Dudamel’s Dual Directorship: LA Phil’s Future with Salonen and a Season of Rituals

As Gustavo Dudamel prepares to conclude his 17-year tenure as Music & Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the orchestra is charting a course for a dynamic future. Dudamel will say his final goodbye to the LA Phil on August 23, 2026, with a gala at the Hollywood Bowl. He will then transition to his new role as Music & Artistic Director of the New York Philharmonic in September 2026, whereas maintaining a connection to Los Angeles through Beethoven-focused performances.

A Season of Transition and New Leadership

The LA Phil will be without a music director for the first time in 64 years, but the transition is well-planned. Esa-Pekka Salonen, who previously served as music director from 1999 to 2009, returns as Creative Director in January 2026. Salonen’s return ensures continuity and a continued commitment to innovative programming. The 2026-27 season, announced Tuesday, showcases this commitment with a packed schedule of events, commissions, and festivals.

The “Rituals Festival” – A Central Theme

At the heart of the LA Phil’s 2026-27 season is the “Rituals Festival,” curated by Salonen. This festival explores the pervasive role of rituals in human life, from everyday habits to life-defining moments. The festival will feature a multimedia collaboration with director Yuval Sharon and the U.S. Premiere of “One Morning Turns Into an Eternity,” an operatic study of dying and transcendence created with Peter Sellars for the Salzburg Festival.

Salonen will also conduct Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring” and requiems by Mozart and György Ligeti as part of the festival. He will premiere a revised version of his score “Tiu” and a new violin concerto, “How to be a Bird” by Gabriella Smith.

Dudamel’s Continued Connection and Beethoven Focus

Despite his move to New York, Dudamel will return to Los Angeles in the fall of 2026 to conduct Beethoven’s first four piano concertos with Rudolf Buchbinder, along with Beethoven’s Third (“Eroica”) and Fifth Symphonies. He will continue his focus on Beethoven, a theme he is also embracing in his first season with the New York Philharmonic. Dudamel will also conduct a co-commission with the LA Phil, a new work by Canadian composer Zosha di Castri.

Minimalism and Anniversaries

The season will also feature a “Minimalist Spotlight,” celebrating the 90th birthdays of Philip Glass and Steve Reich, and the 80th of John Adams. Performances will include Glass’ Symphony No. 15, “Lincoln,” Reich’s “All Your Ways,” and selections from Adams’ music theater pieces, conducted by Adams himself. A program of Eastern European Minimalists, featuring Henryk Gorecki’s Third Symphony, will be conducted by Eva Ollikainen, and Wild Up will collaborate with Meredith Monk’s vocal ensemble on her latest work, “Indra’s Net.”

Additional Highlights and Guest Artists

The season will also include performances of Handel’s “Messiah” led by Emmanuelle Haïm, and Christmas-themed works by Corelli. Guest conductors include Susan Mälkki, Elim Chan, Gustavo Gimeno, and others. Soloists will include Emanuel Ax, Yuja Wang, Lang Lang, Herbie Hancock, and Kamasi Washington. The Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal and the London Symphony Orchestra will also perform at Disney Hall.

YOLA and the Legacy of Gehry

Dudamel’s commitment to youth education through YOLA (Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles) will continue, with performances and a celebration of the fifth anniversary of the Gehry-designed Beckmen YOLA Center. The architect Frank Gehry, who died in December, will be further honored with a performance of Thomas Adès’ “Tower for Frank Gehry.”

The season will conclude with a pilgrimage to Topanga Tower, a cold-war relic in the Santa Monica Mountains, featuring dancer and choreographer Dimitri Chamblas, producer Kate Nordstrom, and composer Tim Hecker.