Daniel Harding Named LA Phil Music Director

On 26 May 2026 the Los Angeles Philharmonic announced Daniel Harding as music director for the 2027-28 season, with a six-year contract and eight weeks of conducting in year one, expanding to twelve. Gustavo Dudamel will depart in August 2026 to become music and artistic director of the New York Philharmonic while remaining the LA Phil’s artistic and cultural laureate. Harding, born in Oxford in 1975, rose under Sir Simon Rattle and Claudio Abbado, led the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra (2007-2024), the Mahler Chamber Orchestra (2003-2011) and now directs the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia.

Daniel Harding named Music Director of the Los Angeles PhilharmonicThe GuardianDaniel Harding appointed Music Director at LA PhilharmonicBBC NewsLA TimesNew York Times

Harding’s contract allows up to a dozen weeks of concerts per season at Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Hollywood Bowl and the Ford Theater, and oversight of Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA). The 2026-27 pre-season will feature Brahms, Bernstein, Strauss, Thomas Adès and Betsy Jolas. A YOLA tour is planned for 2029; Dudamel will remain laureate with a four-week annual presence.

The Guardian

Harding’s global experience and multilingual background are described as factors that may deepen the LA Phil’s international collaborations while sustaining its education, film-music, Latino and visual-arts outreach. Retaining Dudamel as laureate and Salonen as creative director preserves continuity, allowing Harding to focus on artistic programming and audience development.

New York Times

LA Phil President Kim Noltemy said musicians chose Harding for his focus and insight. Gustavo Dudamel expressed confidence that the orchestra’s brilliance and talent will thrive under Harding. Esa-Pekka Salonen called him a most important conductor, while Jason Subotky praised his conducting genius. Observers question whether a single director can manage the orchestra’s expanding classical, pop, film, Latino and visual-arts programming.

LA Times

Sources differ on Harding’s start date—Guardian cites “fall 2027,” LA Times “2027-28 season,” BBC “2027.” Contract length is six years; inaugural weeks are reported as “eight weeks” or “up to a dozen weeks.” Long-term programming beyond the pre-season is not disclosed.

Newsday

• “Making music with the magnificent LA musicians is a thrill and an inspiration,” — Daniel Harding, Conductor

The Guardian

• “I’m confident that the brilliance, heart and limitless talent of the LA Phil, which has inspired me for so many years, will be in good hands under Daniel’s musical leadership as they build new worlds of sound together.” — Gustavo Dudamel, Outgoing Music Director, Los Angeles Philharmonic

The Guardian

• “Daniel is absolutely one of the most important conductors of our time … My hope is that the beauty, optimism and openness of Los Angeles proves as transformative for him as it has been for me. I look forward to collaborating with him well into the future.” — Esa-Pekka Salonen, Creative Director, Los Angeles Philharmonic

The Guardian

• “Daniel brings an exceptional level of focus and musical insight to his work,” — John Lofton, Bass Trombone, Los Angeles Philharmonic

The Guardian