The Proms is back for 2023, and has announced its full schedule for the next eight weeks. It will include 15 new commissions and co-commissions, all showcasing the best and brightest of today’s composers.
While the core events are held in London’s Royal Albert Hall, there are also various performances being held across the UK, including Derry’s Guildhall and Sage Gateshead, so there are opportunities for everyone across the UK to get involved.
Here’s a rundown of the BBC Proms 2023 schedule, as well as how to get tickets and tune in at home.
BBC Proms 2023 schedule
This year’s line-up sees the usual blend of modern and classical musicians, all bringing their own unique flair to the programme.
The team behind beloved history-comedy Horrible Histories is bringing ’Orrible Opera to the Proms, described as “an irreverent introduction to opera”. It’ll feature the English National Opera Chorus and Orchestra. Plus, non-classical musicians such as Rufus Wainwright, Self Esteem, and Jon Hopkins are also on the bill.
Of course, there’s also the expected classical composers, such as international ensembles like the Budapest Festival Orchestra, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Tonhalle Orchestra Zürich.
For the first time, the Proms will open and close with a female composer; Dalia Stasevska is conducting the First Night and Marin Alsop will lead the Last Night of the Proms.
BBC Proms 2023 dates
The Proms season will run from Friday, July 14 until Saturday, September 9, with 72 events taking place across the eight weeks.
You can explore the full planner for yourself via the BBC Proms website here.
Everything to know about the BBC Proms 2023 tickets
Season and Weekend passes will go on sale from 9am on May 12. Tickets, including for family proms, will be available via the general sale from 9am on May 13.
Prices start from £9 for half-price tickets for under-18s (plus booking fees), as well as Day Promming standing tickets at £8 (inclusive of booking fees). For a more comprehensive breakdown of prices, see the BBC’s price band table for the different seats positions at the Royal Albert Hall here.
Tickets can be bought three ways:
Online: www.royalalberthall.com
Phone: 020 7589 8212, May 13-21 from 9am to 9pm and thereafter 9am to 5pm.
In person at the Royal Albert Hall: 9am to 9pm
How to get ‘Promming’ tickets
Promming tickets are tickets for around 1,000 standing places in the Arena and Gallery, as well as a few seated places in the Choir or Circle. They’re available at a reduced price (£8, inc fees) and go on sale online on the day of each concert.
People who buy these tickets are called ‘prommers’ and each prommer can buy two tickets per concert. Tickets are sent as e-tickets.
For most of the concerts, tickets will go on sale from 10.30am. The standing tickets are obviously unallocated, so it’s recommended to arrive early to get in the queue and secure the best spots.
Season and Weekend Promming passes go on sale on 9.00am on Friday 12 May. Promming tickets are also available for the Last Night of the Proms, and they will also be available from 10.30am on the day.
Last Night of the Proms tickets
The Last Night of the Proms will take place on September 9, and with an extra-high demand for tickets, there’s a seperate sale for the event with a limit of two tickets per booker.
There are four ways of buying Last Night of the Proms tickets: the Five-Concert ballot, the general sale, purchasing a whole season pass, and day promming.
The Five-Concert ballot: applies to those who have bought tickets to at least five other concerts. You are put into a ballot and can apply for up to two tickets. The ballot closes on June 8.
The general sale: These tickets can be bought online, via telephone or in person, as detailed above.
Whole season pass: A whole season’s pass includes admission to the Last Night. If pass holders would like to go to the Last Night, tickets must be claimed online between midday on September 8, to 10 am on September 9.
Day promming: These tickets can be bought on the day, as described above.
There are also a limited number of Last Night Promming tickets available for people who have Prommed at at least five concerts throughout the season. These tickets (which cost £8 including booking fees) can be bought from the Box Office at Door 12 on: July 18 at 9am, August 21 at 9am, and September 4, 9am.
Enjoying the Proms at home
If you can’t attend in person, every Prom at the Royal Albert Hall will also be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and, for the very first time, most concerts will be available on BBC Sounds to listen back for one year. The BBC will broadcast 24 programmes, with catch-up options on BBC iPlayer.
