Dallas Symphony Orchestra Announces 2026/27 Concert Season

Texas Instruments Classical Series features 10 programs led by Music Director Fabio Luisi and DSO debuts from renowned conductors Elim Chan and Susanna Mälkki 

Star-studded season of guest artists includes Lang Lang, Yo-Yo Ma, Anne-Sophie Mutter and Anna Lapwood, among others

Broadway icon Idina Menzel to headline 2026 Symphony Gala fundraising event

Pops Series Presented by Capital One features tributes to rock-and-roll legends, Y2K pop, Lin-Manuel Miranda and more

DSO to present five new movies-in-concert productions, including Disney’s Hocus Pocus and Barbie The Movie

DALLAS (February 26, 2026) – The Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO) announces programming for the 2026/27 concert season, led by Music Director Fabio Luisi (Louise W. & Edmund J. Kahn Music Directorship), Principal Pops Conductor Emeritus Jeff Tyzik (Dot & Paul Mason Podium) and Principal Conductor of Dallas Symphony Presents Enrico Lopez-Yañez (Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Chair).

“The 2026/27 season showcases the incredible range of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra — from spectacular classical programs featuring some of today’s most exciting guest artists in the Texas Instruments Classical Series to exhilarating movies in concert and other fan favorites in the Pops Series Presented by Capital One,” said DSO’s Ross Perot President & CEO Michelle Miller Burns. “This season reflects our commitment to artistic excellence and to creating experiences that are engaging, inspiring and welcoming for all.”

Subscriptions for the season are on sale today, February 26, 2026, and single tickets will be available in July.

For a full listing of the DSO’s 2026/27 programs, see the attached calendar. Interviews are available upon request, and photos are available here.

TEXAS INSTRUMENTS CLASSICAL SERIES

This season marks Fabio Luisi’s seventh as the DSO’s Music Director. Luisi and the DSO explore the dynamic range of the classical repertoire, and invite audiences to listen boldly, one of the central themes of DSO’s 2026/27 season.

“As music director, one of my highest priorities is the connection between the orchestra and our audience. My goal is to make listeners both happy and curious. I hope they are deeply moved by the great works of the classical canon that we will perform, while also remaining open to new music from all styles and eras,” said Luisi. “Of course, there’s also a big responsibility toward my orchestra — to lead them forward and encourage growth based on my musical priorities. Since my first season in Dallas, they have been developing an awareness of the beauty of sound, the shaping of phrases and the joy of an inspired, spontaneous, and therefore truly authentic performance.”

“The beauty of live symphonic music lies in being together, the orchestra with the audience,” Luisi continued. “This shared experience will be at the heart of our 2026/27 season, which promises to be fantastic and thrilling.”

Luisi will lead the orchestra in 10 classical programs throughout the concert season, in repertoire that leans into the style of classical composers like J.S. Bach and Mozart, while also continuing the orchestra’s exploration of the lush, expansive romantic works of composers such as Mahler and Strauss. Luisi’s first program in the Texas Instruments Classical Series features DSO Principal Horn Daniel Hawkins (Howard E. Rachofsky Chair) in his solo debut with the orchestra on October 16-18, 2026. Hawkins, a Texas native, was appointed to the DSO in September 2023. He will take center stage in performances of Richard Strauss’ Horn Concerto No. 2, followed by the orchestra in Beethoven’s vibrant Seventh Symphony.

In February 2027, Dallas audiences are in for a special treat, with the DSO premiere of J.S. Bach’s St. John Passion. This will mark both the orchestra’s first time performing Bach’s biblical masterpiece as well as Music Director Fabio Luisi’s first time to conduct a Bach passion, which he considers to be some of the composer’s greatest works. The performance will feature guest vocalists (to be announced at a later date) as well as the Dallas Symphony Chorus led by chorus director, Anthony Blake Clark (Jean D. Wilson Chair).

In March 2027, the orchestra will present the world premiere of Michael Abels’ new Cello Concerto* featuring Tommy Mesa in his DSO debut. Abels is best known for his work in film music, notably for the scores to Jordan Peele’s films including Us, Nope and the Oscar®-winning film Get Out. Conductor Samuel Lee takes the Meyerson podium for the first time in this program, which also includes Bernstein’s Three Dance Episodes from On the Town and Dvořák’s tranquil Symphony No. 8.

