Stanford Live Announces 2026-2027 Season
We’re excited to announce our 2026-2027 season, an expansive exploration of America’s evolving story—honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary while spotlighting the next generation of artists. With the guitar serving as a unifying thread throughout, the season features more than 50 artists from around the world spanning music, dance, theater, and multidisciplinary performance.
I’m continually inspired by the way the performing arts bring us together—expanding our perspectives and deepening our sense of empathy, creativity, and connection. This season feels especially meaningful as we highlight artists who are shaping the cultural landscape of today. As we mark America’s 250th anniversary, we also reflect on the many voices that have shaped—and continue to shape—our evolving national narrative, including artists who have come to this country from around the world, became US citizens and made it their creative home.
Creatives of the Future Generation
The season spotlights a bold cohort of the next generation of artists who are redefining the future of live performance. With an emphasis on collaboration and storytelling, these performances provide an exciting glimpse into the next wave of creative visionaries.
Highlights include Jontavious Willis, Pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason in performance with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Stanford student Renée Qin and Ania Filochowska, Njioma Grevious, Jaemin Han, Eric Lu, Lucas and Arthur Jussen, and Sheku Kanneh-Mason and Benjamin Grosvenor.
America 250
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, the 2026–2027 season invites audiences to reflect on the many voices that have shaped—and continue to shape—the nation’s cultural story. Many of the composers and performers featured this season first arrived in America from elsewhere, later becoming U.S. citizens and chose this country as their creative home. Their work carries echoes of the places they came from while also being shaped by the landscapes, communities, and histories they encountered in America.
The season explores the stories behind their works, reveals how their roots inform their voices, and traces how their creative paths have intersected with the evolving rhythms of American life—grounded, but continuously evolving. By highlighting these artists and the stories behind their work, the season celebrates the rich and layered narrative of America.
Highlights include Kronos Quartet with Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat, Rob Kapilow’s What Makes it Great?: The Music of Lerner and Loewe, ArcoStrum, Rihab Chaieb: Nomad–the Eternal Wanderer, Eric Lu, Lucas and Arthur Jussen, and more.
America 250
Six Strings, Infinite Stories
This series shines a spotlight on one of the most iconic instruments in American music. From folk and blues to rock, classical, and jazz, the guitar has shaped the sound of American music—carrying stories, sparking movements, and continuing to inspire new voices. Featured across a range of performances throughout the season, the guitar serves as both instrument and symbol, reflecting the rich musical traditions that have shaped the nation’s cultural landscape. Highlights include Julian Lage Quartet, Los Vega Son Jarocho, Yasmin Williams, Stanley Clarke, Miloš, and Jack West.
Six Strings, Infinite Stories
Philip Glass and Allen Ginsberg
Honoring two towering cultural figures, Let The Poets Speak: A Celebration of Philip Glass and Allen Ginsberg (October 30, 2026) celebrates the timeless interplay between words and music and features performances by longtime Glass interpreter pianist Timo Andres, theater artist Taylor Mac, and members of the San Francisco Girls Chorus.
Direct from the Fringe
Continuing on from its highly successful Edinburgh Festival Fringe series in the 2025–2026 season, Stanford Live brings more Fringe shows to The Studio with two bold, boundary-pushing performances that have captivated audiences at Fringe festivals around the world.
From November 11–14, 2026, singer-songwriter Duane Forrest performs legendary reggae songs in an uplifting performance of Bob Marley: How Reggae Changed the World. Starting March 3–6, 2027, former stand up comedian Sam Kissajukian showcases 300 Paintings, a wildly fascinating and original show that explores mental health, art, and creativity.
Dance and Circus
The 2026–2027 season offers a striking range of dance-driven storytelling featuring The Surge: An Ode to Sinéad O’Connor by Sonya Tayeh (January 30, 2027), a new work featuring a cast of 10 women, with 500 years of collective wisdom who explores the power of experience and connects physically to O’Connor’s legacy; I AM by Camille A. Brown & Dancers (March 17, 2027), an ongoing exploration of Black joy through multiple dance forms of the African diaspora; and Gravity & Other Myths’ Ten Thousand Hours (April 22, 2027), the acclaimed Australian circus company’s investigation into the discipline and dedication required to achieve extraordinary physical feats.
