Boundary-breaking performances, familiar classics, seasonal favourites, & more are lined up for Warwick Arts Centre's 2026-2027 Orchestral Season.

Kicking the season off is a return appearance from the inspiring Chineke! Orchestra (Thurs 26 Nov 2026). Acclaimed Colombian conductor Tatiana Pérez-Hernández leads the orchestra through works by Stravinksy and Rodrigo, as well as lesser known pieces by Adolphus Hailstork and contemporary Columbian composer Eliana Echeverry. Also joining Chineke! for the concert is Brazilian guitarist Plinio Fernandes - a Classic FM Rising Star.

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (Wed 9 Dec 2026) make the first of two appearances at the Coventry arts centre with a distinctly festive selection as CBSO Music Director Kazuki Yamada presents Tchaikovsky’s much-loved seasonal The Nutcracker Suites alongside bandleader Duke Ellington and arranger Billy Strayhorn's brilliantly swinging jazzy ’50s Nutcracker 'remixes'.

Delving in the rich catalogue of composer Hans Zimmer, The National Youth Orchestra (Wed 6 Jan 2027) blast off into deep space for Zimmer's epic and emotive Oscar-nominated Interstellar soundtrack. 'The world’s greatest orchestra of teenagers' also bring their customary verve to Tchaikovsky’s melodic Symphony No.5.

For the second appearance from the CBSO (Thurs 25 Feb 2027), Kazuki Yamada presents a rare chance to enjoy Beethoven's Fourth and Fifth symphonies, side-by-side, along with Haydn's Trumpet Concerto, featuring hotly tipped soloist Matilda Lloyd.

An uplifting programme shaped by pastoral and folk themes, and rooted in a sense of place, is promised by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Thurs 4 Mar 2027) as RPO Associate Conductor Emilia Hoving leads the orchestra through a rich programme featuring Sibelius, Vaughan Williams, Kodály and Bartók.

Finally, Coventry pianist Mark Bebbington joins the in-demand Czech National Symphony Orchestra (Sun 23 May 2027) for Rachmaninov's enduring Second Piano Concerto - a work regularly voted the greatest piece of classical music ever written by Classic FM listeners! Conducting is the Prague orchestra’s Music Director, Steven Mercurio.

Complementing the orchestral season, Warwick Arts Centre also opens its doors for a series of one-hour £5 Lunchtime Concerts, with appearances from mezzo soprano Eleanor Minney and pianist Gregory Drott (Thurs 15 Oct 2026); violinist Michał Ćwiżewicz and pianist Emma Abbate, with a folk-inspired programme (Thurs 5 Nov 2026); and British-Nigerian pianist/curator Rebeca Omordia (Thurs 10 Dec 2026), with a recital/lecture celebrating African and Black classical composers of the 18th and 19th centuries.

For more information, and tickets, see warwickartscentre.co.uk