Celestial Threads: Southbank Series
The Southbank Series opens its 2026 season with a program that journeys through myth, legacy and cosmic wonder.
Season 2026
Season 2026 is a celebration of who we are – as artists, as collaborators, and as a community. I invite you to join us in this journey, and to experience the many colours, stories and emotions that make up the rich mosaic of Orchestra Victoria."
— Jessica Gethin, Artistic Advisor
Introducing Season 2026
Welcome to Season 2026
Jessica Gethin, Artistic Advisor
It is such a joy to welcome you to Season 2026. This year we embrace the theme: One Season, Many Stories' – a celebration of the extraordinary breadth of what we do, and of the many voices and visions that come together to form the heart of this orchestra.
As one of Australia’s most versatile ensembles, Orchestra Victoria is proud to sit at the centre of our country’s cultural landscape through our integral work with The Australian Ballet, Opera Australia and Victorian Opera. These partnerships continue to inspire us, and to delight audiences with performances that combine tradition, innovation and artistry at the highest level.
I am also excited to be able to build on the success of our own concert series, in which we step forward as storytellers in our own right. In April, we welcome UK conductor Alice Farnham to present a program featuring Holst’s The Planets and John Psathas’ Djinn; well-loved conductor Umberto Clerici’s September concert features Nielsen’s sparkling Flute Concerto with soloist Lisa-Maree Amos; Eivind Aadland’s December program foregrounds Strauss’ deeply moving Metamorphosen. Each performance offers something unique, daring and unforgettable.
Our pride in our offerings extends beyond the stage: through our regional tours, our collaborations with our artistic partners (look out for some exciting announcements!), and our Connect and Education programs, we ensure music reaches audiences of every age and walk of life.
Season 26 is a celebration of who we are – as artists, as collaborators, and as a community. I invite you to join us in this journey, and to experience the many colours, stories and emotions that make up the rich mosaic of Orchestra Victoria.
Jacinta Ewers, Chief Executive Officer
Welcome to Season 2026!
We’re thrilled to invite you on this year’s journey with Orchestra Victoria – a season that celebrates music in all its forms. Whether your passion is ballet or opera, unwinding on a Friday night with live music and a drink, or immersing yourself in the magic of video-game soundtracks, Season 2026 has something just for you.
What sets Orchestra Victoria apart is the impact our musicians have. They bring powerful stories to life across different artforms through music, drawing inspiration from the people they work with and elevating their artistry to create the extraordinary. This year, we’re proud to once more champion the seasons of our incredible partners – The Australian Ballet, Opera Australia and Victorian Opera – while continuing beloved programs like the Southbank Series and Meet @ the Market. Whatever your taste, you’ll find a story in our season that speaks to you.
Collaboration is at the heart of who we are. We’re excited to present special projects this year that showcase new voices and creative partnerships. Keep an eye out for our work with The Newmarket Collective and poet Walter Kadiki in Across Silence, and the next instalment for Arts Centre Melbourne’s Morning Melodies program, featuring Caroline O’Connor AM.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who makes up the Orchestra Victoria community. Our heartfelt thanks go to our government partners, Creative Australia and Creative Victoria, as well as to our philanthropic supporters, whose generosity and vision make this season possible.
We can’t wait to welcome you to a performance in 2026. This year is full of unforgettable music and stories – and we look forward to sharing them with you.
Southbank Series
We’ll perform our acclaimed Southbank Series in the resonant acoustic of the Hanson Dyer Hall, in the heart of Melbourne’s Arts Precinct. Three internationally recognised conductors will join us for three diverse programs that showcase today’s composers alongside Beethoven and Holst, and reveal the breadth of our musicians’ talents.
Meet @ the Market
Launch your weekends right, with a cocktail in one hand, entrancing music filling your ears and an expert host taking you on a deep dive into a program of curated highlights from Season 2026. Meet @ the Market is your chance to see and hear the orchestra in an intimate, relaxed setting and chat with our musicians afterwards.
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Session 1: Meet @ the Market
Meet @ the Market opens its 2026 season with a trip through myth, magic and the cosmos.
Session 2: Meet @ the Market
This program is all about energy, variety and personality.
Session 3: Meet @ the Market
A program of profound feeling, the music we’ll explore conveys the darkest shades of grief and nostalgia, but moves towards hope, joy and renewal.
Special Events
Collaboration across artforms and communities is a wellspring of creative life, and a vital part of Orchestra Victoria’s identity. These special events show our musicians embracing adventure, stepping outside traditional venues and genres to bring you our music as part of immersive experiences. We are an orchestra for all Victorians, and these collaborations allow us to delight new audiences and explore new territory.
