Gustavo Dudamel to leave LA Philharmonic to become artistic director of New York Philharmonic
Gustavo Dudamel, longtime music and artistic director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, is heading east: He is leaving LA to take the baton of the New York Philharmonic when his current contract expires in 2026.
New York Philharmonic officials announced today: Dudamel will be the orchestra’s next music director, beginning in the 2026-27 season, and will hold the title of music and artistic director of the New York Philharmonic for a five-year term. Prior to that term, he will serve as music director-designate through the 2025-26 season.
“We are thrilled to welcome Gustavo Dudamel as the next Music and Artistic Director of the New York Philharmonic,” NY Phil Board Co-Chairmen Peter May and Oscar Tang said in a joint statement. “Building on the great legacy of this orchestra, he joins a historic list of distinguished music directors. On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are delighted that Gustavo Dudamel has said yes to leading our artistic future.”
Dudamel has been music and artistic director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since 2009.
Dudamel said in a statement that he was “grateful” to both organizations. “I look with joy and excitement to the world that lies ahead of me in New York City, and with pride and love the world I have shared — and will continue to share — with my beloved Angelenos over the next three seasons and beyond,” he said in a statement. “We are all united in our belief that culture creates a better world and in our dream that music is a fundamental right. I look forward to the work ahead.”
In addition to his tenure at LA, Dudamel has been Music Director of the Opéra National de Paris since 2021 and Music Director of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela since 1999.
Dudamel made his New York Philharmonic debut in November 2007, conducting works by Dvorak and Prokofiev as well as the orchestra’s first performance of Chávez’s Sinfonia India (Symphony No. 2) led by Leonard Bernstein in 1961.
“With Gustavo Dudamel, I believe the Philharmonic will enter one of the most exciting chapters in its history,” said Gary Ginstling, executive director and incoming president and CEO.
