A Place in the Music: Toronto Symphony Orchestra Launches Its 2026/27 Season
From Yuja Wang and a city-wide Open House to the conclusion of a landmark Beethoven cycle and Mahler’s monumental Eighth Symphony, the new season offers countless ways to experience the TSO.
Following a year of extraordinary audience momentum, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra launches its 2026/27 season on Thursday, September 24, with Yuja Wang Plays Prokofiev. Led by Music Director Gustavo Gimeno, the Opening Night performance welcomes the acclaimed pianist back to Roy Thomson Hall for a thrilling start to a season filled with major artists, orchestral landmarks, new music, and opportunities for audiences across Toronto to come together.
The celebration continues on Saturday, September 26, with the TSO’s annual Open House and Free Concert. The event invites the city into Roy Thomson Hall for a day of live music, activities, cultural performances, and behind-the-scenes experiences, culminating in a free full-orchestra concert.
Together, Opening Night and Open House introduce a season grounded in the idea of belonging. Whether attending for the first time or returning for a familiar tradition, audiences are invited to experience the TSO as a gathering place for the city—one shaped by different people, perspectives, musical traditions, and ways of connecting with music.
The 2026/27 season is the TSO’s first full season under its refreshed brand identity, introduced this summer. More than a new visual identity, the refresh is a clearer expression of the orchestra the TSO has become—one shaped by Toronto’s diversity, creativity, and energy, and inviting more people to experience the power of live orchestral music. Audiences can explore the new brand and watch the launch film at TSO.CA/Feel, while media can learn more about the project in the TSO’s refreshed brand identity press release.
The season builds on the TSO’s continued growth in 2025/26, when the Orchestra welcomed more than 27,000 new ticket-buying households and achieved an average audience capacity of more than 90%, with several performances selling out entirely. More than an organizational milestone, that momentum reflects a growing community coming together around live orchestral music—and creates an opportunity to invite even more people to discover their place within the TSO.
“Every new season begins with the possibility of discovering something that moves you,” says Beck Family CEO Mark Williams. “This September, we are welcoming Toronto back with the extraordinary artistry of Yuja Wang, followed by an Open House that opens our doors to the entire city. These first weeks reflect what the TSO is all about: exceptional music, shared experiences, and a place where everyone can feel part of something larger. Whether this is your first concert or one of many, there is so much waiting for you throughout the season.”
Across Classics, Pops, and Special series performances, the 2026/27 season pairs some of the world’s most celebrated artists with the musicians of the TSO. Audiences can experience familiar works alongside bold discoveries, Canadian and international voices, and programs that reveal the breadth of what an orchestra can be.
Early 2026/27 Season Highlights
Opening Night: Yuja Wang Plays Prokofiev — September 24
- Gustavo Gimeno and the TSO welcome superstar pianist Yuja Wang for the official opening of the 2026/27 season, performing Prokofiev’s fiery Piano Concerto No. 3, a thrilling showcase for the keys.
Open House and Free Concert — September 26
- The TSO invites Toronto into Roy Thomson Hall for a day of free music, activities, cultural performances, and behind-the-scenes experiences, concluding with a full-orchestra concert.
Petrushka & Passions of Spain — October 1 and 3
- A vibrant evening of rhythm, colour, and theatrical flair, pairing Stravinsky's dazzling ballet masterpiece, Petrushka, and the passionate musical traditions of Spain, honouring the legacy of composer Manuel de Falla and featuring TSO Principal Clarinet Eric Abramovitz performing José González Granero’s spirited Canto y Danza.
Beethoven’s Fifth — October 8–10
- Canadian pianist and 2026/27 TSO Spotlight Artist Angela Hewitt joins the Orchestra for a program culminating in one of Beethoven’s most recognizable and enduring symphonies.
The Music of Bond… James Bond — October 14 and 15
- The Pops Series begins with the unforgettable music of James Bond, from the iconic themes made famous by Shirley Bassey, Adele, and many more, featuring Tony Award–winning performer Lena Hall.
Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert Live-to-Film — October 17 and 18
- The contemporary holiday classic on the big screen in full symphonic glory with GRAMMY®-winning composer Danny Elfman’s musical score performed live to the film.
Symphony Spooktacular — November 1
- The TSO’s four-concert Young People’s Concerts series begins with Symphony Spooktacular, a Halloween-weekend outing for families featuring Night on Bald Mountain, Danse macabre, and other spooky orchestral favourites. Costumes are encouraged, giving families a playful entry point into live orchestral music and the first of four concerts designed especially for young audiences this season.
