Brahms’ symphonies to Whitney Houston’s hits: See the KC Symphony’s season
The lineup for the Kansas City Symphony for the 2026-27 season has dropped, and there are some noteworthy shows on the docket.
Like this current season, which runs through June 21, the schedule in 2026-27 will offer a wide selection of productions.
Aside from symphonies by Brahms, Beethoven, Prokofiev and Wagner in the Classical Series, the Film + Live Orchestra Series will present tributes to music legends like Jimmy Buffett and Whitney Houston. For the holidays, you can even catch a performance of The Muppets’ Christmas Carol.
Kansas City Symphony’s 2026-27 season
Where: All performances will take place in Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
Tickets: Subscription packages are on sale and can be found on their ticket page.
Information: kcsymphony.org.
How to see shows for free and cheap
There are a handful of free concerts on the docket in the next few months. Tickets can be reserved on the symphony’s website.
- Happy Hour: Strings, Winds, and Brass in the Kauffman Center Brandmeyer Great Hall Lobby on March 6.
- Inside Music Series: Julian Kaplan on April 11. Tickets will become available March 11.
- Inside Music Series: Stefan Jaciw on April 16. Tickets will become available March 16.
Students, seniors, veterans and large groups are able to obtain a discount to go to a show. Students with proof of enrollment and a student ID can attend the Classical Series with a $50 student passport, or buy a $15 rush ticket the day of the concert by calling 816-471-0400.
Groups of 10 or more (school groups or not) can get discounts when purchasing in advance. Seniors, educators, subscribers, veterans and active duty military can request a $5 discount on regularly priced tickets.
More information found on discount tickets can be found on the symphony’s discount page.
2026/27 Classical Series
- “The Rite of Spring,” Oct. 2-3
- “The Planets,” Oct. 9-11
- “Prokofiev’s Sixth & Barber’s Violen Concerto,” Oct. 30-Nov.1
- “Brahms’ German Requiem,” Nov. 20-22
- “Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony,” Jan. 8-10
- “Dvorak’s Eighth with Mozart,” Jan. 15-17
- “Classical Celebration: Mozart & Haydn,” Jan. 22-24
- “Beethoven & Beyond: Piano Concerto No.4,” Feb. 5-7
- “Emanuelax Plays Mozart,” March 5-7
- “Songs of the Sea,” March 7-9
- “Brahms’ Second Symphony,” April 2-4
- “Wagner’s Valkyrie,” April 9-11
- “Schubert’s Ninth Symphony,” May 14-16
- “Matthias Conducts Mahler: Symphony No. 1,” June 4-6
2026/27 Pops Series
- “Dancing in the Street: Music of Motown,” Oct. 16-18
- “Clouds in My Coffee: The Music of Joni Mitchell, Carole King and Carly Simon,” Feb. 12-14
- “Tropical Rock for Five O’Clock Somewhere: Jimmy Buffet and Friends,” March 12-14
- “The Voice of Whitney: A Symphonic Celebration,” April 16-18
- “Bugs Bunny at the Symphony,” May 21-23
2026/27 Family Series
- “Out of this World,” Sept. 13
- “Buckets N Boards,” Nov. 8
- “Christmas Festival,” Dec. 20
- “Alice in Wonderland,” Feb. 21
2026/27 Special Presentation Concerts
- “On Stage with Augustin Hadlich,” Oct. 1
- “Interstellar Live,” Oct. 23-25
- “Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde,” Oct. 28
- “One Stage with Olga Neuwirth,” Jan. 14
- “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in Concert,” Jan. 28- 31
- “On Stage with Emanuel Ax,” March 4
- “Skyfall in Concert,” March 19-21
- “On Stage with Joyce Didonato,” June 3
2026/27 Holiday Concerts
- “The Muppets Christmas Carol in Concert,” Nov. 27-29
- “Handel’s Messiah,” Dec. 4-6
- “Cody Fry Christmas,” Dec. 11
- “Christmas Festival,” Dec. 17-20
- “The Polar Express in Concert,” Dec. 23-Dec. 24
