Actress Sheridan Smith, singer Beverley Knight and pop duo Ward Thomas will take to the stage for the Last Night of the Proms in a tribute to country superstar Dolly Parton.
The final show will include the programme, To Dolly, With Love, in honour of the singer who died in August aged 80 following a brief battle with cancer.
Arranged by Fiona Brice, Smith, Knight and Ward Thomas will join the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus on stage at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday to perform a medley of her beloved hits. Gavin and Stacey star Smith will sing a rendition of 9 to 5 while Knight will take the stage to sing I Will Always Love You.
Country-pop duo Ward Thomas, made up of twins Catherine and Lizzy Ward Thomas, will sing a rendition of Parton’s Jolene.
The concert will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds, and air in two parts – the first on BBC Two and the finale on BBC One.
Sam Jackson, BBC Radio 3 and Proms controller, said: “This year’s Last Night of the Proms promises to be a joyous celebration, bringing together world-class performers, much-loved repertoire and memorable musical moments.
“We very much look forward to the centenary of the BBC Proms next year but, for now, we can’t wait to celebrate the end of the 2026 season in style.”
The programme also includes the world premieres of two BBC commissions: Iris of Life by Academy Award-winning British composer Anne Dudley and Dithyramb by Canadian composer and conductor Samy Moussa.
Chief conductor Sakari Oramo will lead the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Chorus and the BBC Singers for a classical music programme which will feature Loesser’s Guys and Dolls’ Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.
The concert marks the end of the BBC Proms 2026 season, which spanned eight weeks and featured 86 concerts that were attended by 300,000 people.
Suzy Klein, head of arts and classical music TV at the BBC, said: “The BBC Proms has once again connected audiences across the UK and beyond through an extraordinary summer of live music.
“We’re incredibly proud of the range and quality of concerts across BBC television and BBC iPlayer, and the Last Night will provide the perfect finale to an unforgettable season.”
The Last Night of the Proms takes place on September 12 live on BBC Radio 3 and Sounds, with Part 1 on BBC Two and iPlayer from 7.10pm, and the finale on BBC One and iPlayer at 9pm.
Audiences can listen to the BBC Proms on BBC Sounds for 30 days after broadcast, and TV broadcasts are available on BBC iPlayer for up to one year.
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