LOS ANGELES — Gustavo Dudamel, the charismatic musical director of the LA Phil, will leave Los Angeles to join the New York Philharmonic, the NY Phil announced Tuesday. Dudamel will succeed Jaap van Zweden in becoming music director and will also assume the role of artistic director for a five-year term starting with the 2026-2027 season.

He will serve as music director designate in 2025-2026.

“We are thrilled to welcome Gustavo Dudamel as the next music and artistic director of the New York Philharmonic,” NY Phil Board Co-Chairmen Peter May and Oscar Tang said in a statement. “Building on his orchestra’s great legacy, he joins a historic list of distinguished music directors.”

Gustav Mahler, Arturo Toscanini and Leonard Bernstein have all served in the role previously. 

“Today, above all, I am grateful,” Dudamel said in a statement. “I am grateful to the musicians and leadership of the New York Philharmonic as we embark upon this new and beautiful journey together; to my beloved family at the Los Angeles Philharmonic and YOLA for helping me to learn and grow through countless challenges and triumphs; and to my Maestro Abreu and the musicians of Venezuela who have been there with me since the beginning.”

He continued: “As the great poet Federico Garcia Lorca said, ‘Every step we take on earth brings us to a new world.’ I gaze with joy and excitement at the world that lies before me in New York City, and with pride and love at the world I have shared — and will continue to share — with my dear Angelenos over the next three seasons and beyond. All of us are united in our belief that culture creates a better world, and in our dream that music is a fundamental right. I look forward to the work ahead.”

Now 42, Dudamel debuted with the New York Phil in Nov. 2007, conducting 26 concerts, including pieces by Dvorak and Prokofiev. 

Dudamel has been the music and artistic director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since 2009 and music director of the Opera National de Paris since 2021.