The Mobile Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2026-27 season, a seven-concert lineup featuring internationally acclaimed pianist Emanuel Ax in his first appearance in Mobile and a program that spans classical masterworks, holiday favorites and music from the Star Wars films.

Six-concert season subscriptions are now on sale, with the orchestra’s annual holiday concert available as an add-on purchase.

“In a monumental event for our city, we welcome the legendary pianist Emanuel Ax, Musical America’s 2026 Artist of the Year, for his first-ever Mobile appearance,” MSO Music Director Scott Speck said.

Ax, one of America’s most celebrated classical pianists, will perform Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 on April 10 and 11. Speck noted that Ax remains highly active on the international stage and last year premiered a piano concerto written for him by composer John Williams.

“Our 2026-2027 season is a journey of staggering scope. We scale the heights of the symphonic canon, from the iconic “Fate” motive of Beethoven’s Fifth and the soulful Russian melodies of Tchaikovsky’s Second to the sun-drenched joy of Mendelssohn’s “Italian” and the pop-art effervescence of Kenji Bunch’s Lichtenstein Triptych,” Speck explains.

The season opens Oct. 10 and 11 with Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition."

The orchestra’s annual casual concert, "Beethoven and Blue Jeans," follows Nov. 7 and 8, featuring Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 and Piano Concerto No. 5, "Emperor," with pianist Stewart Goodyear.

Cellist Benett Tsai will take center stage Jan. 16 and 17 in a program featuring Saint-Saëns' Cello Concerto and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 2.

On Feb. 20 and 21, violinist Chee Yun will perform Vivaldi’s "Four Seasons" alongside Piazzolla’s "Four Seasons of Buenos Aires."

Ax will headline the April 10 and 11 concerts before the season concludes May 1 and 2 with "The Music of Star Wars," a collection of John Williams’ most popular music from the blockbuster film franchise.

The orchestra’s annual holiday concert is scheduled for Dec. 12 and 13. Guest conductor and jazz trumpeter Byron Stripling will lead a festive program featuring selections ranging from "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" to "Joy to the World."

All concerts in the series will be performed twice at Mobile’s historic Saenger Theatre, with Saturday performances at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday performances at 2:30 p.m.

Six-concert season subscriptions range from $132 to $462 and are available online at www.mobilesymphony.org, by phone at (251) 432-2010 or at the MSO Box Office, 257 Dauphin St.

Individual tickets, including tickets for the holiday concert, will go on sale Aug. 10 and range from $25 to $102. Student tickets for regular concerts are $10.

Through the MSO Big Red Ticket program, sponsored by the Alabama Power Foundation, students in grades K-12 may attend any of the season’s six classical Sunday performances free when accompanied by a paying adult. More information is available at www.mobilesymphony.org.

All concerts in the season have been made possible through grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.