Classical Series
The Classical Series brings together some of the world’s most celebrated orchestras, chamber ensembles, and soloists for a season of extraordinary musical storytelling.
The Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale
The Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale continues the longstanding partnership with Stanford Live. Music director Peter Whelan, fresh off his 2025 BBC Proms success with the Irish Baroque Orchestra, brings performances that showcase historically informed performances of Baroque and Classical repertoire on period instruments, bringing audiences closer to the sound world composers originally imagined.
Performances include:
- Handel’s The Power of Music on Wed, Nov 11, 2026
- Vivaldi and the Oud on Sun, Feb 7, 2027
- The Creation on Sun, Apr 11, 2027
The Drs. Ben and A. Jess Shenson Recital Series
As part of its ongoing commitment to artistic excellence and mentorship, Stanford Live presents two distinguished vocal recitals with accompanying masterclasses at Bing Concert Hall during the 2026–27 season. These rare opportunities invite audiences to witness world-class artists working closely with student singers, offering insight into the interpretive and technical craft of vocal performance.
Performances include:
- Rachel-Willis Sørenson Vocal Recital on Wed, Nov 18, 2026.
- Rihab Chaieb: Nomad–the Eternal Wanderer on Wed, Feb 24, 2027.
The St. Lawrence Legacy Series
The St. Lawrence Legacy Series continues to celebrate the extraordinary artistry and enduring influence of the St. Lawrence String Quartet, Stanford University’s ensemble-in-residence.
The K-12 Student Matinees program
Stanford Live is dedicated to expanding access to the arts within our community, offering opportunities that foster deep engagement, learning, and discovery. The K-12 Student Matinees program on the Stanford campus is open to all Bay Area schools and teachers. Student Matinees for the 2026–2027 season include Kodo (January 21, 2027), International Guitar Night (February 22, 2027), I AM by Camille. A Brown & Dancers (March 18, 2027), and The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain (April 26, 2027). Additional K-12 programs include teacher workshops at Stanford Live’s campus venues, and in-school activities designed to spark creativity and inspire a lifelong connection to the arts.
Student Matinees
Free to the Public Masterclasses
Stanford Live offers masterclasses for Stanford students with artists featured throughout the season, creating rare opportunities for learning and artistic growth. Select masterclasses are free and open to the public. Public masterclasses for the 2026–2027 season include:
Vocal Masterclasses
- Rachel Willis-Sørensen, soprano on Thurs, Nov 19, 2026.
- Rihab Chaieb, mezzo-soprano on Thurs, February 25, 2027
Piano Masterclasses
- Isata Kanneh-Mason on Mon, Nov 9, 2026.
- Gilles Vonsattel Mon, Apr 19, 2027.
- Benjamin Grosvenor on Tues, May 4, 2027.
Cello Masterclass and Cello Choir Workshop
- Sheku Kanneh-Mason on Tues, May 4, 2027
Visit live.stanford.edu for additional sessions added throughout the season.
Free to the Public Guitar Workshops
To round out the season’s celebration of the guitar, Stanford Live will offer free public workshops for community participants. Artists featured throughout the season will share their unique approaches to the instrument, creating special opportunities for local musicians. The workshops are free and open to the public.
Guitar Workshops
- Los Vega Son Jarocho on Sat, Oct 24, 2026.
- Don Ross & Julie Malia on Sat, Jan 16, 2027.
- Jack West on Sun, Apr 4, 2027.
About Stanford Live
Stanford Live presents a wide range of the finest performances from around the world, fostering a vibrant learning community and providing distinctive experiences through the performing arts. With its home at Bing Concert Hall, The Studio, and Frost Amphitheater, Stanford Live draws on the breadth and depth of the university to connect performance to the significant issues, ideas, and discoveries of our time.
Stanford Live includes a wealth of collaborators and partners, including Stanford academic departments and individual faculty members, Stanford students, off-campus arts institutions, and community organizations. Crucially, Stanford Live supports the university’s focus on placing the arts at the heart of a Stanford education.
