Hollywood Bowl 2026 Summer Season Announced: Lineup Highlights, Dates, and Ticket Tips

The Hollywood Bowl just dropped its 2026 summer season lineup, and it is packed with big names, cinematic nights, and a major milestone: this is the final Hollywood Bowl season for LA Phil Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel. (Yes, it feels like the end of an era.)

Below are the biggest takeaways, a quick guide to ticket timing, and a few tips to help you plan your best Bowl summer.

Quick highlights: what stands out in 2026

Dudamel sendoff series with four late August performances, including a huge orchestral rock moment.
Foo Fighters with the LA Phil and YOLA as part of the Dudamel celebration.
St. Vincent with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra (a perfect Bowl fit).
Blue Note Jazz Festival returns early in the season.
Movie and film-music nights featuring Wes Anderson music and Studio Ghibli nights conducted by Joe Hisaishi, plus the annual John Williams tribute.

Ticket timeline you should circle right now

Based on the announced on-sale schedule, here are the key dates Bowl fans should know:

Feb 18, 2026 – New subscriptions available (and some early ticket options like group sales and select events).
Mar 24, 2026 – Create-your-own packages go on sale.
May 5, 2026 – Single-show tickets go on sale (this is the big one).

Tip: Many LA Phil-produced Bowl nights are BYOB-friendly, which is part of what makes these evenings such a classic summer ritual. Always double-check each show’s rules, but it is a real perk of the LA Phil series.

The Dudamel factor: four nights to celebrate an era

The Bowl’s 2026 season is also the 17th and final summer with Dudamel at the center of the programming, and the schedule is built around a four-night late-August celebration.

Time Out highlights the “Celebrating Gustavo at the Bowl” run, including:

Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (Aug 20), with a big collaboration featuring LA Phil, YOLA, and choral partners, plus a new piece by composer Michael Giacchino with lyrics by Amanda Gorman.
Dudamel’s Playlist (Aug 21), described as surprise-filled and built around his favorite artists.
Foo Fighters with the LA Phil and YOLA (Aug 22), a headline-grabbing crossover moment.
A Musical Legacy (Aug 23), billed as a genre-spanning look back at the last 17 years.

Big-name nights you will hear people talking about

Foo Fighters with orchestra

This is the one that is already generating buzz: Foo Fighters joining forces with the LA Phil and YOLA as part of the Dudamel celebration. If you love rock at the Bowl, this feels like an instant “do not miss.” St. Vincent with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra

FLOOD calls out St. Vincent as one of the season’s marquee artists, and the official season page places her in early August with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. Expect something theatrical, ambitious, and tailor-made for the Bowl.

Blue Note Jazz Festival

The Blue Note Jazz Festival returns for two nights in June and brings an all-star mix that includes names like Patti LaBelle, Wyclef Jean, Gregory Porter, Samara Joy, Yussef Dayes, and more.

Film nights and special events: the Bowl does this so well

The Bowl’s summer calendar always shines when it leans into film and big shared experiences. This year includes:

Music from the Films of Wes Anderson with LA Phil-backed evenings (and a tease of an extra-special lineup on the final night).
Studio Ghibli nights with composer Joe Hisaishi conducting. These tend to sell fast.
Maestro of the Movies: A Tribute to John Williams, the annual tradition that is basically a Bowl rite of passage.

My planning tips for a smoother 2026 Bowl summer

If you want the best seats for multiple nights, start with subscriptions. Subscriptions open first and can be the cleanest way to lock in summer plans early.
Use create-your-own packages if you are mixing genres. It is ideal if you want one jazz night, one movie night, and one big pop show.
For single tickets, May 5 is the date to remember. Set an alarm. Truly.
Have a backup plan. If your first-choice night sells quickly, you can often build an incredible summer with a mix of orchestra nights, film nights, and a wildcard show you would not have picked initially.

What I am most excited about

For me, the 2026 season has that perfect Bowl recipe: a major conductor milestone, big crossover headliners, jazz depth, and movie nights that turn the whole venue into a shared soundtrack moment. If you are building your summer list, start with your top 3 must-dos and work outward from there. I am a bit disappointed that the Blue Note Jazz Festival starts at 6pm this year instead of 3pm. Less time to chat.

Want to know more about sitting in a box? Check out our Box Seats page.

Helpful link: For the full official lineup and package details, see the Hollywood Bowl’s 2026 season page.