Carnegie Hall and WQXR Announce the 2026/27 Season of Carnegie Hall Live

Legendary live concert broadcast series kicks off with the Berliner Philharmoniker tonight at 8pm ET

Airing on WQXR 105.9FM and wqxr.org

(October 9, 2026 – New York, NY) — WQXR and Carnegie Hall are proud to announce the schedule for the 16th season of Carnegie Hall Live, the live broadcast series that brings the thrill of the concert hall experience to audiences in New York, across the country and around the globe.

The season kicks off tonight, Friday, October 9 at 8pm with the Carnegie Hall Live debut of pianist Víkingur Ólafsson, playing alongside the Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Kirill Petrenko. 

The season will feature the Carnegie Hall Live debut of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, led by Louis Langrée (November 5, 2026).

Season highlights also include one of Franz Welser-Möst’s final Carnegie Hall concerts as the music director of The Cleveland Orchestra, conducting Beethoven’s Missa solemnis (January 19, 2027); the return of Sir Simon Rattle with The Philadelphia Orchestra, performing John Adams’s Harmonielehre and French masterworks (February 2); and the first New York appearance by Lahav Shani as chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic (February 19).

Carnegie Hall Live will highlight the Hall’s season-long Mahler symphony cycle, featuring performances of the Symphony No. 9 with the Vienna Philharmonic (February 26, 2027) and the Symphony No. 1 with The Philadelphia Orchestra (June 4, 2027), both conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. The Philadelphia Orchestra’s broadcast in June will also include the New York premiere of a work by Caroline Shaw, Carnegie Hall’s 2026-2027 Richard and Barbara Debs Composer’s Chair.

The broadcast series also includes special evenings of chamber music, featuring three of Beethoven’s string quartets performed by Quatuor Ébène (March 25, 2027); an all-Brahms program with a powerhouse string sextet featuring violinists Leonidas Kavakos and Gil Shaham, violists Lawrence Power and Antoine Tamestit, and cellists Kian Soltani and Alisa Weilerstein (April 7, 2027); and an all-Beethoven program featuring the all-star trio of cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, pianist Benjamin Grosvenor and violinist Hilary Hahn (April 28, 2027).

Carnegie Hall Live will be hosted by WNYC and WQXR’s John Schaefer alongside a rotating cast of guest hosts from WQXR, including Elliott Forrest and Paul Cavalconte. The concerts will air live on New York’s only all-classical music station, WQXR FM and at wqxr.org, and are available for on-demand streaming at wqxr.org and carnegiehall.org/wqxr. In addition, the series airs on public radio stations across the country throughout the year.

“WQXR is proud to partner with Carnegie Hall for this series, celebrating great music, highlighting exceptional artists and bringing the unforgettable experience of live performance directly to audiences around the world,” said Eileen Delahunty, Head of WQXR. “With our expert hosts providing engaging insight into the music, the artists, and the stories behind each performance, listeners don’t just hear the concert, they feel the energy, spontaneity and exhilaration of live music in one of the world’s greatest concert halls.”

“Carnegie Hall’s 2026–2027 season is filled with an extraordinary array of artists and ensembles, and we are delighted to share many of these exciting performances with listeners around the world through our longstanding partnership with WQXR,” said Clive Gillinson, Carnegie Hall’s Executive and Artistic Director. “There is something truly thrilling about experiencing a live performance as it unfolds in Carnegie Hall. We are deeply grateful to WQXR for helping us bring these special musical moments to audiences everywhere.”

The full WQXR broadcast schedule is listed below. For more information, please visit https://www.wqxr.org/shows/carnegie/about/.

COMPLETE LIVE BROADCAST SCHEDULE

BEETHOVEN Missa solemnis

G. MAHLER Symphony No. 9

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About Carnegie Hall
Since it opened in 1891, Carnegie Hall has set the international standard for musical excellence as the aspirational destination for the world’s finest artists. From Tchaikovsky, Dvorák, Mahler, and Bartók to George Gershwin, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Judy Garland, and The Beatles, music-making by a long list of artists representing the best of every genre has filled Carnegie Hall over the years. The Hall’s unique history has grown out of its stunning acoustics, the beauty of its three concert halls, and its location in New York City, where it has played a central role in helping to elevate the city into one of the world’s great cultural capitals.

Carnegie Hall presents a wide range of performances each season on its three stages—the renowned Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, intimate Weill Recital Hall, and innovative Zankel Hall—including concert series curated by acclaimed artists and composers; citywide festivals featuring collaborations with leading NYC cultural institutions; orchestral performances, chamber music, new music concerts, and recitals; and the best in jazz, global, and popular music.

Complementing these performance activities, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute creates wide-reaching music education and social impact programs that annually serve hundreds of thousands of people in the New York City area, nationally, and internationally. These programs play a central role in delivering on Carnegie Hall’s commitment to making great music accessible to as many people as possible.

Carnegie Hall has also collaborated with WQXR on If This Hall Could Talk, an eight-episode podcast series that delves into stories of great performances and the shaping of American culture as witnessed at the legendary venue throughout its 130+ year history. Hosted by celebrated Broadway actress/vocalist Jessica Vosk, each episode centers on a unique object drawn from the collection of Carnegie Hall’s Rose Archives—from Benny Goodman’s clarinet and Ella Fitzgerald’s glasses to a ticket from Carnegie Hall’s first Opening Night in 1891 and beyond. 

Earlier this year, WQXR and Carnegie Hall launched Classical Music Happy Hour, a new podcast series hosted by seven-time Grammy Award-winning pianist Emanuel Ax, featuring conversations with an eclectic lineup of composers, performers, and creative voices from the world of classical music and beyond. 

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About WQXR
WQXR is New York City’s only all-classical music station, immersing listeners in the city’s rich musical life on-air at 105.9FM, online at WQXR.org, and in the community through live events and performances. An essential partner to the city’s musical and cultural organizations, WQXR presents new and archival classical recordings and performances from New York City’s esteemed performance venues. Signature programs include Carnegie Hall Live, Metropolitan Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcasts, New York Philharmonic This Week, New York in Concert, the Young Artists Showcase, as well as limited edition podcasts including Classical Music Happy Hour with Emanuel Ax, The Open Ears Project, Made in New York: the NY Philharmonic Story, Every Voice with Terrance McKnight, Helga, and Aria Code, a joint project with the Metropolitan Opera. As a public media station, WQXR is supported through the generosity of its members, donors, and sponsors, making classical music relevant, accessible and inspiring for all.