As 2026 approaches, Guangzhou prepares to welcome the New Year with a rich lineup of concerts across the city. From world-class orchestras to grand musical theatre, audiences will have various ways to celebrate the festive season. Our ticket giveaway event also awaits music lovers—so don't miss the chance to welcome the year with a memorable performance.
ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra New Year's Concert
To mark the 200th anniversary of Johann Strauss Jr.'s birth and the New Year, the acclaimed ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra will present two programmes on December 31 at Guangzhou Opera House. Led by guest conductor Jérémie Rhorer, the orchestra brings its signature sound, balancing Viennese tradition with modern musical expression.
(Photo: Guangzhou Opera House)
The first concert will open with Beethoven's Overture to "Egmont" and Schubert's Symphony No. 7. The mood then shifts to French Romantic color, with highlights from Bizet, Gounod, and Offenbach, before closing on a Viennese high with Strauss's "The Blue Danube."
(Photo: Guangzhou Opera House)
The late-night New Year celebration of the second concert centers on the lively spirit of Vienna. Audiences will enjoy favorites from the Strauss family, including the Overture to "Die Fledermaus," a selection of waltzes and polkas, and the traditional finale—"The Blue Danube" and "Radetzky March." A festive countdown will lead audiences into 2026, complete with the classic "Champagner-Polka."
Time: 19:30 & 22:30, December 31, 2025
Venue: Opera Hall, Guangzhou Opera House (广州大剧院 歌剧厅)
Ticket Prices: 280 / 380 / 580 / 780 / 980 / 1180 / 1380 yuan
Duration: Approximately 90 minutes with a 15-minute intermission
Note: One ticket per person; children under 1.2 meters are not admitted
Scan the QR code to purchase tickets.
Special pop-up event
On December 29, members of the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra will appear at Taikoo Hui Guangzhou for a media meet-and-greet and outdoor waltz flash performance, inviting the public to join a short Viennese dance session.
Time: 15:00, December 29, 2025
Venue: L3 Garden, Taikoo Hui Guangzhou (广州太古汇L3花园)
Elisabeth Das Musical Staged Concert
The acclaimed German musical Elisabeth is set to grace the stage of Guangzhou in a stunning stage-concert format, immersing audiences in the dramatic, legendary life of this iconic figure from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Boasting the original production's opulent aesthetic and exquisite costuming, the show features nearly 30 performers accompanied by a live orchestra, who will deliver 39 beloved musical numbers that reveal the heroine's profound emotional depth and intricate inner world.
(Photo: Guangzhou Opera House)
Time: 19:30, January 7-9, 2026; 14:30 & 22:30, January 10–11, 2026
Venue: Opera Hall, Guangzhou Opera House (广州大剧院 歌剧厅)
Ticket Prices: 180 / 280 / 380 / 480 / 680 / 880 / 1080 yuan
Duration: Approximately 140 minutes with a 20-minute intermission
Language: German performance with Chinese surtitles
Note: One ticket per person; children under 1.2 meters are not admitted
Scan the QR code to purchase tickets.
Ticket Giveaway
To ring in the New Year, we're thrilled to offer free tickets to two unmissable shows: the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra New Year's Concert (19:30, Dec 31, 2025) and Elisabeth Das Musical Staged Concert (19:30, Jan 7, 2026). Don't miss out!
How to participate: Scan the QR code below and complete the registration form to submit your entry before December 29. Eligible winners will be selected at random and notified through the contact information provided.
Lang Lang Piano Recital
World-renowned Chinese pianist Lang Lang will return to Guangzhou with a recital featuring works spanning classical and romantic eras. The programme explores Mozart, Schumann, Debussy, Falla, Albéniz, Granados, and Liszt, taking audiences through Viennese elegance, French impressionism, and Iberian passion.
(Photo: Guangzhou Opera House)
Time: 19:30, December 30, 2025
Venue: Opera Hall, Guangzhou Opera House (广州大剧院 歌剧厅)
Ticket Prices: 580 / 980 / 1380 / 1580 / 1880 yuan
Duration: Approximately 120 minutes with a 15-minute intermission
Note: One ticket per person.
Scan the QR code to purchase tickets
Chinese Orchestral New Year Concert
On December 31, the Guangdong National Orchestra will present its annual New Year concert at Xinghai Concert Hall, conducted by Ye Cong and joined by stars including Cantonese Opera artist Zeng Xiaomin, flute and xiao soloist Tang Junqiao, and violinist Huang Mengla. The programme blends Chinese traditional elements with modern orchestral expression to welcome the New Year.
(Photo: Xinghai Concert Hall)
Time: 20:00, December 31, 2025
Venue: Symphony Hall, Xinghai Concert Hall (星海音乐厅 交响乐演奏大厅)
Ticket Prices: 280 / 480 / 680 / 880 / 1080 / 1280 yuan
Duration: About 120 minutes, including a 20-minute intermission
Note: One ticket per person; children must be above 1.2 meters or at least 6 years old
Scan the QR code to purchase tickets.
Hanover Symphony Orchestra 2026 New Year Concert
The New Year's Concert at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is a cherished cultural tradition for Guangzhou residents. This year, the venue will welcome 2026 with the Hanover Symphony Orchestra.
(Photo: Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall)
Under the baton of conductor Peter Kuhn, the concert will feature violinist Thomas Gerlinger, soprano Sonja Gebert, and tenor Matthias Kleiner. The programme includes classical masterpieces such as "The Blue Danube" and "Die Fledermaus", alongside well-loved Chinese works including "The Butterfly Lovers", "The Red Detachment of Women", and "I Love You, China". At midnight, a countdown with the audience will mark the arrival of the new year.
(Photo: Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall)
Time: 22:30, December 31, 2025
Venue: Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (中山纪念堂)
Ticket Prices: 280 / 480 / 680 / 880 / VIP 1280 yuan
Note: Children under 1.2 meters are not admitted; children above 1.2 meters require full tickets
Author | Huang Xinying
Poster | Lai Meiya
Coordination | Wang Junxiang
Editor | Wei Shen, James Campion, Shen He
