Summer Concerts featuring the spectacular Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra are set to return to Portsmouth’s Guildhall Square in 2026, following this year’s successful events.
Over 2,500 people attended this year’s epic open-air events which consisted of evenings of exciting film music and the music of ABBA culminating in a fireworks finale above one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, in what were some of the first ticketed events to take place in Guildhall Square.
Returning to Guildhall Square on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 July, the 2026 Summer Concerts are set to be even more magical and an unmissable highlight of the city’s event calendar.
On Friday 17 July, two giants of film music will come head-to-head in The Best of Williams & Zimmer, a symphonic spectacular concert of award-winning soundtracks from some of the most iconic films of all time! John Williams’ music from Star Wars, Jurassic Park, ET, Schindler’s List, Harry Potter and more will be pitched against Hans Zimmer’s tracks from Gladiator, The Da Vinci Code, Interstellar, Last Samurai and Batman Begins to name just a few.
Then on Saturday 18 July, the party returns with a Smash Hits – The 80s celebration of the era of new romantics, big hair and even bigger shoulder pads! Featuring the biggest tracks of the decade by Madonna, Toto, Ultravox, Elton John, Bonnie Tyler, Michael Jackson, David Bowie, A-Ha, George Michael and many more performed by the full orchestra, it is time to dig out the neon and get ready to hit the dance floor!
Pack a picnic, bring a chair and enjoy a night under the stars at the Summer Concerts presented by The Guildhall Trust (the charity which runs Portsmouth Guildhall) in partnership with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
Andy Grays, CEO of The Guildhall Trust said, “After the amazing feedback to this year’s Summer Concerts, we couldn’t not bring them back in 2026! It was fantastic to see Guildhall Square come to life, bringing people together and having a great time. The acoustics of the square are amazing and will provide the perfect amphitheatre for next year’s Williams V. Zimmer film music night and Smash Hits – The 80s! concert”.
CEO of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Dougie Scarfe OBE added, “Seeing Guildhall Square packed with people was the highlight of my summer. We can’t wait to be back next year with two more spectacular concerts; the best of Hollywood hits from the two giants of tinseltown, and a night that is guaranteed to be Portsmouth’s biggest party of the summer!”
Super Early Bird Tickets for just £20 are on sale now for a limited time at: www.portsmouthguildhall.org.uk
Prices will rise from 1st November, so bag a bargain while you can. And with Christmas just around the corner, Summer Concert tickets would make the ideal gift for the music, film and 80s lovers in your life!
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