‘BBC Proms breaks records with ticket sales’

The BBC Proms classical music festival has set a new record this year with ticket sales almost reaching 125,000. Scheduled to take place from July 19 to September 14, the Proms saw a surge in ticket sales on the opening weekend. General booking opened on May 18, with nearly 103,000 tickets sold online in a single day, the highest ever number of Proms tickets sold online on a single day.

In addition to online sales, more than 107,000 tickets were purchased through telephone and in-person sales. This represents a 36% increase from last year and 500 tickets more than the same point in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic. When combined with season tickets and other events like Doctor Who and CBeebies Proms, the total number of tickets sold approached 125,000.

BBC Radio 3 will broadcast every single Prom to provide access to millions of people who cannot attend the festival in person. Radio 1 and Radio 2 will also broadcast highlights from the event. Proms controller Sam Jackson expressed delight at the record-breaking opening weekend sales, highlighting the diversity and appeal of the Proms lineup.

The most sought-after performances include the First Night of the Proms conducted by Elim Chan, as well as appearances by Sam Smith, Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, and Florence + The Machine: Symphony of Lungs. With 90 Proms featuring over 3,000 musicians, ticket prices start from £10. Tickets are still available for the Royal Albert Hall and various venues around the UK.

BBC Proms director David Pickard expressed his delight at the public’s continued interest in classical orchestral music. With strong ticket sales for core classical concerts, the festival continues to bring the best of classical music to a wide audience.