First Night of the Proms 2025: your complete guide to this year's Proms curtain raiser

Here's your essential lowdown on the 2025 First Night of the Proms - including repertoire, performers, and how to watch and listen.

When is the 2025 First Night of the Proms?

This year’s First Night of the Proms takes place on Friday 18 July 2025 at The Royal Albert Hall. The concert is scheduled to begin at 6.45pm. It will be broadcast live on both BBC Two and BBC Radio 3.

Who is conducting the 2025 First Night of the Proms?

This year's Proms opener will be conducted by Finnish conductor Sakari Oramo, who also conducted the 2024 Last Night of the Proms. Oramo is chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and has previously helmed the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (1996–2008) and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic (2008–2021).

He's known for his eloquent interpretations, especially of late Romantic and early 20th century composers such as Elgar and Sibelius. In 2015 he was awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Conductor of the Year for his highly acclaimed recordings of the six symphonies of the Danish composer Carl Nielsen with the Stockholm band.

• All seven Sibelius symphonies, ranked

What is the programme for the 2025 First Night of the Proms?

Oramo will lead the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Proms' busiest orchestra, in performances of Mendelssohn's much-loved 'Hebrides' Overture (also known as 'Fingal’s Cave') and a world premiere of The Elements, a new work by British composer and Master of the King's Music, Errollyn Wallen.

2025 First Night of the Proms performers

Oramo and the BBC Symphony will also be joined by Georgian violinist Lisa Batiashvili for a performance of Sibelius's icily beautiful Violin Concerto (this wonderful work features high in our list of the greatest violin concertos of all time). And the BBC Singers, BBC Symphony Chorus, members of London Youth Choirs and soloists Caspar Singh (tenor) and Gerald Finley (bass baritone) join conductor and orchestra for a performance of Sancta Civitas, Vaughan Williams's powerful oratorio that takes its text from the Book of Revelation.

How can I watch the 2025 First Night of the Proms?

The First Night of the Proms will be broadcast live to watch on BBC Two and to listen to on BBC Radio 3.

If you want to attend the Proms in person, tickets are available now from the Proms website.

Will it be available on BBC iPlayer?

Yes, the concert will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer until the autumn.

Some other questions you might have: what have been the best First Night of the Proms from history? We pick out some of our favourites. And why are the Proms called the Proms? We explain the history behind the term and how the BBC Proms came to be. Lastly, that all-important question: is there a dress code for the BBC Proms?