New Faces in the Orchestra
The TSO welcomes six outstanding musicians and new musician appointments for the 2026/27 season:
- Emma Carleton — Assistant Principal Second Violin
- Sienna Minkyong Cho — Violin
- Claire Thaler — Violin
- Kathryn Ladner — Flute and Piccolo
- Jackson Howard — Bass Trombone
- Joe LeFevre — Principal Tuba
The Orchestra also welcomes Ronan Tighe as Vice President of Artistic Planning.
Tighe brings more than 15 years of experience in orchestral artistic planning, including a decade as Director of Artistic Planning at the Auckland Philharmonia and later as Artistic Director of the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra. He has also served as Head of Artistic Planning for the Belgian National Orchestra and Artistic Adviser to the Irish Chamber Orchestra.
Raised in Ireland and trained in clarinet performance and arts administration, Tighe brings deep international experience, strong industry relationships, and a collaborative approach to shaping the TSO’s future programming and artistic partnerships.
The TSO is also pleased to announce a three-season contract extension for Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, who will continue as Barrett Principal Education Conductor & Community Ambassador through the 2028/29 season. In the role, Bartholomew-Poyser will continue his work across the Orchestra’s education and community programs, connecting audiences and communities with orchestral music in Toronto and beyond.
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2026/27 Milestones and Artistic Programs
- 2026/27 TSO Spotlight Artists
- Canadian pianist Angela Hewitt and French violinist Renaud Capuçon appear across two programs each and participate in TSO community and education initiatives throughout the season.
- Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra Season Opening — November 21, 2026
- The TSYO begins its season with Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10 under the direction of Resident Conductor and TSYO Conductor Nicholas Sharma.
- Beethoven Symphony Cycle Finale — March 25 and 27, 2027
- During the week marking the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s death, the TSO concludes its two-year Beethoven symphony cycle with a symphonic doubleheader pairing the composer’s First and Second Symphonies in all their brilliance and charm.
- Explore the Score — March 27, 2027
- This program offers emerging Canadian composers the opportunity to hear their works rehearsed in a professional orchestral setting, as well as to bring new music by emerging composers to the attention of the orchestra.
- Women in Musical Leadership — April 6, 2027
- Presented in partnership with Tapestry Opera, this fellowship program supports emerging women and non-binary conductors and music directors, helping increase equity and representation across the classical music field. The season’s activities culminate in a master class at Roy Thomson Hall.
- NextGen Composer Program — April 8, 10, and 11, 2027
- New works by Matthias McIntire, Jesse Plessis, and Yike Zhang receive their premières as part of Beethoven’s Violin, continuing the TSO’s commitment to supporting emerging compositional voices.
Recording Activities
- Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 — June 17 and 19, 2027
- The TSO undertakes one of its most ambitious artistic and recording projects with Mahler’s monumental Symphony No. 8. Featuring immense orchestral and vocal forces, the performances will be recorded as part of the Orchestra’s continuing recording legacy.
Images and B-Roll
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About The Toronto Symphony Orchestra
For more than a century, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) has been a defining part of Toronto’s cultural landscape. Through concerts, recordings, tours, and community partnerships, the TSO is shaped by the energy, diversity, and creativity of one of the world’s most multicultural cities. Led by Music Director Gustavo Gimeno, the TSO brings orchestral music to life through performances that span centuries of repertoire, champion today’s composers, and connect audiences with extraordinary artists from around the world. With programs and partnerships across the GTA, the TSO serves Toronto through education initiatives, Relaxed Performances, open rehearsals, and the tuition-free Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, which has helped young people build artistry, confidence, and lifelong skills through music for more than 50 years. The TSO’s work is sustained by a community of audiences, donors, volunteers, partners, and supporters who believe in the power of live orchestral music to bring people together. Each year, the TSO presents more than 120 concerts at Roy Thomson Hall and George Weston Recital Hall, while its education, health-and-well-being, and community programs reach people throughout the GTA. 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.
The TSO Spotlight Artists are generously supported by Zenovia Zmiyiwsky.
NextGen Composers and Resident Conductor are generously supported by RBC Foundation
The TSO Open House and Free Concert is generously supported by 407 ETR
Performances of Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 are generously made possible by Myrna Lo.
TSYO Conductor is generously supported by the Toronto Symphony Volunteer Committee.
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.