In a celebration of music, culture, and community, BMW Group and the London Symphony Orchestra will present the fourteenth BMW Classics on Saturday 13 June at 4pm in London’s iconic Trafalgar Square. The free open-air concert will also be streamed globally on YouTube, Facebook, and directly into selected BMW and MINI vehicles, allowing audiences worldwide to join this musical spectacle.
Under the baton of LSO Chief Conductor Sir Antonio Pappano, the programme spotlights two monumental British works: Gustav Holst’s The Planets and Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations. This year’s performance also marks the launch of the LSO’s ambitious multi-platform exploration of Holst’s The Planets, which spans 2026 and 2027 and combines digital, educational, and live experiences to engage audiences both locally and internationally.
The LSO began this journey with a new album released in March 2026 on LSO Live, pairing Holst’s astrological suite with Arnold Bax’s Tintagel. At BMW Classics, audiences will enjoy selected movements from The Planets, including Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Uranus. In January 2027, the Orchestra will extend this exploration with Symphonic Cinema performances, synchronising Lucas van Woerkum’s film Loss, starring Emma Thompson and Greg Wise, with Holst’s score.
At the heart of this year’s Trafalgar Square concert is the world premiere of Four Dances, a new work by British composer Louise Drewett. Commissioned especially for BMW Classics, the piece brings together LSO musicians, Guildhall School students, and 55 young musicians from east London participating through the LSO Discovery programmes. Each dance celebrates a distinct London public space – from the bustling Queen’s Walk to tranquil Greenwich Pier – capturing the city’s rich and contrasting atmospheres.
The evening will conclude with excerpts from Elgar’s Enigma Variations, reaffirming the LSO’s long-standing connection with one of Britain’s greatest composers. Since its foundation in 1904, the Orchestra has championed Elgar’s music, and this performance continues that enduring tradition.
Dame Kathryn McDowell, Managing Director of the LSO, expressed the Orchestra’s excitement: “It is a great pleasure to be celebrating some of Britain’s greatest and most popular orchestral music this summer at BMW Classics… Alongside these two great classics, we are thrilled to present the world premiere of Louise Drewett’s Four Dances… On behalf of the LSO and our audiences both in Trafalgar Square and online, I extend our sincere thanks to BMW and the Mayor of London for making this event possible.”
Ilka Horstmeier of BMW AG highlighted the series’ inclusive ethos: “For 15 years, BMW Classics has stood for the idea that extraordinary music should be open to everyone. This year’s programme – from Holst’s The Planets to a new commissioned work created for young musicians – shows how powerful cultural experiences can be when barriers are removed.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan added, “The BMW Classics brings outstanding, free classical music to the heart of the capital… It’s also a wonderful opportunity for talented young musicians to perform alongside this world-renowned orchestra, helping to inspire the next generation of talent.”
BMW Classics 2026 promises to be a landmark event, uniting tradition, innovation, and community, and reaffirming the power of music to transcend boundaries, celebrate talent, and bring audiences together in the heart of London.
