From a star-studded celebration at Walt Disney Concert Hall to a season of world premieres, visionary leadership, and artistic innovation, we're taking you inside one of Los Angeles's biggest cultural celebrations.

Los Angeles knows how to make an entrance, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic's opening night gala was no exception! On October 1, 2026, artists, cultural leaders, philanthropists, and special guests gathered at Walt Disney Concert Hall to celebrate the LA Phil's 2026–27 season, honoring the orchestra's legacy while looking toward an exciting future.

At Red Curtain Addict, we're always looking for ways to bring you closer to the arts, from discovering something new in your own city to uncovering incredible cultural experiences when you travel. That's why we headed to Los Angeles to cover the red carpet, bringing you conversations with the artists, leaders, and familiar faces helping shape the LA Phil's next chapter.

A Star-Studded Evening Celebrating Music and Creativity

The evening brought together extraordinary musical talent, led by conductor Teddy Abrams and featuring internationally acclaimed pianist Yuja Wang and LA Phil Principal Clarinetist Boris Allakhverdyan. The program celebrated Hollywood and American music, with works by Leonard Bernstein, Bernard Herrmann, Jerry Goldsmith, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Samuel Barber. Meanwhile, the red carpet welcomed personalities from across Los Angeles's creative community.

Among our conversations was Abby Lee Miller, best known for Dance Moms, who shared how instrumental music inspires her choreography. "I use a lot of instrumental stuff when I'm choreographing, so I might find something," she told us. We also asked about rumors of a Dance Moms musical, which Miller confirmed she's developing, including plans for an extensive search for young performers. "I want to do a whole four-episode search for the kids to play the kids," she shared, adding enthusiastically, "Let's just find a theater ... and let's go." Could Dance Moms be heading to the stage? We'll certainly be watching!

Yuja Wang Takes Center Stage

One of the evening's highlights was a performance by Yuja Wang, whose extraordinary virtuosity has made her one of today's most celebrated pianists. Wang performed two rarely heard piano concertos: Samuel Barber's notoriously demanding Piano Concerto and a jazz-influenced concerto by Soviet composer Alexander Tsfasman, showcasing her remarkable versatility.

We caught up with Teddy Abrams, who shared a particularly personal connection to the evening's featured soloist. "I would do anything for the L.A. Phil, and I would do anything for Yuja, who's a very dear friend of mine," he told us. "We go way back to school. We went to the Curtis Institute together. I've known her since we were both 18 years old."

Abrams also praised Wang's interpretation of Barber's concerto, which she has made a signature part of her repertoire. "He wrote a phenomenal piano concerto that's really devilishly difficult," Abrams explained. "She plays it as well as anybody has ever played this piece. So it's very special to hear it."

A New Chapter for the Los Angeles Philharmonic

The LA Phil's 2026–27 season features an extraordinary 16 world premieres, 23 commissioned works, and three U.S. premieres, alongside the return of Esa-Pekka Salonen as the orchestra's first-ever Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen Creative Director. Meanwhile, incoming Music Director Daniel Harding, who officially begins his tenure in 2027–28, will make appearances throughout the season, giving audiences an early glimpse of his artistic vision.

With an ambitious lineup of world premieres, celebrated artists, exciting new leadership, and a continued commitment to artistic innovation, the Los Angeles Philharmonic is giving audiences plenty to look forward to. From internationally acclaimed performers to Hollywood favorites and groundbreaking new works, we've rounded up a few highlights we're especially excited about:

• A new era of artistic leadership: Experience Daniel Harding conducting November 6–8, Esa-Pekka Salonen's Rituals festival, and the return of Gustavo Dudamel to Walt Disney Concert Hall.

• Legendary artists take the stage: Look forward to Hilary Hahn, Lang Lang, Herbie Hancock, Kamasi Washington, and other extraordinary performers.

• Hollywood meets the concert hall: Enjoy Home Alone in Concert (November 27–28) and Elf in Concert (November 28–29), featuring beloved films accompanied by live orchestral music.

• A celebration of the classics: Discover the Simply Beethoven festival alongside special celebrations honoring composers Philip Glass and Steve Reich at 90.

From Walt Disney Concert Hall to the Hollywood Bowl and The Ford, the LA Phil brings music to audiences through an incredible variety of venues and experiences. We spoke with Teddy Abrams about the orchestra's adventurous programming and its unique relationship with Los Angeles.

"This orchestra does some of the most interesting creative programming on the planet," he shared. "It's just an astonishing amount of music, and the community is hungry for it." Abrams also emphasized the enthusiasm of LA Phil audiences: "The community, the audience, they want what the L.A. Phil has, and they love them. It's a very special relationship and dynamic."

Investing in the Next Generation of Musicians

Beyond the performances, the gala supported an equally important mission: the future of music education. The evening raised more than $3 million for the LA Phil and its Learning and Community initiatives, including Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA), which provides young people across the city with opportunities to discover their potential through music.

We spoke with LA Phil Board Chair Jason Subotky, who shared the program's remarkable reach. "There are nearly 2,000 students with a very intensive program all around Los Angeles, and these YOLA students have these incredible outcomes, whether they're in music or going to university," he told us. YOLA musicians have performed at the Super Bowl, Hollywood Bowl, and Walt Disney Concert Hall, while the program's headquarters, the Beckmen YOLA Center in Inglewood, was designed by Frank Gehry.

"The better we do with fundraising, the more we can expand that," Subotky explained. "And so we're really excited by the results of tonight's gala." It's a meaningful reminder that the evening's impact extends far beyond the stage, helping create opportunities for the next generation.

Honoring Frank Gehry and Illuminating Walt Disney Concert Hall

Another highlight of the evening was a celebration of Frank Gehry, the visionary architect behind Walt Disney Concert Hall. As Los Angeles prepares for the 2028 Olympic Games and the building's 25th anniversary that same year, the LA Phil unveiled a new exterior lighting design that transforms how audiences experience Gehry's iconic architecture after dark.

We caught up with Kim Noltemy, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, who shared how the idea originated. "All of a sudden, we had these incredible donors come to us and say, 'What are we doing for the 25th anniversary? And what about the Olympics? And shouldn't we figure out a way to elevate what is already an incredible experience?'"

That vision came to life on opening night as the building's stainless-steel facade was illuminated in a new way. "Tonight we're showcasing the exterior lights for the first time," Noltemy told us. "The hall will be lit at night, so it'll be the most photographed building day and night after this."

But what makes Walt Disney Concert Hall so remarkable goes far beyond its exterior. From the intimacy of the performance space to its extraordinary acoustics, every detail was designed to bring the orchestra and audience closer together. With its new nighttime illumination, this architectural landmark offers another compelling reason to explore Los Angeles's vibrant cultural scene.

With so much happening both on and off the stage, there's never been a better time to experience the Los Angeles Philharmonic. We hope our conversations from opening night give you a glimpse into the people, creativity, and passion behind this remarkable institution and inspire you to discover something new the next time you're in Los Angeles.

Watch our exclusive red carpet interviews above, and explore LA Phil's upcoming performances at laphil.com.

We look forward to seeing you in the audience!