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From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2026

Premiere: 1/1/2026
PBS   •   PBS App

The famed Vienna Philharmonic rings in the New Year with its annual concert from Vienna's Musikverein conducted for the first time by Yannick Nézet-Séguin with performances by the Vienna State Ballet and location segments hosted by Hugh Bonneville.

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Premieres January 1 at 9/8c on PBS, streaming January 2 on pbs.org and the PBS App.

Celebrate the arrival of 2026 with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in this beloved annual concert. “Downton Abbey” and “Paddington” star Hugh Bonneville returns as host, visiting scenic locations throughout Vienna that relate to the orchestra’s concert program. Featuring performances by the Vienna State Ballet, Great Performances – From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2026 premieres Thursday, January 1 at 8/7c on PBS and streams January 2 on pbs.org and the PBS App. The program will also encore at 9:30 p.m. ET.

 

Musical Selections:

  • Franz von Suppè – Overture to “The Beautiful Galatea”
  • Josephine Weinlich – “Siren Songs” Polka
  • Josef Strauss – “Woman’s Dignity” Waltz
  • Johann Strauss II – Diplomats’ Polka
  • Florence Price – Rainbow Waltz
  • Hans Christian Lumbye – Copenhagen Stream Railway Galop
  • Johann Strauss II – “Roses from the South” Waltz
  • Johann Strauss II – Egyptian March
  • Josef Strauss – “Palms of Peace” Waltz
  • Philipp Fahrbach – “Circus” Quick Polka
  • Johann Strauss II – “The Beautiful Blue Danube” Waltz
  • Johann Strauss Sr. – Radetzky March

Locations:

From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2026 will feature various locations including The MAK Museum Vienna (Museum of Applied Arts), the House of Music, the Imperial Treasury, and the Hofburg Palace.

Notable Talent:

  • Hugh Bonneville – host, actor, “Masterpiece: Downton Abbey,” “Downton Abbey” and “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale”
  • Yannick Nézet-Séguin – Five-time Grammy Award winner and Music Director of the Metropolitan Opera

Noteworthy Facts:

  • This is Yannick Nézet-Séguin’s first time conducting the New Year’s Day concert following his time leading the orchestra for the 2023 Summer Night Concert
  • This is Hugh Bonneville’s ninth consecutive year acting as host for the New Year’s Concert.
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SERIES OVERVIEW

For more than 50 years on PBS, Great Performances has provided an unparalleled showcase of the best in all genres of the performing arts, serving as America’s most prestigious and enduring broadcaster of cultural programming. Showcasing a diverse range of artists from around the world, the series has earned 67 Emmy Awards and six Peabody Awards. The Great Performances website hosts exclusive videos, interviews, photos, full episodes and more. The series is produced by The WNET Group. Great Performances is available for streaming concurrent with broadcast on PBS.org and the PBS App.

PRODUCTION CREDITS

From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2026 is a production of Wiener Philharmoniker and ORF in association with The WNET Group. Great Performances is produced by The WNET Group. For Great Performances, John Walker is writer and producer, Bill Kabel is producer, Bill O’Donnell is series producer and David Horn is executive producer.

FUNDING

Corporate support for From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2026 is provided by Rolex. Series funding for Great Performances is provided by The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation, the Thea Petschek Iervolino Foundation, Jody and John Arnhold, the S. Irving and Anne Nevard Sherr Foundation, the Kate W. Cassidy Foundation, The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, The Starr Foundation, Madeline and Stephen Anbinder, Leni and Peter May, and Ellen and James S. Marcus.  Additional funding is provided by George and Michael Eberstadt.