Highlights of the 2026/27 season include Afkham’s much-anticipated debut at the BBC Proms with the Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España in a programme dedicated to Spanish repertoire. He also returns to the ensemble for two further projects, as well as to the San Francisco Symphony, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony and the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, following successful debuts with several of these ensembles in previous seasons. Further debuts include engagements with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, including concerts at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw and in Utrecht, the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra (NOSPR), where he will conduct the world premiere of a new organ concerto by Sebastian Fagerlund. In addition, Afkham will lead two projects with the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra.

Recent opera highlights include Strauss’s "Elektra" at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Daphne in concert with Seattle Opera, productions of Beethoven’s "Fidelio" and Strauss’s "Arabella" at the Semperoper Dresden and Teatro Real Madrid, as well as a new production of Mozart’s "Die Zauberflöte" at the Santander Festival, directed by Rolando Villazón. Afkham has also conducted Wagner’s "Der fliegende Holländer" at the Staatsoper Stuttgart, Humperdinck’s "Hänsel und Gretel" at Oper Frankfurt, Verdi’s "La traviata" at Glyndebourne Festival Opera and Ginastera’s "Bomarzo" at the Teatro Real. His work with the Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España has included acclaimed semi-staged performances of major works including Wagner’s "Tristan und Isolde", Strauss’s "Elektra" and "Salome", and Bartók’s "Bluebeard’s Castle".

Born in Freiburg, Germany, Afkham began piano and violin lessons at an early age. He studied piano, music theory and conducting at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg before continuing at the Hochschule für Musik FRANZ LISZT Weimar. He was the first recipient of the Bernard Haitink Fund for Young Talent and assisted Maestro Haitink on major projects including complete symphonic cycles with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Concertgebouworkest and London Symphony Orchestra. From 2009–2012, he was Assistant Conductor of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester.

Afkham won first prize at the Donatella Flick Conducting Competition in London in 2008 and was the inaugural recipient of the Nestlé and Salzburg Festival Young Conductors Award in 2010.

SEASON 2026 / 2027