Philharmonia Orchestra goes global and announces return to Mauritius in 2026

The Philharmonia Orchestra has today announced the return of the Philharmonia Festival in Mauritius in 2026 as part of the Orchestra’s 80th anniversary plans to take their music to new audiences. Following their historic debut performances in 2024, next February will see them present eight concerts, including a concert for sponsors and a schools concert, as part of their global touring programme for the Orchestra’s 80th birthday season.

As part of the Festival, the Philharmonia will perform Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 – one of the most iconic pieces of orchestral music, and one that has never been performed live in Mauritius. Concerts will also feature movements from popular concertos by composers including Haydn, Mozart and Tchaikovsky.

The Philharmonia Festival in Mauritius 2026 will consist of five performances at the Caudan Arts Centre in Port Louis, the landmark arts venue in Mauritius. There will be three public performances including a Gala Concert, a specially-crafted Schools Concert for young children in Mauritius, and a private concert for sponsors of the Festival. 

The Philharmonia will then perform three concerts at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute (MGI). Here they will collaborate with Mauritian musicians Arvind C. Bhujun on sitar and Neriyen Veerlapin on tabla, plus the Island Voices Choir and Choir of the Conservatoire National de Musique François-Mitterrand; the same musicians and choirs the Philharmonia worked with in 2024, displaying the Orchestra’s commitment to developing close relationships in their international communities. 

At the helm is French conductor Alexandre Bloch, who has been internationally in-demand since winning first prize at the prestigious Donatella Flick Conducting Competition in 2012. 

Alongside the classical programme the 2026 Festival will offer its groundbreaking ‘Virtual Orchestra’ virtual reality (VR) experience, masterclasses with Philharmonia musicians, a specially crafted schools concert and workshops with local music groups.

The 2026 Philharmonia Festival in Mauritius expands on the first Festival in February 2024, when the Philharmonia Orchestra became the first international symphony orchestra to visit the island. Audiences can expect double the number of concerts, double the number of musicians, and double the pieces of music.

This return and expansion has been made possible by a leading donation from the Laurence Modiano Charitable Trust and the Principal Partnership of Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) who, with a consortium of leading Mauritian companies, philanthropists and public sector bodies, have come together to demonstrate their essential support of Mauritius’s place as a world-class cultural destination: boosting tourism, reinforcing arts infrastructure, spotlighting Mauritian talent, and delivering hands-on education.

Thorben Dittes, Philharmonia Orchestra CEO said: “We are delighted to return to Mauritius in February with a larger orchestra for this next Philharmonia Festival in Mauritius, bringing the unique sound of Beethoven’s iconic Symphony No. 5 to the island. Our first visit in 2024 paved the way for this ongoing relationship through musical friendships and local sponsorship and support. Our musicians are thrilled to be making the trip and to engage directly again with the local community and audiences not just through concerts, but also through our education work, which sees an additional week of activity across the island. Following the initial success in 2024, with queues around the block, we also bring back our Digital Virtual Reality (VR) experience, which enables anyone to feel the power of the music from a seat right at the heart of the orchestra as they perform symphonic masterworks, for free.  I look forward to re-connecting with our friends from the last time, and to meet many new music lovers in Mauritius in 2026.”

The first Philharmonia Festival in Mauritius took place in February 2024, with a small ensemble of Philharmonia musicians, internationally-acclaimed cellist Steven Isserlis, and young violin virtuoso Irène Duval. The Philharmonia also performed with Mauritius-based musicians Arvind C. Bhujan and Neriyen Veerlapin.