2025 is coming to a close and it gave us incredible classical recordings and performances we’ll remember for years to come. Even so, the city’s classical music scene this new year promises to be one of its most exciting yet! With historic classical venues hosting legendary soloists and top-tier orchestras, music lovers have a lot to look forward to. We’ve rounded up the most anticipated classical concerts in NYC in 2026, all confirmed and highly sought-after by both music fans and critics alike.
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Confirmed classical music concerts in NYC
1. Highline String Quartet at Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity
The Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity is transforming into a Candlelight stage this January for a celebration of two of the most important classical composers of all time. Guests can start the new year with a 60-minute performance of Mozart’s Sonata No. 11 in A Major and Eine kleine Nachtmusik as well as Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7, 9 and 5.
📆 January 22
📍Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity
🎟️Tickets start at $38
2. New York Philharmonic at Radio City Music Hall
NY Phil is taking a one-night break from Lincoln Center to perform for the first time ever at Radio City Music Hall using its new immersive sound system. Taking the baton is Gustavo Dudamel, Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang Music & Artistic Director Designate.
📆 January 25
📍Radio City Music Hall
🎟️Tickets start at $199
3. The Met Orchestra at Carnegie Hall
The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra returns with several star-studded concerts at the legendary Carnegie Hall, starting with a full-orchestra performance in February conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
📆 February 4 and June 11 & 18
📍Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage
🎟️ Tickets start at $40.50
4. Chamber Orchestra of New York
Known for her expressive sound, violinist Irene Abrigo will showcase her insane talent in Vaughan Williams’ masterpiece The Lark Ascending, joining Salvatore Di Vittorio and the Chamber Orchestra of New York for a moving performance of Gustav Holst’s majestic The Planets.
📆 March 13
📍Weill Recital Hall
🎟️ Tickets start at $71
5. Dudamel Conducts Eroica & The People United Will Never Be Defeated
Dudamel will also lead the World Premiere of a new orchestration of Frederic Rzewski’s The People United Will Never Be Defeated, drawing a parallel between Beethoven’s Eroica, the Chilean protest anthem and the American musical and social landscape.
📆 March 12-17
📍Wu Tsai Theater, David Geffen Hall
🎟️ Tickets start at $71
6. Lang Lang and Boston Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall
Classical music superstar Lang Lang joins the BSO as a soloist in one of the most anticipated classical piano concerts of the year, reimagining Grieg’s sole piano concerto, as well as Sibelius’s Symphony No. 1 and a contemporary New York premiere by Finnish composer Outi Tarkiainen.
📆 April 10
📍Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage
🎟️ Tickets start at $119
7. Pacifica Quartet & Sigourney Weaver, narrator
The Grammy Award-winning Pacifica Quartet is showcasing the power of music for storytelling, joined by Oscar-nominated film icon Sigourney Weaver as a narrator. Celebrating Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Rachel Carson, the string quartet will be performing works by Florence Price, Gabriela Lena Frank, Jennifer Higdon and Beethoven.
📆 April 10
📍Geffen Stage at Kaufmann Concert Hall
🎟️ Tickets start at $50
8. Pierre-Laurent Aimard plays Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II
Although his main focus lies in contemporary music, iconic French pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard is taking a cornerstone of Western classical music, Bach’s monumental two-book collection and performing its second book exploring his “well-tempered” tuning.
📆 April 15
📍Geffen Stage at Kaufmann Concert Hall
🎟️ Tickets start at $20
9. Yuja Wang with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra
Virtuoso pianist Yuja Wang has a long history of collaborating with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, having recorded the Grammy-nominated album Rachmaninov together and also conducting on numerous occasions. This May, they’re taking on Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 1, “Classical” and Piano Concerto No. 2, as well as Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1.
📆 May 1
📍Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage
🎟️ Only group sales available
Where to see classical music in NYC
From Lincoln Center to Carnegie Hall, NYC is home to some of the most prestigious classical concert venues, many of which were mentioned above. What’s more, Candlelight has chosen iconic NYC venues for their tributes, such as Marble Collegiate Church, Irondale and Sony Hall. An extra tip is to go directly to the source and check their official websites for newly added shows and more up-to-date info.
Free classical concerts in NYC
Carnegie Hall Citywide and NY Phil’s annual series Concerts in the Parks are two beloved traditions for many New Yorkers where major players perform for free in the summer. The exact dates will be announced around mid-to-late 2026.
Plus, if you like opera…
The Met is starting the 2026 season in February with two heavy-weights, Tristan und Isolde and Madama Butterfly, followed by La Traviata and La Bohéme through June. What’s more, on February 3, Grammy Award-winning Freddie Ballentine is joined by Kunal Lahiry on piano, highlighting queer stories with Tisch Music.