Moments to Share with a City: Toronto Symphony Orchestra Announces Its 2026/27 Season

From Yuja Wang’s season-opening return to Mahler’s “Symphony of a Thousand” and a new piano concerto written and conducted by Joe Hisaishi, the season gathers landmark performances across Classical, Pops, film, and youth programming.

Toronto, February 19, 2026: The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) shares the unparalleled power of live music with the city in its 2026/27 season. Designed by Music Director Gustavo Gimeno, the expansive lineup spans classical blockbusters and contemporary creations, hits from the soundtracks of our lives, cinematic rediscoveries, and orchestral adventures for youth and families. Among the highlights are an electric season-opening concert with internationally renowned pianist Yuja Wang; the completion of a two-year Beethoven symphony cycle; separate appearances by three members of the incomparable Kanneh-Mason family; a celebratory Lunar New Year week featuring dedicated programs performed across three concert series; the Canadian Première of famed Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi’s new piano concerto, which he will conduct; crowd-pleasing salutes to the music of James Bond, Whitney Houston, Broadway, swing, and sci-fi films; and the triumphant finale that is Mahler’s colossal Eighth—the “Symphony of a Thousand”. Subscriptions to the TSO’s 2026/27 season are now available at TSO.CA/Subscribe.

“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. “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.”

 

Classics Series

Timeless symphonic works alongside vital new voices

Offering moments of reverence and revelation, the Classics (formerly Masterworks) Series comprises Gustavo Gimeno’s signature blend of enduring repertoire and modern music. It begins with him leading the ever-dynamic Yuja Wang in Prokofiev’s fiery Piano Concerto No. 3 on a program that also includes Debussy’s La mer and the World Première of a piece by Canadian composer Linda Catlin Smith, commissioned by the TSO. Gimeno likewise closes the season in dramatic fashion—as the combined forces of the TSO, eight soloists, the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, and the Toronto Children’s Chorus bring to life Mahler’s glorious Symphony No. 8, which will be recorded live. These performances of Mahler’s Eighth are generously made possible by Myrna Lo. In between, the orchestra marks three composer milestones: John Adams’s 80th birthday, with Harmonielehre; the 150th anniversary of Manuel de Falla’s birth, with El amor brujo; and the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s death, with Symphonies Nos. 1–5, marking the completion of a two-year, full symphony cycle. Other notable works in the Classics Series include Brahms’s Symphony No. 2, Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7, Gershwin’s An American in Paris, Mozart’s Symphony No. 39, Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5, Sibelius’s Symphony No. 2, R. Strauss’s Four Last Songs and Ein Heldenleben, Stravinsky’s Petrushka, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 and Violin Concerto, the overture to Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (which the TSO and Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra will perform side by side), and Walton’s Violin Concerto, featuring TSO Concertmaster Jonathan Crow as soloist. Crow also curates a series of intimate performances by The TSO Chamber Soloists held in advance of five Classics concerts.

Joining the Chamber Soloists as guest performers and headlining full-orchestra concerts throughout the year are the 2026/27 TSO Spotlight Artists—iconic Canadian pianist Angela Hewitt and esteemed French violinist Renaud Capuçon. Selected by Gustavo Gimeno for their superb, multi-faceted artistry, they will interpret contrasting works over two Classics concerts each: Capuçon will perform a program of beloved themes from American and European films, and conduct Mendelssohn’s “Scottish” Symphony after playing and leading Robert Schumann’s Violin Concerto and the rarely heard Thème varié by Charlotte Sohy. Hewitt, who has collaborated 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.

Additional artists sharing the stage with the orchestra for the very first time are conductors Riccardo Minasi (Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5), Antonello Manacorda (Brahms’s Symphony No. 2), Tabita Berglund (Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5), Nuno Coelho (Dvorák’s Symphony No. 6), and Bar Avni (Brahms’s Symphony No. 2), pianists Jeneba Kanneh-Mason (Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue) and Lang Lang International Music Scholar Ryan Wang (Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3), flamenco singer and pianist María Toledo (Falla’s El amor brujo, in a Spanish-inspired program that also includes José González Granero’s Canto y Danza, featuring TSO Principal Clarinet Eric Abramovitz), organist Rachel Mahon (Saint-Saëns’s “Organ Symphony”), cellist Luka Coetzee (Saint-Saëns’s Cello Concerto No. 1), and six vocalists—sopranos Rachel Willis-Sørensen (R. Strauss’s Four Last Songs), Elisabeth Teige, Sarah Wegener, and Sarah Dufresne, tenor Andreas Schager, and bass David Steffens (Mahler’s Symphony No. 8).

