BBC Proms 2026 Celebrates Miles Davis Centenary, American Independence and Iconic Artists with Star-Studded Line-Up

The BBC Proms 2026 season will celebrate two major cultural milestones: the centenary of jazz legend Miles Davis and the 250th anniversary of American independence, featuring 86 concerts over eight weeks with a strong focus on American music and jazz heritage.

The season opens with a tribute to Miles Davis on 20 August 2026 at the Royal Albert Hall, where trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire will join the BBC Concert Orchestra under conductor Miho Hazama for a performance combining Davis’s influences—works by Rodrigo and Gershwin—with his own hits, including new arrangements from ‘Miles Ahead’, ‘Porgy and Bess’, ‘Sketches of Spain’ and ‘Quiet Nights’.

In addition to the Davis centenary concert, the Proms 2026 lineup includes American-themed programming highlighting the nation’s musical legacy, with tributes to artists such as Paul Simon and Marvin Gay, as part of a broader celebration of 250 years of US independence.

The festival will feature 20 international ensembles, 41 UK-based orchestras and choirs, and 42 appearances by the BBC’s own orchestras and choirs, with 20 premieres—including 17 BBC commissions and co-commissions—across the eight-week season.

All 86 concerts will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds, with 24 Proms programmes available on BBC television and iPlayer. Residencies will take place at Bristol Beacon and the Glasshouse International Centre for Music in Gateshead, alongside the first-ever Prom in Mold, North Wales.

Ticketing remains accessible, with 1,000 £8 standing Promming tickets available for every concert at the Royal Albert Hall, while seated tickets start from £12.20, inclusive of all fees.

The 2026 season underscores the BBC Proms’ commitment to showcasing diverse musical traditions, blending jazz, classical, and American cultural expression in a year marked by significant historical and artistic anniversaries.