Press release: BBC Proms in the North East returns in 2026 with its biggest regional programme yet, spanning Gateshead, Sunderland and Middlesbrough

BBC Proms in the North East returns from 23-25 July 2026, marking its fifth year in the region and its biggest programme to date.

• For the first time, the weekend spans three cities, with events across Gateshead, Sunderland and Middlesbrough, reflecting a growing North East‑wide music region.
• Royal Northern Sinfonia sits at the heart of the festival, leading bold cross‑genre Proms performances alongside classical, contemporary, indie, folk, jazz and choral music.
• Programme highlights include North East artists including Northumberland folk pioneers The Unthanks, and South Tyneside-born Nadine Shah, in her BBC Proms debut, alongside Royal Northern Sinfonia, a Sunderland Proms premiere by Mendelssohn, Morton Feldman’s Crippled Symmetry and a large‑scale choral gathering featuring the BBC Singers.
• Accessible ticketing, emerging artist showcases and national BBC Radio 3 broadcasts continue the Proms’ commitment to reaching new audiences locally and sharing the region’s music‑making nationally. 

• Thursday 23 July 2026 – Middlesbrough Town Hall 
  The Unthanks and friends, with Royal Northern Sinfonia 
  Time: 19:30 
  Broadcast: BBC Radio 3 (recorded for future broadcast) 
  Performers: The Unthanks, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Ellie Slorach (conductor) 

   

  Thursday 23 July 2026 – Sage Two, The Glasshouse 
  BBC Introducing Live at The Proms 
  Time: 20:00 
  Broadcast: BBC Radio 3 / BBC Introducing (recorded) 
  Performers: corto.alto, Maddie Ashman, ATFK 
  Presenter: Shakk (BBC Introducing) 

   

  Thursday 23 July 2026 – myplace, Middlesbrough 
  BBC Young Composer Workshops 
  Time: Various sessions 
  Participants: Young composers aged 12–18 
  Led by: BBC Young Composer artists and mentors 

   

  Friday 24 July 2026 – Sage Two, The Glasshouse 
  Crippled Symmetry 
  Time: 19:00 
  Broadcast: BBC Radio 3 (recorded for future broadcast) 
  Works: 
  Morton Feldman Crippled Symmetry 
  Performers: 
  Helena Gourd (flute, bass flute) 
  Jude Carlton (percussion)  
  Dinis Sousa (piano, celesta) 

   

  Friday 24 July 2026 – The Glasshouse Concourse 
  Nadine Shah and Royal Northern Sinfonia 
  Time: 21:00 
  Broadcast: BBC Radio 3 (live) 
  Performers: Nadine Shah, Royal Northern Sinfonia 
  Conductor: Ellie Slorach 

   

  Saturday 25 July 2026 – The Glasshouse Concourse 
  Choirs on the Concourse 
  Time: 16:00–19:00 
  Broadcast: BBC Radio 3 (recorded for future broadcast) 
   
  16:00-17:00 
  BBC Singers and Jess Gillam
  Charles Wood Hail, gladdening light 
  Hildegard von Bingen Alleluia, O virga mediatrix 
  Christian Forshaw My soul, there is a country 
  Shruthi Rajasekar Sat on the shore 
  Iain Farrington Like as the waves 
  Caroline Shaw and the swallow 
  Roderick Williams Never weather-beaten sail (BBC Commission, world premiere) 
  Alec Roth Night Prayer 
  John Tavener Song for Athene  
  Parry Lord let me know mine end
  17:20 – 17:50pm 
  Voices of the River’s Edge
  18.:10 – 18:55 
  BBC Singers and Chorus of RNS 
  Alfred Schnittke Concerto for Choir (sung in English)
  Performers: 
  Jess Gillam saxophone 
  BBC Singers 
  Sofi Jeannin conductor 
  Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia 
  Tim Burke chorus director 
  Voices of the River’s Edge 
  Simon Davies-Fidler choir director 

   

  Saturday 25 July 2026 – The Fire Station, Sunderland 
  Royal Northern Sinfonia: Mozart and Mendelssohn 
  Time: 19:30 
  Broadcast: BBC Radio 3 (live) 
  Works: 
  Grażyna Bacewicz Divertimento 
  Mendelssohn Concerto for Violin, Piano and Strings in D minor (first performance at the Proms) 
  Mozart Symphony No. 39 in E flat major 
   
  Performers: 
  Royal Northern Sinfonia 
  Christian Ihle Hadland piano 
  Maria Włoszczowska director, violin