Check out the star-studded line-up, from music from the movies to a royal cellist.
Few music festivals are more than one hundred years old, but that’s just one of the many reasons that the BBC Proms is special. With roots dating back to 1895, the event is one of the world’s biggest classical music festivals.
Today, it has become a staple in the London calendar and takes place annually in the Royal Albert Hall. Running from 17 July to 12 September, it’s bursting with local and international talent. So, whether you’re a classical music connoisseur or curious, here’s how to watch the show(s).
BBC Proms history
BBC Proms aims to bring classical music to the widest possible audience. Impresario Robert Newman hoped that low ticket prices and an informal atmosphere would attract a new audience, and Henry Wood was one of the first conductors at the inaugural event.
It wasn’t until 1927 that the BBC took over the management of the concerts, and the festival received its current name. Fun fact: The name is short for "promenade concerts," which were shows where people could stand and listen.
Over the years, the BBC Proms has been home to not only entertaining but historic events. The festival even ran during World War I and World War II. The show still went on, although some seasons were shortened. Plus, in 2011, a pro-Palestinian protest outside the Royal Albert Hall forced the show to go off air.
When you attend the BBC Proms, there is no formal dress code. If you want to dress up, you can; if you don’t, nobody is judging. The audience is encouraged to get into the spirit of the event, and you will find people waving the British flags at the Last Night of the Proms. If you attend this event, Jerusalem, Rule, Britannia, and the British national anthem are traditionally played at the end.
BBC Proms 2026 line-up
This year’s season features 86 concerts across the UK, including flagship events at London’s Royal Albert Hall and regional performances in locations from Bristol to Mold. The line-up includes 41 orchestras and choirs from across the UK, and 20 international ensembles.
The BBC Proms marks 50 years since the death of the British composer Benjamin Britten. He will be honoured with performances showcasing his enduring influence. The opening night will welcome the Korean pianist Yunchan Lim and tenor Thomas Atkins. Join the world premiere of a new concerto by Gwilym Simcock, which has been written especially for Jess Gillam, Ben Goldscheider and Sheku Kanneh-Mason, who played at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Highlights include a celebration of James Bond in Bond and Beyond, American jazz trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire's Miles Davis Centenary, Celebrating Marvin Gaye: Prince of Soul, and Under African Skies: The Songs of Graceland, which marks the 40th anniversary of Paul Simon’s album. Plus, there is Prog Prom featuring orchestral arrangements of hits by Genesis and Jethro Tull, and families will love Alan Menken’s Music for Disney.
Happy Proms.
Where: BBC Proms, Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AP
When: 17 July to 12 September 2026
Price: Tickets range from £12.20 to £1,000
Contact: www.bbc.co.uk/proms