“To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.”
William Blake Auguries of Innocence,
The Pickering Manuscript circa 1803
“In 2026 we have an array of beautiful music to enjoy, with works by Haydn (of course!), Mozart, Beethoven and some exciting and rare works by little-known Bohemian composers.
We take inspiration from the natural world – its colours, fine details and expansive emotional power. Composers across centuries have long reflected nature’s patterns and rhythms, from darkness to light, from beginning to fading. Their responses reveal themselves in the lilting breeze of a minuet, the dramatic storm of a symphonic movement, or the quiet unfolding of a melodic line.
In many ways, live music is something grown rather than manufactured – alive, breathing and blooming under the gaze of its audience.
At the heart of our subscription season is the belief that music – like nature – speaks to something deep within us – and that hearing it live, in a shared space, is a kind of magic. “
AHE’s mainstage concerts are spread across four series in Canberra, Berry, Bowral and Sydney, where the Ensemble will be returning to the glorious Pictures Galleries in the State Library of NSW and The Neilson, ACO On The Pier, with an expanded number of performances in November.
In 2026 AHE launches its inaugural Melbourne concert season (details to come) and will be continuing our popular pre-concert event series 18th Century Unpacked at the State Library of NSW in the beautiful Friends Room.
From the earthy charm of Haydn and the radiance of Mozart to the bold modernity of Beethoven, we invite audiences to be inspired, surprised and uplifted by the richness of each program.”
Skye McIntosh, Artistic Director, Australian Haydn Ensemble
Explore the program >>
MOZART’S SPRING
MARCH 6 – 12
Berry | Fri 6 March, 7pm
Bowral | Sat 7 March, 4pm
Sydney | Sun 8 March, 4pm
Canberra | Thurs 12 March, 7pm
AHE opens its 2026 season with this joyful program of string quartets including Haydn’s Bird, Mozart’s Spring and Felix Mendelssohn’s youthful quartet in E flat major.
BEETHOVEN’S FOURTH
MAY 1 – 7
Berry | Fri 1 May, 7pm
Bowral | Sat 2 May, 4pm
Sydney | Sun 3 May, 4pm
Canberra | Thurs 7 May, 7pm
AHE continues its exploration of historical chamber arrangements with William Watt’s arrangement of Beethoven’s Fourth Symphony and Cimador’s adaptation of Mozart’s Haffner.
DIVINE BOHEMIANS
JULY 29 – AUGUST 2
Canberra | Thurs 30 July, 7pm
Berry | Fri 31 July, 7pm
Bowral | Sat 1 Aug, 4pm
Sydney | Sun 2 Aug, 4pm
AHE presents a stunning program of string quartets from late 18th Century Bohemian Vienna including works dedicated to Beethoven’s Bohemian patron – Lobkowitz.
HAYDN’S OXFORD
OCTOBER 30 – NOVEMBER 8
Berry | Fri 30 Oct, 7pm
Bowral | Sat 31 Oct, 4pm
Sydney | Mon 2 Nov, 7pm
Canberra | Thurs 5 Nov, 7pm
Sydney | Sun 8 Nov, 4pm
A feast of Haydn with the first instalment of a cycle of Haydn’s London symphonies in newly commissioned historical chamber arrangements for septet including the Oxford and Drumroll.
18th Century Unpacked 1
State Library of NSW
Friends Room
Sydney | Thurs 5 March, 6pm
Mozart & Haydn
AHE unpacks Haydn’s influence on Mozart’s string quartet writing in this 1hr informal and informative event at the State Library of NSW.
18th Century Unpacked 2
State Library of NSW
Friends Room
Sydney | Thurs 23 July, 6pm
Bohemian Composers in Vienna
AHE unpacks Bohemian culture and influence in late 18th-Century Vienna in this 1hr informal and informative event at the State Library of NSW.
