Emirates Keeps the Music Playing with Continued Support for Sydney Symphony Orchestra

(NEWS) SYDNEY, Australia, 2026-Feb-16 — /Travel PR News/ — Emirates has extended its long-standing partnership with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra through 2028, continuing a collaboration that links international travel with cultural exchange. As shared in the airline’s latest announcement, the agreement marks 23 years of association, making it Emirates’ longest-running non-sports sponsorship worldwide.

The renewed partnership underscores a shared ambition to connect audiences through music while amplifying the orchestra’s global reach. To mark the occasion, an ensemble from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra performed on the tarmac at Sydney Airport in front of Emirates’ flagship Airbus A380, presenting Takeoff, a specially commissioned piece by composer Jessica Wells inspired by the iconic aircraft and the symbolism of travel.

A key feature of the renewed collaboration is the orchestra’s expanded presence on Emirates’ inflight entertainment system, ice, where a curated rotation of performances — including Holst’s The Planets — will be available to passengers across the airline’s international network. According to details released by Emirates, the initiative allows millions of travellers to experience world-class orchestral music while in transit, effectively turning long-haul journeys into cultural touchpoints.

Beyond onboard programming, the airline will continue supporting the orchestra’s live concerts, digital initiatives, and audience engagement activities, while also offering hospitality experiences and ticketing opportunities linked to selected performances. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra stages more than 150 concerts annually, reaching over 350,000 attendees in person and millions more through recordings and digital platforms, with Emirates’ backing helping extend that reach to a global audience.

The partnership reflects Emirates’ broader cultural investment strategy, which complements its high-profile sports sponsorships with support for music, literature, and the arts in destinations across its network. By aligning aviation with artistic expression, the airline continues to position travel not only as a means of movement, but as a platform for shared cultural experiences.