Tectonics Festival of new & experimental Music, staged by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
2&3 May 2026 | City Halls & Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow
Highlights
- Ilan Volkov and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra present three world premieres and BBC commissions (Christopher Fox, Nicole Mitchell & Martin Smolka) plus three UK premieres (Laura Bowler, Angélica Castelló & Naomi Pinnock)
- Two pioneering American artists, creative flautist/composer Nicole Mitchell and pianist/electronic musician Craig Taborn, are soloists in a world premiere by Mitchell
- A radical reimagining of sound and instruments, including the world premiere of Christopher Fox’s concerto for Lore Amenabar Larrañaga’s self-designed quartertone accordion
- Powerful solo sets from international and Scottish-based sound artists, including Saint Abdullah, Angélica Castelló, Callie Rose Petal, Danielle Price and Craig Taborn
- The fearless GBSR Duo (recipients of RPS Young Artist Award 2025) performs works by Laura Bowler and Oliver Leith
- French experimental instrument builder Frédéric Le Junter transports his “weird and wonderful musical contraptions” (The Scotsman) to the Recital Room at City Halls
The Tectonics festival of new and experimental music returns to Glasgow City Halls and Old Fruitmarket on 2&3 May 2026, bringing together an international community of genre-busting sound artists.
Staged annually by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, highlights of the weekend will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3’s New Music Show.
Ilan Volkov, Tectonics curator, says: “Music has so many different traditions, heritages, genres and geographies to offer. Each May, Tectonics offers an opportunity to bring these into the orchestral world, offering intensely diverse programmes and ideas. It’s not about rebellion for its own sake, but about imagining how music might sound, behave and be made. Across the 2026 festival, many artists reflect on the beauty and difficulty of being alive: its fragility, tension, hope and resilience… No two Tectonics festivals are ever the same, and that spirit of discovery remains central.”
The majority of performances will be recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 3’s New Music Show(full details to be confirmed).
TICKETS: Booking is now open (from 10am on Tuesday 17 February). There is a limited number of discounted Weekend Passes available until 24 April.
WEBSITE: Further details of the festival and ticketing information can be found at www.bbc.co.uk/tectonics