The Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra (ARCO) has announced its 2026 concert season, promising a bold and joyous year of historically informed performance that traverses intimate chamber music, daring full-orchestra works, landmark recordings and vibrant education programs.

The Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra © Wallis Media

Under the vision BOLD | VISIONARY | JOYFUL, ARCO’s 2026 program opens with First Light, an evocative chamber music tour presented in association with Musica Viva Australia. Five of Australia’s talented period-instrument performers draw from Mozart’s lyrical lines and Schubert’s sparkling quartet to Brisbane composer Nicole Murphy’s ocean-inspired colours and Haydn’s effervescent Sunrise Quartet (5–8 March in Armidale, Port Macquarie, Tamworth and Dungog).

Later in the year, ARCO presents Love, Loss & Madness – a dramatic journey through bel canto tales of the heart. Grounded in new research by Neal Peres Da Costa, this program showcases some of Australia’s most brilliant vocal soloists supported by the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra’s full period-instrument orchestra....