Are the 2021 BBC Proms going ahead?

What are the dates for this year's BBC Proms? Our up-to-date guide to everything we know about the 2021 BBC Proms season

Published: August 23, 2021 at 1:53 pm

When is this year's Proms season scheduled for?

The 2021 BBC Proms will take place from Friday 30 July to Saturday 11 September, with concerts at both Cadogan Hall and the Royal Albert Hall.

The UK's Prime Minister Boris Johnson has laid out his 'roadmap' for the lifting of coronavirus lockdown restrictions, and has stated that large performances in indoor venues with a capacity of 1000 people or half-full (whichever is lower) will be allowed as part of the so-called 'third step'. This will occur no earlier than 17 May.

It is hoped that step four of the roadmap will allow all legal restrictions on social contact to be removed by no earlier than 21 June, which means that audiences can return to the Royal Albert Hall for this year's Proms.

The BBC Proms usually takes place between July and September, with the vast majority of concerts taking place at the Royal Albert Hall. Lunchtime concerts take place at the nearby Cadogan Hall. Late Night Proms are often a feature of the Proms, but there don't seem to be any scheduled for this year's Proms season. We will share any updates on this in due course.

After the First Night of the Proms in July, Prommers can expect eight weeks of live concerts before the Last Night of the Proms in September.

Find out more about the premiere performances scheduled for this year's BBC Proms.

Will there be audiences at this year's BBC Proms?

Yes, the 2021 BBC Proms season will take place in the Royal Albert Hall and Cadogan Hall with live audiences, in line with government guidance.

Will you be able to watch the 2021 Proms on radio and TV?

Every single Prom will be available to listen to live on BBC Radio 3, with supporting coverage on BBC TV and BBC iPlayer.

Full details on which Proms will be broadcast on BBC TV and Radio.

When will the schedule for this year's BBC Proms season be released?

The programme details for the 2021 BBC Proms will be released on Thursday 27 May, with the Proms Festival Guide released on the same day.

How do you buy tickets for the 2021 BBC Proms season if it goes ahead?

If the BBC Proms go ahead with an in-person audience this year, we've outlined the various ways to buy tickets for the 2021 BBC Proms.

If you're unable to attend the BBC Proms in person, every single Prom is broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and highlights are played on BBC TV.

If you've managed to nab a ticket and are worried about what to wear to the BBC Proms, we have a tailor-made introduction to the Proms dress code just for you.

You can catch up on the highlights from the 2020 BBC Proms on BBC iPlayer.

Will there be a 2021 Last Night of the Proms and Proms in the Park?

The Last Night of the Proms usually takes place in September, and has become a key part of the British social calendar thanks to its longstanding traditions and introduction of Proms in the Park.

Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus pandemic, Proms in the Park events in London's Hyde Park, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland won't be going ahead this year. The Proms team has confirmed that there are 'plans to reflect the nations in the Last Night of the Proms celebrations.'

There will be more updates soon on what the Last Night will involve.

Have the BBC Proms ever been cancelled before?

The 2020 BBC Proms took place in the form of two months of archive concerts, which were broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Four. The final fortnight of the season finally saw a return to the Royal Albert Hall stage, albeit without an audience.

It wasn't the first time the BBC Proms faced a challenge: in 1980, the Proms season opened with no orchestra as BBC musicians went on strike over plans to disband the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. In 1940, just as the Prom was about to take pace, the first wave of air-raids were launched on London.

If you're hoping attend this year's BBC Proms in person, check out our list of top tips.

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