick joins percussionist Mari Yoshinaga and a string quartet of Seattle Symphony musicians for Etudes and Devotions, featuring Samuel Adams’ Etudes for Piano and the U.S. premiere of his new work Devotions for String Quartet and Percussion, a Seattle Symphony Co-commission and U.S. Premiere.

On November 6, The World of György Kurtág celebrates the composer’s 100th birthday and explores his intimate and expressive sound world through works by Kurtág, Cage and others, featuring double bass Will Langlie Miletich, soprano Lucy Fitz Gibbon, pianist Ryan MacEvoy McCullough, and Seattle Symphony musicians, with another work by composer Lembit Beecher as well as the world premiere of his new animated film.

On March 5, pianist Adam Tendler curates Inheritances, a sweeping recital of contemporary works he commissioned by Laurie Anderson, Missy Mazzoli, Nico Muhly, Pamela Z, Sarah Kirkland Snider, Devonté Hynes and many others, tracing musical lineage, memory and artistic influence.

On April 2, flutist Claire Chase and composer Annea Lockwood present The Elwha River, featuring Elwha! for 7 Flutes and 7.1 Sound, a Seattle Symphony co-commission inspired by the restoration of the Elwha River on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. Once blocked by two dams that disrupted salmon runs and the ancestral homeland of the Lower Elwha Klallam people, the river was fully restored in the 2010s in one of the largest dam-removal projects in U.S. history. Drawing on field recordings gathered on site, Lockwood and Chase created a vivid sonic portrait of a revitalized ecosystem and enduring cultural ties to the land.

On May 7, composer and performer Pamela Z brings her signature blend of voice, electronics and live processing to Octave 9 in an immersive solo performance.

The Octave 9 Series will close on June 18 with the Brandee Younger Trio, as harpist Brandee Younger is joined by bassist Rashaan Carter and drummer Allan Mednard for selections from her 2025 album, Gadabout Season, blending classical traditions, jazz and contemporary sound worlds.

Chamber Series?

In next season’s Chamber Series, Seattle Symphony musicians curate and perform four intimate programs centered on Beethoven’s beloved chamber music, honoring the 200th anniversary of his passing through exciting and thoughtfully selected works.

On February 9, Beethoven’s Cello Sonatas showcases all five of Beethoven’s cello sonatas in one evening. On March 9, Beethoven & Tower finds two Beethoven trios anchoring the program, joined by Joan Tower’s Island Prelude, an evocation of a bird soaring over a tropical island, and with Beethoven’s charming “eyeglasses” duet opening the concert. On April 13, Beethoven & Alberga features Beethoven’s Piano Quintet, Op. 16, and his String Quartet Op. 59, No. 1, “Razumovsky No. 1,” alongside Eleanor Alberga’s Shining Gate of Morpheus. The series concludes on May 11 with Beethoven & Beach, featuring Beethoven’s first and final string quartets. Between them, Beach’s Theme and Variations for Flute and String Quartet.

Family & Education Programming

The 2026/2027 season will offer numerous performances designed especially for young listeners through the Tiny Tots Series and Family Concerts Series, each encouraging curiosity, creativity and hands-on musical discovery. All performances include a variety of pre-concert activities in the Samuel & Althea Stroum Grand Lobby. The Tiny Tots Series features five 30-minute concerts hosted by Seattle Symphony musicians, including The Percussion: Sounds from Home (October 2 & 3), The Strings: Holiday String-Along (December 11 & 12), The Brass: Movie Magic (February 5 & 6), The Winds: Campfire Jams (April 16 & 17) and Tiny Orchestra: M Is for Music (June 4 & 5). The Family Concerts Series includes four 50-minute performances led by guest conductors, beginning with Halloween Spooktacular! on October 31, followed by The Snowman on December 5, Sunny with a Chance of Symphony on February 20 and concluding with The Firebird on May 8.

Ticket Information

For more information on tickets, visit seattlesymphony.org or contact the Seattle Symphony Ticket Office. The Seattle Symphony Ticket Office is located in Benaroya Hall, at Third Avenue and Union Street. The Ticket Office can be reached by phone at 206.215.4747 during the following times: Tuesday–Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. 

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ADDITIONAL SEASON DOCUMENTS

GUEST CONDUCTOR AND ARTIST ROSTER [PDF]
REPERTOIRE LISTING [PDF]
CHRONOLOGICAL LISTING OF CONCERTS [PDF]

 

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SEATTLE SYMPHONY?????

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Under the leadership of Music Director Xian Zhang, the Seattle Symphony unleashes the power of music, brings people together and lifts the human spirit. Recognized as one of the “most vital American orchestras” (NPR), the Seattle Symphony is internationally acclaimed for its inventive programming, community-minded initiatives and superb recordings on the?Seattle Symphony Media?label. With a strong commitment to new music and a legacy of over 150 recordings, the orchestra has won?five Grammy Awards,?27 Grammy nominations, two Emmy Awards and was named Gramophone’s 2018 Orchestra of the Year. The Symphony performs in Benaroya Hall in the heart of downtown Seattle from September through July, reaching over 500,000 people annually through live performances and radio broadcasts. ?

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BENAROYA HALL????

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Benaroya Hall, the home of the Seattle Symphony, is located in downtown Seattle. Opened in 1998, Benaroya Hall is the most-visited performing arts venue in Seattle. It has received numerous awards, including a 2001 American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Honor Award for outstanding architecture. Benaroya Hall has three versatile performance venues, the S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium, the Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall and Octave 9: Raisbeck Music Center, all renowned for their pristine acoustics, luxurious design and prime location. For additional information, including rental information, event listings and public tour schedules, please visit benaroyahall.org.?

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Season Sponsorships

Music Director Xian Zhang is generously sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. Charles and Lisa Simonyi and an anonymous donor.

Xian Zhang’s position is generously underwritten as the Harriet Overton Stimson Music Director.

Seattle Pops Series Sponsor: The John & Ginny Meisenbach Foundation
Ludovic Morlot’s position is generously underwritten as the Judith Fong Conductor Emeritus.

Noah Geller’s position is generously underwritten as the David & Amy Fulton Concertmaster.

Helen Kim's position is generously underwritten as the Clowes Family Associate Concertmaster.

The Seattle Symphony’s organ programming is generously supported by the Fluke | Gabelein Organ Endowment.

Handel’s Messiah is generously sponsored by Stephen Whyte in memory of Gwendolyn Jones Whyte.

The Arakawa Foundation proudly supports the Seattle Symphony’s Youth Education Partnerships. Additional support is provided by Delta Air Lines.

The Seattle Symphony’s Family, School & Community programs are supported by 4Culture, ArtsFund, the Merriman-Ross Family, and individual contributions to the Seattle Symphony Annual Fund.