The Tea Party: Live in Concert
Iconic Canadian band The Tea Party are heading back to Australia in February 2026, bringing a unique show to Hamer Hall for the first time with Orchestra Victoria.
Hollow Knight & Silksong Live
Beloved indie hit Hollow Knight comes to life with live speedrun gameplay on the big screen and a newly arranged score performed by the musicians from Orchestra Victoria.
Caroline O'Connor: Music and Me: Morning Melodies
Australian theatrical legend Caroline O’Connor AM has delighted audiences across the globe: on London’s West End, Broadway in New York and throughout Australia on our stages and on our screens.
Across Silence
Across Silence is a collaboration the first of its kind in Australia. Delivered in Auslan, Walter Kadiki and Marnie Kerridge perform a series of poems set to music and haptics.
Regional Touring
In 2026 we continue our touring program to regional centres around the state, beginning in April with Holst’s universally beloved work The Planets, directed by the internationally renowned British conductor Alice Farnham at Warrnambool’s Lighthouse Theatre. Touring is one of our great joys, and we can’t wait to bring the grandeur of Holst’s masterwork to our regional audiences, in this masterful arrangement by British composer and conductor George Morton.
The Australian Ballet 2026
"Orchestra Victoria's artistry is the heartbeat of our performances, and we're thrilled to continue creating unforgettable seasons together in 2026."
Jonathan Lo, Music Director
"Orchestra Victoria's artistry is the heartbeat of our performances, and we're thrilled to continue creating unforgettable seasons together in 2026."
Jonathan Lo, Music Director
Opera Australia 2026
"Orchestra Victoria's passion and precision create real impact in every performance, and I look forward to the inspiring journeys we'll share with audiences throughout the 2026 season."
Andrea Battistoni, Music Director
"Orchestra Victoria's passion and precision create real impact in every performance, and I look forward to the inspiring journeys we'll share with audiences throughout the 2026 season."
Andrea Battistoni, Music Director
Victorian Opera 2026
"It's always a joy to collaborate with the extraordinary musicians of Orchestra Victoria; their openness to collaboration and new ideas makes every project a rich and rewarding experience, and I can't wait for what 2026 holds."
Stuart Maunder AM, Artistic Director
"It's always a joy to collaborate with the extraordinary musicians of Orchestra Victoria; their openness to collaboration and new ideas makes every project a rich and rewarding experience, and I can't wait for what 2026 holds."
Stuart Maunder AM, Artistic Director
Education and Community Program
Each year, we go beyond the concert hall to bring the joy of music to people of all ages, all around Victoria. In 2026, we’ll continue to inspire learning in schools with our Education program, performing specially curated concerts that are directly linked to the Victorian Curriculum. We’ll also be bringing our beloved Musical Storytime series for little ones to libraries, and our OV Connect program will visit aged care facilities throughout the state.
Each year, we go beyond the concert hall to bring the joy of music to people of all ages, all around Victoria. In 2026, we’ll continue to inspire learning in schools with our Education program, performing specially curated concerts that are directly linked to the Victorian Curriculum. We’ll also be bringing our beloved Musical Storytime series for little ones to libraries, and our OV Connect program will visit aged care facilities throughout the state.
Artist Development
Mentoring young musicians is an important part of our work. Our initiatives create opportunities for emerging conductors, musicians and singers to refine their artistry with the guidance of our expert musicians and move to the next phase of their creative life. Through fellowships and collaborative training, we forge pathways for the artists who will be the future of a thriving musical ecosystem in Victoria and beyond.
Mentoring young musicians is an important part of our work. Our initiatives create opportunities for emerging conductors, musicians and singers to refine their artistry with the guidance of our expert musicians and move to the next phase of their creative life. Through fellowships and collaborative training, we forge pathways for the artists who will be the future of a thriving musical ecosystem in Victoria and beyond.
Help us make extraordinary music for years to come
Every performance, partnership, and new project we create is made possible in part by the incredible generosity of our patrons. Their support allows us to program with integrity, collaborate with boldness, and inspire both artists and audiences.
Patron-funded initiatives like the Richard Bonynge Orchestral Fellowship and our new Signature Series and Meet @ the Market are perfect examples of how their generosity drives us forward—pushing boundaries, fostering innovation, and ensuring our continued artistic excellence.
Our Performance Partners
About Orchestra Victoria
Explore our full list of musicians, management and supporters at the links below:
Explore our full list of musicians, management and supporters at the links below:
