The Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival, recognized as North America's largest Mozart celebration, will return to San Diego for its 38th season from June 17 to June 27, 2026. The festival assembles concertmasters and principal players from leading orchestras across the United States and Canada, including the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, and The Philadelphia Orchestra, among others. Music Director Michael Francis will lead six performances, with the first five concerts held at Baker-Baum Concert Hall within The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center and the finale at UC San Diego's Epstein Family Amphitheater.
A significant development for the 2026 season is the appointment of a single concertmaster for the entire festival series, a practice not seen in eight years. David Kim of The Philadelphia Orchestra will assume this role across all six concerts, providing consistent artistic leadership. The festival's programming blends beloved symphonic works with distinctive selections, aiming to offer audiences both familiar masterpieces and unexpected musical discoveries.
The 2026 festival will feature an array of internationally celebrated soloists. Pianist Anne-Marie McDermott will perform Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 on the opening night, June 17. Guitarist Mak Grgić, noted for his technical precision and role in expanding the classical guitar repertoire, will present Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez on June 21. On June 23, Grammy-nominated pianist Anton Nel will interpret Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 9, "Jenamy." Violinist James Ehnes, a Grammy Award-winning artist, will perform Schumann's Violin Concerto on June 25 and return for the closing night to join cellist Robert DeMaine, Principal Cello of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, in Brahms's Double Concerto.
The repertoire spans from Mozart's works, such as the "Jupiter" Symphony and contredanses, to pieces by Beethoven, including the "Eroica" and Fifth Symphonies, alongside compositions by Prokofiev, Copland, Mendelssohn, and Pärt. This diverse programming underscores the festival's commitment to presenting a broad classical spectrum while honoring its Mozart-centric foundation.
Ticket packages for the festival, including 6-concert, 4-concert, and 2-concert options, became available for purchase starting February 15, 2026, through https://www.mainlymozart.org/allstar. Single tickets for concerts at The Conrad range from $68 to $155, while tickets for the amphitheater finale range from $25 to $250. The full roster of orchestra musicians will be released in May 2026.
Mainly Mozart's festival not only enhances San Diego's cultural landscape but also reinforces its status within the global classical music community. In 2025, the organization was welcomed into the International Mozarteum Foundation's "Mozart Communities," a distinction shared by only about 30 organizations worldwide and two in the United States. This recognition highlights the festival's artistic significance and its role in promoting Mozart's legacy. Beyond the festival, Mainly Mozart supports music education through initiatives like the Mainly Mozart Youth Orchestra, impacting over 350 young musicians in San Diego County.
The 2026 All-Star Orchestra Festival represents a convergence of elite musical talent, ambitious programming, and community engagement, offering audiences an opportunity to experience world-class performances in distinctive venues. Its blend of orchestral excellence and soloist virtuosity promises to deliver memorable musical experiences while contributing to the cultural vitality of the region and the broader appreciation of classical music.
