First Night of the Proms begins a packed slate of classical music performances taking place over the summer at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Promising an explosive start to Proms, the inaugural event will welcome acclaimed conductor Elim Chan and witness the debut of Ben Nobuto’s "Hallelujah Sim". You can watch First Night of the Proms live on BBC Two this Friday, July 18.
UK viewers can watch First Night of the Proms online for FREE on BBC iPlayer. But if you happen to be away from home, you can always watch First Night of the Proms from anywhere with a VPN.
UK: BBC Two | BBC iPlayer (free with a valid TV licence)
Journalist Clive Myrie will launch Proms 2024, helping to set the tone for a thrilling summer of unbelievable performances by some of the world’s best conductors and musical artists.
Hong Kong-born conductor Chan – making her First Night debut – will lead the BBC Symphony Orchestra through a rendition of Beethoven's Symphony No 5 and Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks. She’ll also share the stage with star soprano Sophie Bevan and piano virtuoso Isata Kanneh-Mason.
Additionally, First Night of the Proms will showcase the world premiere of "Hallelujah Sim" by gifted composer Nobuto, whose category-defying work has been described as, "leaping across stylistic boundaries and creating exhilarating sonic juxtapositions."
Last year’s First Night opening drew an audience of almost a million viewers, with subsequent programming over the following days yielding in a total of 3.2 million. So, Proms is clearly for more than just Beethoven buffs.
Ready for sonic thrills and world-class musicians at their peak? Then read our guide for how to watch First Night of the Proms online from anywhere and for free. We’ve got all the information you need below.
How to watch First Night of the Proms 2024 online FREE in the UK
Can I watch First Night of the Proms online in the US?
Proms is a series of live musical events taking place in the UK that are broadcast exclusively by the BBC. And, as far as we know, First Night of the Proms hasn’t be licensed for broadcast abroad in the US or elsewhere. Should that change, we’ll update any new information here.
Out of the UK currently? That means you’ll need a VPN to connect to BBC iPlayer if you want to watch First Night of the Proms from abroad.
Can I watch First Night of the Proms online in Australia?
Sadly there’s no indication that Proms 2024 content will be made available for Australian viewers to watch. That also means UK viewers visiting the country won’t be able to stream these brilliant musical performances being staged over the summer.
Are you a Brit abroad? Download a VPN to connect to regionally-specific services like BBC iPlayer and stream your favorite shows, no matter where you are in the world.
How to watch First Night of the Proms online from anywhere with a VPN
If you're going to be away from your normal TV setup but still want to watch First Night of the Proms online, you might run into some problems. Thankfully, you can solve this exact issue with a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
A VPN lets you change your IP address to that of the area of what you want to watch, meaning you can tune in to your favorite shows or other content even if you're not there. Our favorite is NordVPN.
Proms 2024 trailer
When is the First Night of the Proms?
BBC coverage of Proms 2024 begins on Friday, July 19, with First Night of the Proms airing at 7 pm UK time on BBC Two. You can also catch the programme live on BBC iPlayer, or on-demand shortly after its initial broadcast.
Where can I watch the Proms 2024?
BBC and BBC iPlayer is the home of Proms 2024 content. They'll be an incredible 24 broadcasts of various concerts that are taking place at the Royal Albert Hall over the summer. These will air across multiple BBC channels: BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Four, and CBeebies. Each programme will also be available to stream on BBC iPlayer, and for a total of 12 months after debut.
Proms 2024 schedule
Which Proms performances will be televised in 2024?
- Prom 1: First Night of the Proms – Friday July 19 on BBC Two
- Prom 2: Disco at the Proms – Broadcast date TBC, BBC Two
- Prom 3: Sir Mark Elder’s Farewell to the Hallé at the Proms – Sunday, July 21 on BBC Four
- Prom 6: Verdi’s Requiem at the Proms – Broadcast date TBC, BBC Four
- Proms 11 & 12: CBeebies Prom: Wildlife Jamboree – September (date TBC) on CBeebies
- Prom 13: Sarah Vaughan – Tribute to a Legend – Sunday, July 28 on BBC Four
- Prom 15: Messiasen’s Turangalîla Symphony at the Proms – Broadcast TBC, BBC Four
- Prom 18: Sam Smith at the Proms – Broadcast date TBC, BBC Two
- Prom 20: A Kanneh-Mason Playlist at the Proms – Broadcast date TBC, BBC Four
- Prom 21: John Wilson’s American Greats at the Proms – Broadcast date TBC, BBC Four
- Prom 30: NYO at the Proms – Broadcast date TBC, BBC Four
- Prom 31: Daniel Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra – Date TBC, BBC Four
- Prom 36: Mozart, Mendelssohn and A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Date TBC, BBC Four
- Prom 37: Britten’s War Requiem at the Proms – Broadcast date TBC, BBC Four
- Prom 41: The Magic of Mozart at the Proms – Broadcast date TBC, BBC Two
- Prom 42: Beethoven’s Ninth Unwrapped – Broadcast date TBC, BBC Four
- Prom 46: Holst’s The Planets at the Proms – Broadcast date TBC, BBC Four
- Prom 48: Doctor Who at the Proms 2024 – Broadcast date TBC
- Prom 54: Beethoven for 3: Yo-Yo Ma, Emanual Ax, Leonidas Kavakos – Date TBC, BBC Four
- Prom 57: TV and Film Classics by Henry Manchini and Friends – Date TBC, BBC Four
- Prom 69: Florence + The Machine at the Proms – Broadcast date TBC, BBC Two
- Prom 72: Last Night of the Proms – Broadcast date TBC, BBC One and BBC Two
Where is the Proms held?
From 1941, the majority of Proms concerts have taken place at Royal Albert Hall, situated near Hyde Park in Central London.
