Nashville Symphony To Suspend Remainder Of ’26-27 Season Due To Financial Crisis

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Nashville Symphony

The Nashville Symphony has suspended the remainder of its 2026–27 season and will furlough dozens of employees due to financial woes effective Oct. 18.

The Board of Directors approved the decision as the first step in a plan to put the Symphony on sound financial footing as it faces a current fiscal year operating budget with a $10 million deficit. The move affects 27 full-time staff members and all 77 members of the Nashville Symphony orchestra.

Music Director Leonard Slatkin will lead his final concerts of this season on Oct. 16–17, and several events at Schermerhorn Symphony Center will go on as planned, including the Symphony Ball (Dec. 12), the Symphony Fashion Show (April 27), The Legendary Life of Tom Petty (Oct. 18), No Small Endeavor LIVE (Nov. 22), and holiday concerts with Ricky Skaggs (Dec. 8), Dave Barnes (Dec. 10), and Drew and Ellie Holcomb (Dec. 11). For fans who have tickets to those shows, nothing changes. Weddings and other building rentals will also take place without disruption, and the Schermerhorn Symphony Center remains available for future event bookings.

Those holding tickets to a 2026–27 season concert scheduled after Oct. 18 will receive an email from the Symphony by the end of this week with details on next steps and can elect to keep the ticket value as a credit on their account for a future performance, or convert it to a tax-deductible donation to the Nashville Symphony.

Nashville Symphony President and CEO Mark Cantrell issued an update on the symphony, saying: “Nashville deserves a flourishing orchestra, and I’m confident ours will return stronger than ever. We are working diligently in partnership with our musicians to bring back concerts as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience, your trust, and your love for this music. If you wish to show your support, we invite you to contribute to the future of the Symphony here.”

Lorie Hollabaugh
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