BMW Group and the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) are set to present the fourteenth edition of BMW Classics in London’s Trafalgar Square on Saturday, 13 June at 4pm. This annual free open-air event will feature a live performance by the LSO, conducted by Chief Conductor Sir Antonio Pappano. In addition to the in-person audience, the concert will be broadcast globally via YouTube, Facebook, and streamed into selected BMW vehicles equipped with the latest infotainment systems.
The 2026 BMW Classics concert highlights the LSO’s enduring connection with two pillars of British music: Gustav Holst’s ‘The Planets’ and Edward Elgar’s ‘Enigma Variations’. The programme, curated by Sir Antonio Pappano, includes selected movements from Holst’s celebrated suite—Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Uranus—as well as excerpts from Elgar’s iconic work.
This year’s event marks the beginning of a major multi-platform initiative by the LSO celebrating Holst’s ‘The Planets’. Spanning 2026 and 2027, the project will encompass digital, educational, and live elements, aiming to engage audiences in the UK and internationally. The initiative launches in March 2026 with a new LSO Live album featuring ‘The Planets’ alongside Arnold Bax’s ‘Tintagel’, representing the orchestra’s fourth significant recording of Holst’s suite. Previous interpretations include historic versions led by Holst himself in the 1920s, as well as acclaimed recordings under André Previn and Sir Colin Davis.
Further exploration of ‘The Planets’ is scheduled for January 2027 at London’s Barbican Centre. Here, the Orchestra will present Symphonic Cinema performances developed by Dutch director Lucas van Woerkum. These concerts will pair Holst’s music with van Woerkum’s film ‘Loss’, starring Emma Thompson and Greg Wise, in a synchronised live audio-visual experience.
A central feature of the 2026 Trafalgar Square concert will be the world premiere of ‘Four Dances’, a newly commissioned work by composer Louise Drewett. The piece, written for a mixed-ability orchestra, unites LSO musicians, students from the Guildhall School, and 55 young musicians from east London engaged through the LSO Discovery programmes. Each movement represents a distinct London location along the River Thames—The Queen’s Walk, Columbia Wharf, South Dock, and Greenwich Pier—capturing the diverse atmospheres of the city’s public spaces.
The concert’s finale will showcase the LSO’s longstanding relationship with Elgar, dating back to its founding in 1904 when the composer himself conducted the Orchestra. The programme includes selections from ‘Enigma Variations’, further reflecting the LSO’s historical ties to Elgar’s legacy.
BMW Classics 2026 underscores the shared commitment of BMW and the LSO to advancing innovative cultural initiatives and broadening public access to orchestral music. The event’s open-air format and digital outreach aim to make classical music accessible to all, while the premiere of ‘Four Dances’ highlights ongoing efforts to nurture young talent and expand participation within the arts.
For BMW and MINI owners, the concert will be accessible via the Video App (DTS AutoStage Video Service Powered by TiVo™) in the latest infotainment systems. The platform aggregates a wide array of video content, including international and market-specific streaming services such as Disney+, YouTube, Bloomberg, and ARTE, as well as the BMW Classics broadcast.
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