San Francisco Symphony Upcoming Events & Tickets
Event Details
San Francisco Symphony 2025-26 Season Info
The San Francisco Symphony begins its 2025–26 season under a banner of transition and renewal. With the Music Director Esa‑Pekka Salonen stepping down this summer, the orchestra embarks on an exciting journey through September 4, 2025, to June 28, 2026, led entirely by guest conductors. The season showcases 23 guest conductors, six making their first appearances in the Orchestral Series, ensuring fresh artistic perspectives across 26 weeks of programming.
It kicks off with a celebratory Opening Gala on September 12, conducted by Jaap van Zweden with pianist Yuja Wang. The program features John Adams’s Short Ride in a Fast Machine, Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, and Respighi’s Pines of Rome — a triumphant start to the season. Earlier, the orchestra offers a film experience, Marvel Studios’ Infinity Saga Concert Experience, with live orchestral accompaniment on September 4–6.
Highlights this year include imaginative programming — with themes ranging from Gershwin and Ellington under James Gaffigan featuring Hélène Grimaud, to a powerful opening for Mahler’s First Symphony with Donald Runnicles. The season also embraces contemporary voices, such as the U.S. premiere of Jimmy López’s trombone concerto Shift (composed and performed by principal trombone Timothy Higgins), along with premieres by Tyler Taylor and works by Outi Tarkiainen.
Expanding beyond traditional repertoire, the lineup includes family-friendly and thematic concerts like Danny Elfman’s music from the films of Tim Burton (November 13–14), Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY (March 2026), and immersive film presentations such as Vertigo — Film with Live Orchestra (October 30) and Barbie: The Movie in Concert (November 28–29). Innovative platforms like SoundBox, curated by Gabriella Smith, round out the season with alternative programming.
San Francisco Symphony 2025-26 Tickets Info
Tickets for San Francisco Symphony 2025-26 live performances are available now through EventsChaser, with NO hidden service fees. Prices generally range from $70 to $165 for most classical and film-with-orchestra concerts at Davies Symphony Hall, depending on seat location, day of the week, and the featured program. Premium performances — such as gala concerts, major guest artists, or blockbuster film scores like Vertigo or Barbie in Concert — can reach $200 or more for top-tier seating. For most events, mid-range tickets fall between $80 and $135, offering excellent sightlines and sound within the Orchestra and Loge sections.
About San Francisco Symphony
The San Francisco Symphony is one of America’s leading orchestras, celebrated for its adventurous programming, exceptional musicianship, and commitment to pushing the boundaries of what a symphony orchestra can be. Founded in 1911, it has played a central role in shaping the cultural life of the Bay Area and is widely respected for its balance of tradition and innovation. Its home, Davies Symphony Hall, is a modern concert venue located in the heart of San Francisco’s Civic Center, known for its acoustics and architectural design.
Throughout its history, the Symphony has worked with many of the world’s most renowned conductors and soloists, and has earned international acclaim through recordings, broadcasts, and tours. Under the leadership of past music directors like Michael Tilson Thomas, the orchestra became known for championing American composers, commissioning new works, and embracing multimedia and education-focused initiatives. The orchestra’s legacy also includes its pioneering Keeping Score project, which brought classical music into classrooms and living rooms nationwide through PBS.
Beyond the concert hall, the San Francisco Symphony plays a vital role in music education and community engagement. It offers a wide range of youth concerts, school programs, and family events, as well as genre-blending series like SoundBox, which reimagines what a classical performance can look and feel like. Known for its artistic excellence and open-minded spirit, the San Francisco Symphony continues to lead the way in making orchestral music accessible, relevant, and inspiring for modern audiences.