Completing the cast of soloists for Mahler’s Eighth are three singers who have previously partnered with the orchestra—altos Karen Cargill and Marie-Nicole Lemieux, and baritone Joshua Hopkins. Other acclaimed performers returning to the TSO are conductors Stéphane Denève (Saint-Saëns’s “Organ Symphony”), Andrew Manze (Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 “Eroica”), David Robertson (John Adams’s Harmonielehre), Maxim Emelyanychev (Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20—which he’ll lead from the piano—and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade), 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), and saxophonist Steven Banks (the Canadian Première of Joan Tower’s Love Returns for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra, co-commissioned by the TSO).

Including the works by Joan Tower and Linda Catlin Smith, the orchestra will première 11 new compositions throughout the Classics Series. The majority of these pieces have been commissioned or co-commissioned by the TSO as part of its commitment to amplify important contemporary voices and contribute to the orchestral repertoire. The remaining 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; and 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). Further, 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).

“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.”

 

Pops Series

Familiar favourites from everyday life

Curated by TSO Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke, the 2026/27 Pops Series salutes the soundtrack of the ages, from Broadway showstoppers and legendary film themes to R&B and jazz. The Music of Bond…James Bond celebrates six decades of 007, as iconic Bond themes and songs come alive at Roy Thomson Hall with the powerhouse vocals of Tony Award–winning performer Lena Hall and the full sweep of the TSO. Then, Broadway’s Aisha Jackson, The Voice standout Avery Wilson, and the University of Toronto Faculty of Music Gospel Choir join forces for The Greatest Love of All: A Whitney Houston Tribute, a roof-raising celebration of the voice of a generation. Sci-fi Throwdown promises epic melodies, cosmic thrills, and a little friendly fandom rivalry, as the orchestra pits franchise against franchise to crown the ultimate sci-fi music winner. Bringing back the vintage, big-band energy of the ’40s and ’50s is Swing Is the Thing, featuring champion swing dancers, the sublime voice of Crystal Monee Hall, and timeless hits from Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, and more. The series comes to a spectacular close with Spotlight on Broadway: Cheyenne Jackson. The GRAMMY® and Emmy nominee, a stage and screen sensation, brings the house down with his soaring vocals and debonair flair in a program of musical-theatre favourites. 

“It’s always wonderfully exciting to announce a new season of TSO Pops concerts,” says 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.” 

 

Special Performances

Buzz-worthy orchestral encounters

Subscribers receive priority access to all Special Performances—standout musical events spread throughout the season. In 2026/27, these include Year of the Goat: A Lunar New Year Celebration, a joyful 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. Hisaishi’s Piano sees the return of beloved composer Joe Hisaishi to lead the TSO in a concert of his own celebrated music, including the Canadian Première of a new piano concerto, co-commissioned by the TSO and performed by the remarkable Alice Sara Ott. Marking a major milestone for a hit CBC whodunit is Murdoch Mysteries in Concert: Celebrating 20 Years, featuring Detective William Murdoch himself, Yannick Bisson, as host. Additionally, 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 the orchestra performing the unforgettable scores live to picture.

 

Holiday Concerts

Jolly gems for all seasonal sensibilities

Throughout the month of December, the TSO captures the spirit of the festive season with its annual array of holiday concerts bringing cherished traditions and modern classics. The merry-making begins with the hilarious film Elf, screened while John Debney’s delightful score is played by the TSO. Then, Canadian fiddling icons Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, and the rest of the MacMaster Leahy Family, headline TSO Holiday Pops: A Celtic Celebration with toe-tapping cheer, timeless holiday melodies, and a joyful singalong, all conducted by Lucas Waldin joined by choir Modern Sound Collective. Lastly, it simply wouldn’t be the holidays in Toronto without the TSO’s grand Messiah, this year 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 the ever-radiant voices of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir.

