The Facts
The Queen Elizabeth Hall at Southbank Centre in London will host a series of performances from October 9 to November 29, 2026. The programme includes a staged production of Bizet's L'Arlésienne by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, a London premiere of The Ayoub Sisters' Arabic Symphony with the Chineke! Orchestra, and a world premiere of Alex Groves' PARTITA performed by Zubin Kanga. Other highlights include Vadym Kholodenko playing Schumann and Berlioz, and a chamber programme of French Baroque works by Thomas Dunford, Nicolas Altstaedt, and Jean Rondeau. The venue, a brutalist icon on the Thames, originally opened in 1967 and underwent refurbishment from 2015 to 2018.
The Signal
The season underscores Southbank Centre's role as a major presenter of both historical and new music in London. The inclusion of world and London premieres signals a commitment to contemporary composition, which can elevate the profiles of living composers like Alex Groves and The Ayoub Sisters. For collectors and curators, this programming indicates the venue's influence in commissioning and premiering works that may later enter the repertoire or attract institutional attention.
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- Artists: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Chineke! Orchestra, Vadym Kholodenko, Zubin Kanga, Thomas Dunford, Nicolas Altstaedt, Jean Rondeau, Alex Groves, The Ayoub Sisters
- People: Sir Mark Elder, Fawzi Haimor, Valerie Coleman, Kareem Roustom
- Museums: Southbank Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hall
- Locations: London
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