Tony-Winners Audra McDonald, John Cameron Mitchell and More Set for Penn Live Arts 2026-27 Season
The Philadelphia season includes Dianne Reeves, and Branford Marsalis among highlights.
Penn Live Arts has announced its 2026–27 season, Belonging, curated by Executive & Artistic Director Christopher A. Gruits.
The season will explore themes of migration, identity, and community through a wide range of performances across disciplines. Subscriptions are now on sale, with single tickets to be released in early August.
2026-27 PROGRAM CALENDAR
Alonzo King LINES Ballet
Friday, September 25, 7:30 PM
Saturday, September 26, 2 PM
Saturday, September 26, 7:30 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
The Alonzo King LINES Ballet performs in Philadelphia for the very first time with a program that includes Ode to Alice Coltrane, a tribute to the jazz icon. This spiritually charged work spotlights King's evocative style, the dancers' impeccable technique and the sonic expansiveness of Coltrane's masterpieces. The debut of this trailblazing ensemble promises a transcendent experience.
An Evening with John Cameron Mitchell
Sunday, September 27, 7 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
John Cameron Mitchell performs in Philadelphia for the first time in an evening of songs and stories from his career spanning off-Broadway, Broadway and beyond.
Michael Mayo
Friday, October 2, 7:30 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
Michael Mayo makes his Penn Live Arts debut with a mix of standards and originals from his Grammy-nominated release Fly.
UnRavelled
By Jake Broder
Thursday, October 8, 7 PM
Friday, October 9, 7:30 PM
Saturday, October 10, 2 PM
Sunday, October 11, 3 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
UnRavelled explores the lives of Anne Adams and Maurice Ravel through theatre, music, and visual art.
Arts of India Festival — TM Krishna
Thursday, October 15, 7 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
TM Krishna performs as part of the Arts of India Festival.
Gravity & Other Myths — Ten Thousand Hours
Saturday, October 17, 2 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
Gravity & Other Myths makes its Philadelphia debut with Ten Thousand Hours.
Ants on a Log — Alphabugs
Sunday, October 18, 10 AM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
A family-friendly interactive performance combining music and storytelling.
Ballets Jazz Montréal — Dance Me – The Music of Leonard Cohen
Friday, October 23, 7:30 PM
Saturday, October 24, 2 PM
Saturday, October 24, 7:30 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
Ballets Jazz Montréal presents Dance Me, an homage to Leonard Cohen.
Arts of India Festival — Arun Ramamurthy Trio & Rudresh Mahanthappa Hero Trio
Friday, October 30, 7:30 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
A double bill blending jazz and Carnatic traditions.
Arts of India Festival — Niladri Kumaar
Sunday, November 1, 7 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
Niladri Kumaar presents The Space Between the Notes.
Arts of India Festival — Community Day
Sunday, November 1, 1–4 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
Community programming as part of the Arts of India Festival.
Arts of India Festival — Nrityagram Dance Ensemble
Friday, November 6, 7:30 PM
Saturday, November 7, 3 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
Nrityagram presents KHAṄKHAṆĀ: the sound of dancing feet.
Béla Fleck — My Bluegrass Heart
Saturday, November 14, 7:30 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
Béla Fleck performs as artist-in-residence.
Handel at Home
Sunday, November 15, 3 PM
Sunday, November 15, 7 PM
Powel House | 244 South 3rd Street
A program inspired by colonial-era music gatherings.
Compagnie Hervé Koubi — Sol Invictus
Friday, November 20, 7:30 PM
Saturday, November 21, 2 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
A contemporary dance work blending multiple movement styles.
Hot Peas 'N Butter
Sunday, November 22, 3 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
A family concert featuring global music influences.
Louis Cato
Sunday, November 22, 7 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
Louis Cato performs with his trio.
Isaiah J. Thompson — A Guaraldi Holiday
Sunday, December 6, 7 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
A holiday tribute to Vince Guaraldi.
A Very Sw!ng Out Holiday
Friday, December 11, 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 12, 2 PM
Saturday, December 12, 7:30 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
A holiday dance performance with live music.
Choir! Choir! Choir! — Un-Silent Night: An Epic Holiday Sing-Along
Friday, December 18, 7 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
A participatory holiday sing-along event.
Cirque Éloize — ID EVOLUTION
Saturday, January 23, 2 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
A contemporary circus performance.
Delbert Anderson Quartet
Sunday, January 24, 7 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
A jazz program featuring the premiere of Beyond Belief.
Daymé Arocena
Friday, January 29, 7:30 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
A performance blending jazz, pop, and Latin music.
Branford Marsalis & Dianne Reeves — Celebrate John Coltrane
Friday, February 5, 7:30 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
A tribute to John Coltrane.
Third Coast Percussion & Glenn Kotche
Sunday, February 7, 7 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
A program celebrating Philip Glass.
Americana Festival
February (dates TBD)
Curated by Béla Fleck.
Tall Stories Theatre Company — The Gruffalo
Saturday, February 13, 2 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
A family theatre adaptation.
Black Grace
Friday, February 19, 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 20, 2 PM
Saturday, February 20, 7:30 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
A contemporary dance performance.
I Fagiolini
Thursday, February 25, 7 PM
Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral | 19 South 38th Street
An early music vocal program.
Philadelphia Children’s Festival
March 7–9
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
A multi-day family festival.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Sunday, March 7, 7 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
A vocal performance of South African music.
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
Friday, March 12, 7:30 PM
Saturday, March 13, 2 PM
Saturday, March 13, 7:30 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
A ballet performance blending technique and satire.
Endea Owens & The Cookout
Thursday, March 18, 7 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
A jazz performance.
Le Concert de l'Hostel Dieu — The Ghosts of Hamlet
Thursday, April 8, 7 PM
Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral | 19 South 38th Street
A Baroque music program.
Sarah Elizabeth Charles
Sunday, April 11, 7 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
A vocal jazz performance.
Gibney Company
Friday, April 16, 7:30 PM
Saturday, April 17, 2 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
A contemporary dance program.
Philip Glass Ensemble — Koyaanisqatsi: Live with Film
Sunday, April 25, 7 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
A live film and music performance.
John Scott Dance — Ancestral Movements
Friday, April 30, 7:30 PM
Saturday, May 1, 2 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
A world premiere dance-theatre work.
Dance Theatre of Harlem
Friday, May 7, 7:30 PM
Saturday, May 8, 2 PM
Saturday, May 8, 7:30 PM
Sunday, May 9, 3 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
A ballet performance.
An Evening with Audra McDonald
Saturday, June 5, 7:30 PM
Annenberg Center | 3680 Walnut Street
Audra McDonald closes the season with a one-night-only performance.
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