Here's your essential guide to the 2026 First Night of the Proms - including repertoire, performers, and how to watch and listen.
When is the 2026 First Night of the Proms?
This year’s First Night of the Proms takes place on Friday 17 July 2026 at The Royal Albert Hall. The concert is scheduled to begin at 7pm. It will be broadcast live on both BBC Two and BBC Radio 3.
Who is conducting the 2026 First Night of the Proms?
This year's Proms opener will be conducted by Ukraine-born Finnish conductor Dalia Stasevska. Currently principal guest conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, she was the chief conductor of Lahti Symphony Orchestra from 2021-2025.
Stasevska became a household name when she led the BBC Symphony at the Last Night of the Proms during the pandemic in 2020 – faced with an empty concert hall, no audience and just a few cameras, broadcasting live across the world.
In 2023 she also led the BBC Symphony Orchestra for the First Night of the Proms, in a programme including Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto and Benjamin Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra.
What is the programme for the 2026 First Night of the Proms?
Stasevska will lead the BBC Symphony Orchestra in Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man and Gershwin's An American in Paris, plus Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major, Josephine Stephenson's That the sunrise not leave us unmoved and Finzi's For St Cecilia.
2026 First Night of the Proms performers
Stasevska and the BBC Symphony will be joined by Yunchan Lim in Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major. The South Korean pianist shot to fame in 2022, when he became the youngest person ever to win the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition at the age of just 18. And in 2025, he won the Newcomer Award, Instrumental Award and Recording of the Year at the BBC Music Magazine Awards for his recording of Chopin Études Opp. 10 and 25 on Decca – the first time that a single album has won three BBC Music Magazine Awards.
The BBC Singers, BBC Symphony Chorus and tenor Thomas Atkins will join the conductor and orchestra for performances of Josephine Stephenson's That the sunrise not leave us unmoved (a BBC commission and world premiere) and Finzi's For St Cecilia.
How can I watch the 2026 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?
What dates are the 2026 Proms?
The 2026 BBC Proms run from Friday 17 July to Saturday 12 September.
