The Force is heading straight for the waterfront as the San Diego Symphony gets set to play John Williams’s Oscar-winning score to Star Wars: A New Hope live while the original film lights up the big screen at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park. The saga lands for two limited engagements on May 1 and May 3, 2026, briefly turning the bayfront venue into a mashup of movie theater and concert hall. With only two dates on the calendar and a track record of packed film concerts, organizers are already nudging fans to lock in seats early.
According to The Rady Shell, the symphony will perform the complete 1977 score in sync with the film, with conductor Scott Terrell on the podium. The listing also notes that the production is presented under license from Disney Concerts, so what you hear on the bay is the real deal.
As reported by San Diego Red, showtimes are set for May 1 at 7:30 p.m. and May 3 at 6:30 p.m., 2026, with tickets available through the venue’s official box office and website. Both the outlet and event organizers caution that family-friendly film concerts at the Shell have a habit of selling out, so waiting until the last minute might land you on the dark side of the ticket page.
Why Live-to-Film Concerts Draw Crowds
Film with live orchestra has become a go-to format for big symphonies and commercial presenters, and the Rady Shell engagement drops San Diego squarely into that national trend. The Chicago Symphony’s own A New Hope presentations next summer are one prominent example of how this kind of hybrid concert pulls in both movie buffs and classical regulars. For complete event details on the San Diego performances, see The Rady Shell, and for a comparable national program, check out Chicago Symphony.
Tickets, Transit and What To Expect
Tickets are being sold through the Rady Shell box office and the venue’s online calendar, and the San Diego Symphony’s getting-there information page lays out transit, parking and box office contact details. The symphony recommends public transit when possible, suggesting riders take the MTS Green Line to the Convention Center station, then follow the Embarcadero footpath to the venue. Shuttle services and parking options are also listed for Rady Shell events, along with maps, shuttle pickup points and accessibility information on the symphony’s directions page. For the full rundown, see San Diego Symphony.
Whether you are there for the blast of the opening fanfare or the quieter, string-led passages drifting out over the bay, the San Diego Symphony’s A New Hope in Concert is set up as a full-scale cinematic and sonic spectacle. As May approaches, keep an eye on the venue calendar and the symphony’s box office for the latest on ticket availability and arrival logistics.
