La Jolla Music Society Announces Record-Setting 2026-27 Season Amid Post-Pandemic Recovery
La Jolla Music Society (LJMS) has announced its 2026‑27 season, a slate of 77 performances that will take place in the $82 million Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center. The season is the most ambitious in the society’s 59‑year history and features a star‑studded lineup that includes violinists Itzhak Perlman and Hilary Hahn, pianists Yuja Wang and Emanuel Ax, the Kronos Quartet, Broadway legend Audra McDonald, the Japanese taiko ensemble KODO, and the Wynton Marsalis‑led Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.
The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center opened in April 2019 and replaced the society’s former home at the Sherwood Auditorium. The 49,000‑square‑foot complex houses the 513‑seat Baker‑Baum Concert Hall and the 144‑seat JAI cabaret theater, as well as a courtyard that hosts free outdoor performances. The venue was built entirely with private donations and cost $82 million.
The society’s growth has been interrupted by the COVID‑19 pandemic, which shut down live events 11 months after the Conrad opened. According to reports, the organization needed three years to return to its pre‑quarantine attendance levels. “Coming out of the pandemic, it took us three years to get back to our pre‑quarantine (attendance) numbers,” said President and CEO Todd Schultz. Artistic Director Leah Rosenthal added, “This is one of the strongest lineups of nationally and internationally acclaimed artists we’ve ever assembled. At the same time, we are showcasing a lot of younger artists who are new to our series.”
The 2026‑27 season expands the society’s reach across genres. In addition to the classical core, the program includes a three‑concert series for kids, a four‑part speaker series featuring conservation biologist Jodi Rowley and wildlife photographer Steve Winter, and a four‑part dance series that will debut Italy’s NoGravity Theatre in San Diego. The season also highlights the Naghash Ensemble, a vocal‑instrumental group that will perform on November 22, and the KODO taiko ensemble, which will appear on February 5.
A key element of the season is the jazz program. The society has increased its jazz offerings from three concerts per year to a full‑calendar schedule that includes a four‑day jazz mini‑festival in May, a February 26 concert by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and a series of performances by pianists Jason Moran, Fred Hersch, Hiromi, and others. The mini‑festival will feature tributes to Duke Ellington and James Reese Europe, as well as a performance by the all‑woman band Artemis.
LJMS is also presenting a new five‑year plan for the Conrad, to be reviewed by the board on June 30. The plan builds on a 2020 strategy that was developed during the pandemic. “We are keeping an eye on the economy,” said Schultz. “That was an important consideration as we put the budget together for our new season, to make sure we weren’t overextending ourselves at a time when challenging economic issues may be on the horizon.”
The society’s expansion has been measured. The Conrad now hosts 15–16 events per month, a jump from the 20–25 concerts that were possible at the Sherwood Auditorium. “We have a lot more options and flexibility,” said Rosenthal. “If someone is really sensational, like Angélique Kidjo, we can bring them back the next year.”
Tickets for the 2026‑27 season will go on sale July 8, with subscription packages available from June 14. Prices range from $150 for a speaker‑series subscription to $581 for a piano‑series subscription. Single‑ticket prices start at $30 for a general‑public event and rise to $200 for a headline performance.
The season’s announcement comes as LJMS continues to rebuild after the pandemic, demonstrating that a well‑planned, diversified program can restore audience numbers and expand a nonprofit’s cultural footprint.
