In July 2020, Roth first guest-conducted the SWR Symphonieorchester. He returned to the orchestra for a subsequent guest-conducting engagement in June 2021. In September 2022, the SWR announced the appointment of Roth as the next chief conductor of the SWR Symphonieorchester, effective with the 2025-2026 season, with an initial contract of 5 years. In parallel with this announcement, the city of Cologne, also in September 2022, announced that Roth is to stand down as Gürzenich-Kapellmeister and chief conductor of the Cologne Opera at the close of the 2024-2025 season.
