The series will open with the First Night of the Proms on the 17th of July, hosting 86 concerts in the Royal Albert Hall and other venues around the country, before closing with the showstopping Last Night on the 12th of September. This year marks the 131st edition of the Proms bringing together composers, musicians and attendees from across the globe, with a special occasion planned for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The 2026 Proms will welcome The Met Orchestra from New York for the first time, as well as the return of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, plus a cohort of American composers and soloists. Other anniversaries celebrated this Proms season include the centenaries of the birth of historic figures including jazz pioneers John Coltrane and Miles Davis, and a concert celebrating 40 years of Paul Simon’s landmark album ‘Graceland’ with its featured stars Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

One of the most exciting nights comes early in Proms season, in the shape of ‘Prog Rock: A Fanfare For The Common Man’. The show will rifle through classic progressive rock songs by the genre’s most prominent names, including Genesis, Jethro Tull, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. The selection of tracks has been curated by BBC Radio 6 Music DJ Stuart Maconie, whose 2023 Northern Soul night has become a massive part of the Proms legacy in recent memory. Robert Ames, co-principal conductor of the London Contemporary Orchestra, will be conducting the BBC Concert Orchestra for this one on Saturday the 18th of July. Ames posted on Facebook about the announcement, saying “I grew up listening to prog rock with my dad, and I still do. Some of my earliest musical memories are of car journeys to school, moving between Pink Floyd, Berlioz, Genesis and Mussorgsky learning without really knowing it that music could be huge, emotional, strange, theatrical and completely transporting. That world left a big mark on me, so being part of this feels deeply personal — and very special.”

One to watch will certainly be ‘Bond and Beyond’, a deep-dive into the music and epic themes that have made the James Bond film franchise so unforgettable. From the timeless main theme, to older classics like those by Shirley Bassey or Paul McCartney and Wings, and modern ones by Chris Cornell or Billie Eillish, this show will have it all for the Bond fans. So far confirmed for the night is Carly Simon’s ‘Nobody Does It Better’ from ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’ and Adele’s ‘Skyfall’ from the film of the same name. Canadian Daniel Bartholemew-Poyser will be guest conductor with the BBC Concert Orchestra on Tuesday the 25th of August.

August’s leg of the event will conclude with a special tribute to Alan Menken, whose Disney soundtracks have been an irreplaceable part of life for millions of children worldwide. Menken is one of 22 EGOT winners, proud owners of an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award across disciplines of TV, music, film and theatre respectively. His scores include many of Disney’s biggest animated films, such as ‘The Little Mermaid’, ‘Aladdin’, ‘Hercules’, and ‘Beauty and the Beast’. Performances will be by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, with special guests from the National Youth Music Theatre, live on Monday the 31st of August.

The First Night of the Proms kicks off across BBC TV, radio, iPlayer and BBC Sounds on Friday the 17th of July. Currently, the lineup for the Last Night of the Proms on Saturday the 12th of September has not been finalised, with the BBC suggesting room for another show to rival last year’s closing set of Queen’s surviving members playing ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. The BBC estimates more than 300,000 tickets will be available over the full eight-week duration, with a quarter of them costing only £8. General booking opens on Saturday the 16th of May from the Royal Albert Hall’s website.

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In speaking about his latest chart success, Andrea Bocelli says to The Daily Express, “I am extremely touched to learn that people have responded so positively to my new album, which of course is a deeply personal project for me. Music is a universal language and gives us the ability to connect with one another in a way that is quite profound. ” The album which was co produced by Steven Mercurio and Haydn Bendall, also features a previously unreleased track by famous Italian composer Ennino Morricone. As well as the duets on the album, Bocelli also composed new versions of, ‘Ave Maria,’ ‘Amazing Grace,’ and ‘Padre Nostro.’

The concept of ‘BELIEVE’ is based on three words: faith, hope and charity. We are delighted to finally be able to share this deeply personal selection of music with you. #BELIEVE is OUT NOW: https://t.co/Az2VWRgHJZ pic.twitter.com/30n1QbxGQN

— Andrea Bocelli (@AndreaBocelli) November 13, 2020

Billboard have reported Bocelli to of said about the album, “The concept behind Believe is based on three words: faith, hope and charity. “These are the three theological virtues of Christianity, yet – quite independently of any religious belief – they are also the three extraordinary keys to giving meaning and completeness to the lives of every one of us.” Bocelli believes that music is good for the soul and keeps us connected regardless of someone’s individual belief. UDiscoverMusic.com have reported him to of said, “Good music brings with it a powerful message of peace and fellowship, teaching us about beauty, and helping us to open our hearts and minds.”

It is not the first time that the talented classical singer has broken chart records. His 1997 compilation album, ‘Romanza’ is one of the biggest selling albums of all time. ‘Sacred Aria’s’ release two years later, became the highest selling classical album in history. His album ‘Si’ topped the US and UK charts reaching Number 1 in both. Andrea Bocelli is recognised globally as a classical superstar. As well as performing at international events such as the Olympic games and the World Cup, Bocelli has sold out arenas around the world. His success has earned him 7 classical BRIT Awards, 7 World Music Awards, A Golden Globe and a star on the Hollywood walk of Fame.

Bocelli has also recently announced that he will be doing a special global ticket live stream event, ‘Believe In Christmas’ which will take place on December 12th from the ‘Teatro Regio di Parma’ opera house in Italy. The event will feature special guests and will be streamed around the world, time-zoned to the different regions. His previous virtual streaming performance at Easter, ‘Music For Hope,’ gained over 28 million views across the globe in the first 24 hours. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here for the Christmas event.

Track List ‘Believe’

1. You’ll Never Walk Alone
2. Fratello Sole Sorella Luna (Dolce È Sentire)
3. Hallelujah
4. Pianissimo – duet with Cecilia Bartoli
5. Amazing Grace – duet with Alison Krauss
6. Preghiera (Alla Mente Confusa)
7. Gratia Plena (from the movie “Fatima”)
8. Cantique De Jean Racine
9. Inno Sussurato
10. Oh, Madre Benedetta! (Adagio De Albinoni)
11. I Believe duet with Cecilia Bartoli
12. Ave Maria
13. Angele Dei
14. Agnus Dei
15. Mui Grandes Noit E Dia
16. Mira 11 Tuo Popolo
17. Amazing Grace (Solo version)