Boston Landmarks Orchestra (BLO), under the direction of Music Director Christopher Wilkins, announces its 25th anniversary season of free summer concerts, bringing live orchestral music to some of the city’s most beloved outdoor and neighborhood spaces from June 20 to August 12, 2026. The concerts and events celebrate community and the joy of music-making with a lineup of performances at the DCR Hatch Memorial Shell on the Esplanade and throughout Boston’s neighborhoods.
Highlights include the Orchestra’s fourth annual Juneteenth Celebration on June 20, featuring a collaboration with young musicians from the Sphinx Performance Academy and music by Florence Price, Jessie Montgomery, Michael Abels, and Tchaikovsky; “Best of Boston” opens the Hatch Shell series on July 22, celebrating the city’s musical spirit with gospel and orchestral favorites in partnership with Everyone250, Embrace Boston, and Reverence Gospel Ensemble of Berklee College of Music; performances of Max Richter’s reimagining of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons paired with Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 from July 29-August 1; Verdi’s monumental Requiem on August 5 in partnership with Cantata Singers and our own One City Choir; and the 25th Anniversary Concert on August 12 featuring Saint-Saëns’ “Organ Symphony” and Respighi’s Fountains of Rome.
New this year, Boston Landmarks Orchestra has launched the Music Circle, a year-round community for people who love great music and believe it should be free and accessible to everyone. It’s a welcoming way to stay connected beyond the concerts through behind-the-scenes stories, learning opportunities, and special experiences with the musicians.
Everyone is welcome at Landmarks Orchestra concerts. On the Esplanade, audiences are encouraged to bring a picnic–and even dogs are invited. Join us to celebrate another summer of music-making under the stars!
Music Director Christopher Wilkins says, “For 25 years, Boston Landmarks Orchestra has brought people together through the shared experience of live music. Whether someone is hearing a symphony orchestra for the first time or returning year after year with family and friends, these concerts create a sense of joy, connection, and belonging that feel uniquely Boston. This 25th anniversary season celebrates both extraordinary music and the community that has made this orchestra possible.”
Board Chair Emmett G. Price III adds, “Boston Landmarks Orchestra reflects the very best of what public arts can achieve: excellence, accessibility, and community. As we celebrate 25 years of free concerts, we also celebrate the audiences, partners, musicians, and supporters who believe that great music should be available to everyone. This season honors our history while looking ahead to an even more vibrant future.”
A full concert schedule, program notes, and accessibility details may be found at landmarksorchestra.org.