2026–27 Season Announcement Press Kit

Caption: Cal Performances presents the West Coast premiere of William Kentridge’s The Head & the Load, an epic theater work that explores the stories of African soldiers in World War I, in the Arena at the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts in Oakland November 12–15, 2026.

Caption: Cal Performances Ensemble in Residence for the 2026–27 season, Attacca Quartet honors composers Caroline Shaw and John Adams in their performances on January 31 and February 28 respectively at Hertz Hall.

Caption: The Australian Ballet opens Cal Performances season with the North American premiere of Oscar, Christopher Wheeldon’s production inspired by the life and work of Oscar Wilde September 25–26 at Zellerbach Hall.

Caption: Pianist Yuja Wang joins the Vienna Philharmonic and conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin for a performance of Prokofiev’s Concerto in C major during the orchestra’s three night residency at Cal Performances, March 2–4, 2027.

Caption: Wynton Marsalis leads the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra in his final tour as the ensemble’s managing and artistic director, February 19, 2027

Caption: Niladri Kumaar, protege of tabla master Zakir Hussain, performs on acoustic sitar and the electric five-string zitar with an ensemble of Indian and North American musicians on April 17, 2027.

Caption: Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts the Vienna Philharmonic with Christiane Karg, soprano, Elīna Garanča, mezzo-soprano, Yuja Wang, piano, March 2–4, 2027 at Zellerbach Hall
Pictured: Yannick Nézet-Séguin

Caption: Cal Performances presents an evening with Audra McDonald, March 20, 2027 at Zellerbach Hall

Caption: Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández draws on Mexico’s regional traditions in performances celebrating the company’s 75th anniversary, February 13–14, 2027.

Caption: Jordi Savall directs an all-Beethoven concert of the composer’s third and fifth symphonies on period instruments April 23, 2027.

Caption: World-renowned soprano Lise Davidsen performs a recital with pianist James Baillieu on November 19 in Zellerbach Hall.

Caption: The dancers of MOMIX combine acrobatics, costumes and giant puppetry in their performances of Botanica May 7-9, 2027 at Zellerbach Hall.