San Antonio Philharmonic Cancels Remaining 2025–26 Concerts After Music Director Jeffrey Kahane Resigns Midseason

Season disruption follows leadership change and ongoing venue dispute

The San Antonio Philharmonic has canceled the remainder of its 2025–26 season, ending all announced concerts after an unexpected midseason leadership shift. The move follows the resignation of music director Jeffrey Kahane, who stepped down on Feb. 9, 2026, halfway through a three-year term.

In recent weeks, the orchestra had already withdrawn multiple programs from its calendar. A set of performances scheduled for Jan. 16–17 was marked as canceled, and concerts planned for Feb. 13–14 were also called off. The season’s most recent performances took place in December 2025; the ensemble has not performed publicly in 2026.

How much of the season was completed

The Philharmonic’s 2025–26 classical season was announced as a 10-program series spanning fall 2025 through spring 2026, built largely around Kahane’s artistic planning. With the remainder now canceled, only a portion of the advertised series was ultimately presented, while several other dates were either canceled outright or postponed.

• Kahane was appointed the Philharmonic’s first music director in 2024 and resigned on Feb. 9, 2026.
• The orchestra last performed in December 2025 and did not present any concerts in 2026 prior to the season’s cancellation.
• Programs across January and February were canceled before the decision to end the season entirely.

Plans for alternative programming remain uncertain

Leadership has indicated that discussions are underway with associate conductor Felipe Tristán about the possibility of developing alternative programs. Any replacement activity would require artistic planning, scheduling, and funding—and would effectively represent a reset of the current season’s concept, which had been shaped around Kahane’s role.

The Philharmonic’s 2025–26 programming was built around a mix of classical repertoire and themed events, including works by major composers and collaborations with guest artists and local ensembles.

Venue and governance pressures add to instability

The season’s collapse comes amid a legal conflict involving the Scottish Rite Cathedral downtown, where the Philharmonic has been performing and which it had sought to establish as a long-term home. Court filings have described allegations of missed financial obligations related to building costs and operations, with competing claims over whether required payments and commitments were met. The dispute has coincided with concert cancellations, uncertainty about access to the venue, and broader questions about operational stability.

The Philharmonic was formed in 2022 after the San Antonio Symphony ceased operations. For musicians and audiences, the new organization represented an effort to maintain a professional orchestral presence in the city. With the remainder of the 2025–26 season canceled, attention now turns to whether the organization can stabilize leadership, resolve venue issues, and present a viable performance plan for future seasons.