The Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival, recognized as the largest Mozart celebration in North America, will return to San Diego for its 38th season from June 17-27, 2026. This annual event brings together concertmasters and principal players from the nation's top orchestras for a summer concert series that has established San Diego as a destination for world-class classical music. The festival's importance lies in its unique assembly of elite musicians who typically perform in separate orchestras, creating a temporary super-orchestra that offers audiences exceptional performances rarely heard elsewhere.
The 2026 festival features six performances under Music Director Michael Francis, with the first five concerts at Baker-Baum Concert Hall in The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center and the finale at UC San Diego's Epstein Family Amphitheater. For the first time in eight years, a single concertmaster will lead the entire series, with David Kim of The Philadelphia Orchestra serving in this role across all six concerts. This continuity in leadership may enhance the orchestra's cohesion and musical interpretation throughout the festival.
Musicians represent prestigious orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Atlanta Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Dallas Symphony, Toronto Symphony, San Francisco Symphony and The Philadelphia Orchestra. The full orchestra roster for 2026 will be released in May. The festival's significance extends beyond performance quality to its economic and cultural impact on San Diego, attracting visitors and enhancing the city's arts reputation.
Soloists for the 2026 festival include acclaimed pianist Anne-Marie McDermott performing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 on June 17, internationally celebrated guitarist Mak Grgić featured in Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez on June 21, Grammy-nominated pianist Anton Nel performing Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 9 on June 23, and Grammy Award-winning violinist James Ehnes appearing in Schumann's Violin Concerto on June 25. Ehnes returns for the closing night on June 27 for Brahms's Double Concerto alongside Robert DeMaine, Principal Cello of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
The programming blends beloved symphonies and concertos with distinctive repertoire, offering audiences both familiar works and unexpected discoveries. The June 17 program includes Mozart's Ballet Music from Idomeneo, Prokofiev's Symphony No. 1, and Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3. Subsequent concerts feature works by Copland, Mendelssohn, Lully, Strauss, Pärt, and Brahms, alongside multiple Mozart compositions. This diverse programming demonstrates the festival's commitment to both honoring Mozart's legacy and exploring broader classical traditions.
Ticket packages and single tickets are available through the organization's website at https://www.mainlymozart.org/allstar. Festival packages include 6-concert, 4-concert, and 2-concert options, with single tickets ranging from $68-$155 at The Conrad and $25-$250 at Epstein Family Amphitheater. The festival's accessibility through varied ticket options allows broader community participation in this cultural event.
In 2025, the festival earned recognition as North America's largest Mozart festival and became one of approximately 30 organizations worldwide welcomed into the International Mozarteum Foundation's "Mozart Communities." This designation underscores the festival's growing international reputation and commitment to Mozart's musical legacy. Beyond performances, Mainly Mozart supports music education through youth programs reaching over 350 young musicians in San Diego County, ensuring the festival's impact extends to future generations.