The DSO and Luisi will present an opera-in-concert production of Mozart’s beloved dark comedy, Don Giovanni, onMarch 26 & 28, 2027. Italian baritone Ildebrando D’Arcangelo will portray the legendary libertine in the title role, alongside a powerhouse cast of singers and the Dallas Symphony Chorus directed by Anthony Blake Clark. See the attached calendar for the full cast listing.

*This premiere is generously funded by the Norma and Don Stone New Music Fund.

Featured Guest Artists and Conductors

Some of today’s top artists will appear at the Meyerson this season, within the Texas Instruments Classical Series and in standalone recitals or performances with the orchestra in special presentations. International superstar pianist Lang Lang returns to Dallas for a one-night-only recital on September 15, 2026, which promises to be “so raptly beautiful that one [is] afraid to breathe for fear of missing anything” (Chicago Tribune).

Genre-bending string trio Time for Three (Nick Kendall, violin; Charles Yang, violin; and Ranaan Meyer, double bass) make their DSO debut October 2-4, 2026, in Kevin Puts’ Contact, the deeply moving, GRAMMY®-winning concerto for string trio and orchestra that blends traditional classical sounds with bluegrass and Bulgarian folk songs. The DSO will also perform Rachmaninoff’s achingly beautiful Symphony No. 2 that week, with sought-after German conductor Kevin John Edusei at the helm.

Classical music’s “dream ambassador” (Gramophone) organist Anna Lapwood returns to the Lay Family Concert Organ for a one-performance-only recital on October 25, 2026. Lapwood boasts nearly four million followers on social media and showcases the power of the “king of instruments” to new audiences around the world.

Yo-Yo Ma will take center stage with the orchestra and Music Director Fabio Luisi for one night only, November 20, 2026. The global sensation brings his infectious joy and virtuosity to the DSO for the first time since 2017 for a performance of Dvořák’s Cello Concerto that is not to be missed.

Following sold-out performances of John Williams’ Violin Concerto No. 2 across Germany, Austria and Belgium during the orchestra’s 2024 European tour, legendary violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter joins forces with the DSO and Fabio Luisi again in Dallas this season. Mutter and the DSO will present the world premiere of a Triple Concerto by Iranian composer Golfam Khayam alongside violist Muriel Razavi and cellist Kian Soltani on April 2 & 3, 2027*. Khayam’s captivating sound world fuses Persian and Western classical music in “a perfect testament to the universality of music” (Al Jazeera).

2025 Van Cliburn Gold Medalist Aristo Sham makes his DSO debut April 9-11, 2027, in performances of Prokofiev’s notoriously challenging and intense Piano Concerto No. 2. Sham’s “clarity, elegance and abundant technique” (New York Times) will be at the forefront as the Van Cliburn winner returns to DFW. Elim Chan, one of today’s most powerful, dynamic conductors will lead the DSO for the first time in this program, which also features Lutosławski’s Concerto for Orchestra.

The DSO looks forward to welcoming esteemed conductors Michele Mariotti (January 14 & 15, 2027), Samuel Lee (March 11-14, 2027), Elim Chan (April 9-11, 2027), David Danzmayr (April 22-24, 2027), Susanna Mälkki (April 30 – May 2, 2027) and Emmanuel Tjeknavorian (May 27-29, 2027) to the podium for the first time this season.

*This premiere is generously funded by the Norma and Don Stone New Music Fund.

New “Happy Hour” and “Brunch” Concert Formats

The DSO will offer a new format within the Texas Instruments Classical Series this season, featuring a one-hour-long classical program with no intermission as a “happy hour” or “brunch” event. There will also be special food and beverage offerings available to guests. The first concert, a “happy hour” performance, will be Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. featuring Music Director Fabio Luisi and pianist Lise de la Salle in Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and Schubert’s “Unfinished” Symphony. The second program will be a Sunday “brunch” concert with Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 (“Titan”) led by Luisi on April 4, 2027, at 2:00 p.m.

2026 DSO SYMPHONY GALA

The celebratory Symphony Gala on Saturday, September 26, 2026, will bring theatrical flair and glamour to the Meyerson. Dallas Symphony Presents Principal Conductor Enrico Lopez-Yañez and the DSO are joined by Broadway icon Idina Menzel for an unforgettable evening that celebrates her genre-defying career. This annual fundraising event supports the DSO all year long, from concerts on the Meyerson stage to its education and outreach initiatives across North Texas. The DSO is delighted to welcome Allison and Brett Brodnax as 2026 Gala Chairs. Full gala tickets and tables are on sale now, and ticketing options for the concert and after-party will be announced soon. For more information, visit dallassymphony.org/gala.

