Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra's season 2026–27 has been released – featuring international stars and Finnish gems

Jukka-Pekka Saraste continues as Chief Conductor of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra for the 2026–2027 season, while the position of main guest will be filled by the orchestra itself with concerts performed without a conductor. The first of the concerts planned by the orchestra will be performed at the beginning of the season in September.

In spring 2027, the orchestra will perform two more concerts without a conductor: the first will feature Béla Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra and the second Beethoven's Triple Concerto, with the orchestra's second concertmaster Kreeta-Julia Heikkilä and second solo cellist Beata Antikainen shining as soloists alongside star pianist Alexander Melnikov. The orchestra will also present first principal cellist Tuomas Ylinen and principal flutist Niamh McKenna as soloists during the spring.

International tour of the orchestra of Sibelius

The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra will embark on a tour of Japan and South Korea this autumn together with Chief Conductor Jukka-Pekka Saraste. This marks the orchestra's fifth tour of Japan but first visit to South Korea. In keeping with tradition, the programme will include orchestral works by Jean Sibelius that the orchestra originally premiered under the direction of the legendary composer himself.

The orchestra will perform seven concerts in Japan with piano soloist Hayato Sumino, whose “Cateen” channel focusing on pianism has amassed a million viewers on YouTube. In South Korea, the orchestra will perform three concerts with soloist Inmo Yang, winner of the 2022 International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition, playing in front of his home audience. During the season, many other top violinists will also be heard, such as Augustin Hadelich, Vilde Frang and Otto Antikainen, who charmed the audience at the final of the most recent Jean Sibelius Violin Competition.

During the orchestra’s tour, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra will arrive as guest for the season series, performing two concerts at the Helsinki Music Centre at the invitation of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. Audiences will be able to hear two concerts by the world-famous chamber orchestra, with mezzo-soprano Fleur Barron as the soloist.

World premiere of new piece by Anna Thorvaldsdottir

One of the highlights of the spring will be the world premiere of a new piece by Anna Thorvaldsdottir, the Icelandic superstar of contemporary music. Shadows of Solace is a new commission by the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. In addition, the orchestra will perform the world premiere of Sebastian Fagerlund’s Organ Concerto “Ad Spiram”, which will be interpreted by Latvian organist Iveta Apkalna.

Yet another highlight will be Finnish premiere of the Piano Concerto by American composer and pianist Amy Beach (1867–1944) in April 2027. Beach, who broke through several glass ceilings in the music industry during her career, composed her piano concerto as early as 1899.

Alongside new works and Finnish premieres, familiar classics will also be heard. For example, orchestral versions of Wagner's operas, works by Haydn and Mozart, Mahler's Fifth Symphony, Beethoven, Schumann and Bruckner will be performed. During the season, Sergei Prokofiev's compositions will be heard in a variety of contexts: the programme includes symphonies, concertos and, for younger audiences, the musical fairy tale Peter and the Wolf. In a production made in collaboration with the Helsinki City Theatre, Prokofiev's familiar music meets dance theatre.

In March 2027, the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra will play host to French pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet for two weeks. Highlights of the spring include a concert conducted by Barbara Hannigan, in which she will also sing the soprano part in Francis Poulenc's La voix humaine – The Human Voice.

Enjoy the festive seasons with the orchestra

In December, the orchestra's concerts will help audiences get into the festive spirit in many different ways. Together with the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra, we will immerse ourselves in the glamour of the Golden Age of Hollywood together with the young generation jazz singer Kate Kortum. Even before the Christmas break, the deep-sounding melodies of Verdi and Wagner will wrap up the autumn season.

During the Easter season, we will celebrate together with young conductor Nil Venditti in a special concert featuring works by French composers. For Gabriel Fauré's Requiem, the orchestra will also be joined by soprano Sonja Herranen, baritone Aarne Pelkonen, and chamber choirs Kaamos and Kampin laulu.

The orchestra’s most gleeful moments of the spring season can be experienced at our 144^th May Day Matinee. A fun addition to the programme amid the colourful balloons will be a new Helsinki-themed song commissioned from the Kalevauva.fi troubadour band.

Full programme: www.helsinkiphilharmonicorchestra.fi

Link to digital brochure

Tickets: Online from the HPO website www.helsinkiphilharmonicorchestra.fi and from the Helsinki Music Centre box office.  

Season tickets for autumn season on sale 6 May – 3 August 2026.  
Single tickets for autumn season go on sale 11 August.  

Further information for media representatives:   

Jari Eskola, General Manager, tel. +358 50 465 4972, jari.eskola@hel.fi
Marja Istala Kumpunen, Communications Manager, t. +358 50 555 3551, marja.istalakumpunen@hel.fi  

Photos from the media bank: https://helsinginkaupunginorkesteri.fi/en/mediabank