 

Young People’s Concerts

Musical fun for the whole family

Building on a century of inspirational orchestral encounters, the TSO’s 2026/27 Young People’s Concerts Series has been designed by TSO Principal Education Conductor & Community Ambassador Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser to spark a lifelong love of music in the hearts of the littlest listeners. Keep the fun going on Halloween weekend with Symphony Spooktacular, a haunted house of sound packed with spooky symphonies, mysterious melodies, and hair-raising surprises. Sounds of Lunar New Year captures the excitement 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 sees the bestselling The Da Vinci Code author swap secret messages for animal antics as the instruments of the orchestra bring a variety of creatures to life. Finally, the TSO and special guests crank up the volume for Symphonic Singapalooza, embracing the power of song—from pop hits to folk favourites—heard all over the world.

“Our Young People’s Concerts are designed to be joyful, welcoming gateways into the world of orchestral music,” says Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser. “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.”

 

Relaxed Performances

Concerts crafted for comfort

The TSO’s Relaxed Performances are designed for the Neurodiverse and Disability communities, as well as those who enjoy a more casual concert setting. Patrons are encouraged to move around, vocalize, and otherwise experience the orchestra their way in a relaxed environment, created for comfort and inclusivity. Dedicated resources—including noise-dampening earmuffs, a Quiet Room, and a Venue Guide—are also made available to concertgoers so they’ll feel at ease. 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; and Mozart & Beethoven, led by Gustavo Gimeno and comprising 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

Emerging talent on brilliant display

Featuring outstanding young musicians aged 22 and under, Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra (TSYO) performances are filled with passion, promise, and unforgettable music. Under the expert baton of TSO RBC Resident Conductor & TSYO Conductor Nicholas Sharma, the TSYO offers three eclectic programs in 2026/27: At the Meridian Arts Centre’s George Weston Recital Hall, Shostakovich Symphony No. 10 depicts tragedy and terror giving way to glorious triumph, and Brahms’s Second radiates with a warm pastoral glow. The youth orchestra’s season finale, Gershwin’s An American in Paris, brings the electrifying Jazz Age travelogue to Roy Thomson Hall. TSYO performances can be purchased as a package, or individual performances can be added to any TSO subscription package.

 

Subscription Packages

Subscriptions to the TSO’s 2026/27 season are available now, and they offer the best value to patrons. Subscribers save up to 40% compared to regular ticket prices, and they receive a 20% discount on additional tickets all season long. They enjoy free exchanges on subscription-price tickets and are given priority access to special events before the general public, among other benefits. Classics Packages range from three to seven concerts, while Pops, Young People’s Concerts, Relaxed, and TSYO Packages comprise full series (three to six concerts each). Single tickets for all TSO performances will be released in July 2026.

 

To subscribe, visit TSO.CA/Subscribe, call 416.598.3375, or visit the TSO Patron Services Centre at 145 Wellington St. W., Suite 500, between 10:00am and 5:00pm, Monday through Friday.

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About the Toronto Symphony Orchestra

For more than a century, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) has played a fundamental role in shaping and celebrating Canadian culture. The TSO’s commitment to musical excellence and ability to spark connection remain as strong as ever. With a storied history of acclaimed concerts and recordings, Canadian and international tours, and impactful community partnerships, we are dedicated to engaging and enriching local and national communities through vibrant musical experiences. Music Director Gustavo Gimeno brings an expansive artistic vision, intellectual curiosity, and sense of adventure to programming the 93-musician orchestra that serves Toronto—one of the world’s most diverse cities. As a group of artists, teachers, and advocates who share the belief that music has the power to heal, inspire, and connect people from all walks of life, we engage audiences young and old through an array of community-access, health-and-well-being, and education initiatives including the TSO-affiliated Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra—a tuition-free training program dedicated to cultivating the next generation of Canadian artists. Symphony With Us at a concert at Roy Thomson Hall, or experience the TSO in your neighbourhood. Visit TSO.CA or Newsroom.TSO.CA.

The TSO acknowledges Mary Beck as the Musicians’ Patron in perpetuity for her generous and longstanding support.

The TSO Season Presenting Sponsor is BMO.

The TSO’s Education and Community Engagement programs are generously supported by the Barrett Family Foundation. 

TSYO Conductor generously supported by the Toronto Symphony Volunteer Committee.

RBC Resident Conductor, RBC Affiliate Composer, and NextGen Composers are generously supported by RBC Foundation.

Performances of Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 are generously made possible by Myrna Lo.

The TSO is grateful for the support of the Toronto Symphony Foundation and all levels of government, including the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the Toronto Arts Council, the Government of Canada, and the Government of Ontario.

 

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Media Contact

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Tat Read, Senior Director, Brand & Communications

Toronto Symphony Orchestra

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