Taylor Mac: A 24-Decade History of Popular Music
Take an unforgettable, glitter-soaked journey through the soul of the US with the acclaimed theatre-maker and the Philharmonia Orchestra.
In A 24-Decade History of Popular Music, Taylor Mac reimagines history as a dazzling, deeply personal musical experience.
This is the UK orchestral premiere of Mac’s award-winning – and rapturously received – show, in an abridged version of the 24-hour-long performance art concert.
Spanning 240 years, this genre-defying work tells a subjective story of America through popular song – blending ballads, anthems, disco and more into a bold and joyous theatrical event.
Part orchestral concert, part performance art, Mac’s creation is as provocative as it is celebratory. With extraordinary costumes, irreverent humour and moments of unexpected poignancy, the show invites audiences to reconsider whose stories are told, and how we listen to them.
The result is a spectacular fusion of music, storytelling and theatrical imagination – an experience that is at once intimate and epic, playful and profound.
Hailed by a New York Times critic as ‘one of the greatest experiences of my life’, A 24-Decade History of Popular Music is not just a performance – it’s a communal celebration of history, identity and humanity.
A 24-decade history of popular music is produced by Pomegranate Arts & Nature’s Darlings.
Performers
Philharmonia Orchestra
Alan Pierson conductor
Taylor Mac artist
Need to know
Music director for Taylor Mac: Matt Ray
Orchestral arranger: Ted Hearne
Costume designer: Machine Dazzle
Times & tickets
Dates, times and prices
Dates & times
26 Nov 2026, 7.30pm
Run time
2 hours (approx)
All timings are approximate and subject to change
Standard entry
from £17 + £4 booking fee
Ticket prices may be adjusted without notice to reflect demand.
Concessions
Learn more about concession discounts
Refunds and exchanges
Find out more about our refund and exchange policy
Multi-buy Autumn/Winter 26/27 discount
3 – 4 events: 10% discount
5 – 7 events: 15% discount
8 – 10 events: 20% discount
11 – 14 events: 25% discount
15+ events: 30% discount
Discounts apply to selected events, September 2026 – January 2027 inclusive. Offer can’t be combined with the Spring/Summer 2026 multi-buy.
Become a Member
Members get free entry to the Hayward Gallery and the first chance to book our entire programme of events, including go-down-in-history gigs, concerts with world-class orchestras, and talks from cultural icons and political giants.
Join today from £60
For your visit
This event is held at the Royal Festival Hall Southbank Centre
The Royal Festival Hall is open six days a week.
Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 11pm
Monday, closed.
Plan your visit
The Royal Festival Hall is home to our largest auditorium as well as The Clore Ballroom, National Poetry Library, Members’ Lounge, Festival Bar & Kitchen, Ballroom Cafe and Skylon restaurant.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
On Level 2 of our Royal Festival Hall you can grab a slice of life by the Thames with drinks and freshly made pizza at our Festival Bar & Kitchen which opens out onto our Riverside Terrace. You can grab a coffee and a slice of freshly made cake from our Ballroom Cafe. Or alternatively enjoy destination dining in the restaurant at Skylon.
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.