The BBC Proms summer season officially began on July 18, 2025, with a dazzling opening at London’s Royal Albert Hall and a broader celebration across 14 regional venues including Bradford, Gateshead, Bristol, Belfast, and Sunderland. Stretching through to September 13, the festival comprises 86 concerts, focused on balancing classical pillars with cutting‑edge innovation.
Under the direction of Radio 3 controller Sam Jackson, 2025 marks his debut year steering the Proms. Reflecting bold programming choices, the season features a remarkable 19 world premieres, 15 female conductors—a new record—and international representation from 60 orchestras and ensembles.
Among the most talked-about events is the world premiere of Sean Shibe’s ZEBRA, a concerto for electric guitar, which debuts on July 22 in London, with additional performances in Gateshead. Anna Lapwood introduces a historic overnight Prom titled “From Dusk Till Dawn,” the first of its kind since 1983, running from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. on August 8. The concert features a range of performers, from cellist Anastasia Kobekina and pianist Hayato Sumino to Barokksolistene and the Pembroke College Chapel Choir. Lapwood also continues in her role as the Royal Albert Hall’s organist.
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The “Traitors Prom,” hosted by Claudia Winkleman, draws inspiration from the hit BBC show The Traitors, exploring themes of betrayal and subversion through classical and contemporary music. This thematic programming brings theatricality and cultural relevance to a traditionally formal setting.
Classic masterworks remain at the heart of the Proms. Mahler’s Fifth Symphony and Shostakovich’s Fifth are centerpieces of the season, with the Aurora Orchestra delivering a memorized, semi-staged performance of the latter. The Vienna Philharmonic, under the baton of Franz Welser‑Möst, will perform Mozart’s “Prague” Symphony and Tchaikovsky’s “Pathétique” on September 9. Other distinguished ensembles participating include the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Budapest Festival Orchestra, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
International talent features heavily throughout the season. Yunchan Lim, the youngest winner of the Van Cliburn competition, will interpret Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 4 with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Renowned violinists Hilary Hahn, Lisa Batiashvili, and Janine Jansen are also slated to perform. The vocal lineup includes soprano Golda Schultz and jazz artist Samara Joy. The Proms will also commemorate major anniversaries for composers such as Shostakovich, Ravel, Berio, Boulez, and Pärt.
The season will conclude with the first all-female-led “Last Night of the Proms,” conducted by Elim Chan and featuring soloists Alison Balsom and Louise Alder. The program includes premieres by composers Camille Pépin and Rachel Portman. Notably, this year’s Proms includes a full staging of Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk by the BBC Philharmonic and English National Opera, and a performance of Puccini’s Suor Angelica, signaling a return to operatic works.
All performances will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds, with more than 25 concerts televised across BBC1, BBC2, BBC4, and iPlayer. Audience access remains a priority, with approximately 1,000 standing tickets available daily at a low cost, bookable online each morning.
This season solidifies the BBC Proms’ status as a cultural beacon, blending historical reverence with contemporary energy. From avant-garde commissions to major symphonic staples, from regional outreach to gender-forward leadership, the 2025 Proms celebrates the broad and evolving spectrum of musical expression.