POPS SERIES PRESENTED BY CAPITAL ONE

The Pops Series Presented by Capital One kicks off with a tribute to the King of Rock and Roll on September 11-13, 2026. Principal Conductor of Dallas Symphony Presents Enrico Lopez-Yañez leads the DSO, five-time Las Vegas Headliner of the Year Frankie Moreno and his band in a program jam-packed with Elvis Presley’s greatest, most timeless hits.

In concerts November 6-8, 2026, trail-blazing pianist Lara Downes joins forces with the DSO to celebrate the music of composer-arranger-pianist Billy Strayhorn, whose 30-year collaboration with the legendary Duke Ellington helped shape the spirit and sound of modern jazz music. Highlights will include renditions of “A Flower is a Lovesome Thing,” “Strange Feeling,” “Something to Live For” and more.

The DSO continues its two-decade-long artistic collaboration with Jeff Tyzik this season, now in his role as Principal Pops Conductor Emeritus. Tyzik will take the podium for two pops programs. “Rock Legends of the ‘60s & ‘70s: Sounds of Laurel Canyon” celebrates the spirit of the California coast and its rock legends like Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, The Mamas & The Papas, Carole King and Joni Mitchell on January 29 & 30, 2027.“Summer Breeze: Yacht Rock Classics” brings the effortlessly smooth sounds of yacht rockers including Hall & Oates, Toto, Jimmy Buffett, Steely Dan and others to the Meyerson on April 16 & 17, 2027.

Curated and conducted by Lopez-Yañez, “Oops… I Sang it Again! Pop Queens of the ‘90s and ‘00s” includes all the smash hits of iconic millennial pop queens performed by the DSO and three spectacular vocalists. The sound of the Y2K era comes to life January 8 & 9, 2027, featuring the anthems of Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Christina Aguilera, The Spice Girls and more.

Broadway brilliance meets symphonic power in “Everything I Know: Mandy Gonzalez Sings Lin-Manuel Miranda” (March 19-21, 2027). Critically acclaimed actress and vocalist Mandy Gonzalez joins the orchestra and Lopez-Yañez to celebrate the best of the Broadway giant behind Hamilton, In the Heights and Encanto.

MOVIES IN CONCERT

The big screen returns to the Meyerson with the DSO’s popular movies in concert. This season’s offerings include Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince™ In Concert (September 4-6, 2026), Disney’s Hocus Pocus in Concert Live to Film (October 9-11, 2026), Disney’s The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert Live to Film (December 4-6, 2026), Disney and Pixar’s UP in Concert (February 26-28, 2027) and Barbie The Movie: In Concert (May 7-9, 2027).

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ABOUT THE DALLAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra, under the leadership of Music Director Fabio Luisi (Louise W. & Edmund J. Kahn Music Directorship), presents more than 100 concerts each year at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, one of the world’s finest concert halls. Tracing its origins to a concert with 40 musicians conducted by Hans Kreissig in 1900, the DSO has become the most prominent performing arts organization in the Southwest and is a cornerstone of the 118-acre Dallas Arts District, the largest urban arts district in the nation. Through its acclaimed recordings and international touring, the DSO shares its artistry with audiences around the globe, extending its impact beyond Dallas.   

The DSO is committed to its mission of inspiring and changing lives through musical excellence and serves more than 200,000 adults and children each year through performances, educational programs and community initiatives. The DSO’s education programs plant the seed for musical study and appreciation as well as success in academics and social development. The Young Strings and Kim Noltemy Young Musicians provide access to free music lessons and instruments for hundreds of students each year, and the Cecil and Ida Green Youth Concerts welcome more than 10,000 Dallas-area students to the Meyerson each season. For nearly three decades, the DSO has presented classical music to thousands through the annual summer Parks Concerts Series. DSO Cares offers performances in hospitals, senior living facilities and in partnership with other service organizations across North Texas, bringing the healing power of music to those who need it most.

The DSO is supported, in part, by funds from the Office of Arts & Culture, City of Dallas. For more information, visit dallassymphony.org or follow @dallassymphony on social media.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Chelsey Norris | Director of Communications
813.362.5251
c.norris@dalsym.com