By Emilie Heidemann | Willy Street Fair photograph by Sharon Vanorny
MARQUEE EVENTS
“Where We Are”
Sept. 17-20, Overture Center
Capital City Theatre presents its world premiere of “Where We Are” as part of the World Premiere Wisconsin theatre festival. Inspired by the real-life collections of the Hand Drawn Map Association, this musical explores the unexpected ways people get lost, change course and ultimately find each other. overture.org
“Disney’s The Lion King Live in Concert”
Sept. 20, Overture Center
Experience “The Lion King” in a whole new way as the Madison Symphony Orchestra performs Hans Zimmer’s iconic score live while the beloved Disney film unfolds on the big screen. Led by conductor Kyle Knox, the concert transforms a familiar favorite into an immersive cinematic and musical experience. madisonsymphony.org
“The Wiz”
Oct. 6-11, Overture Center
“The Wiz” returns to stages across America in an all-new tour. This twist on “The Wizard of Oz” features an infusion of ballet, jazz and modern pop to color Dorothy’s journey in finding her place in a contemporary world. overture.org
“Without Borders”
Oct. 15-18, Overture Center
In this celebratory performance, Kanopy Dance honors the Mexican-born José Limón, who electrified the world as one of the 20th century’s most influential choreographers. Guest stars include award-winning choreographer Colin Connor, artistic director of the American legacy Limón Dance Company, and Colombian dancer, Daniel Fetecua-Soto, soloist with the Limón Dance Company. kanopydance.org
Winter Art Fair Off the Square
Nov. 7-8, Monona Terrace
This two-day, fine-art fair is a showcase of 135-plus Wisconsin-based artists and craftspeople. Peruse works in a variety of mediums including ceramics, art glass, paintings, fiber, sculpture, jewelry, graphics, paper-making, photography, wood and more. artcraftwis.org
“Aly & AJ”
Dec. 4, The Sylvee
Sisters Aly and AJ Michalka of the duo Aly and AJ take the stage, having captivated audiences around the world with their harmonies, relatable lyrics and distinctive blend of pop and indie- rock influences. Also actors, the duo return to the music scene after a decade-long hiatus with renewed energy and creative maturity, evolving from pop sensations into indie darlings. thesylvee.com
“Winter Fantasia Reimagined”
Dec. 3-6, Overture Center
Kanopy Dance lights up the stage with holiday dazzle and enchantment in “Winter Fantasia Reimagined,” celebrating a mosaic of cultural traditions. Delight in the lure of mythical places and ancient Nordic legends, adapted by artistic director Lisa Thurrell, that come to life through the magic of dance. Then travel the globe to India for a festive Gujarati “garba” folk dance called “Chalo Ramiye”— a colorful, centuries-old ritual that is performed in authentic, lavishly adorned costumes, choreographed by South Asian guest artist Udbhav Desai, who also performs. kanopydance.org
“Postcard from Morocco”
Feb. 5-7, 2027, Overture Center
In this Madison Opera premiere, a Moroccan train station becomes a crossroad of dreams in this performance about strangers, secrets and stories. Dominick Argento’s sparkling score is by turns romantic, mysterious, dramatic and delightfully unhinged in this 90-minute work that is richly human and thoroughly theatrical. Kanopy Dance joins each performance. madisonopera.org
“A Madison Symphony Christmas 2026”
Dec. 4-6, Overture Center
The Madison Symphony Orchestra takes the stage for this cherished holiday tradition. Guests are encouraged to bring their family and friends to celebrate the season with carols, classics and sparkling holiday favorites. Santa plans to visit, too. madisonsymphony.org
MUSIC GROUPS TO CHECK OUT
At Candlelight Concerts, concert-goers are treated to classical music — frequently with a modern twist. Take the “Anime Soundtracks” performance on Sept. 25 or the “Coldplay and Imagine Dragons” production on Oct. 24. There’s even a “’90s Hip-Hop on Strings” concert on Nov. 21 and Jan. 9. Of course, classical productions are also in the repertoire as well, including “Mozart vs. Beethoven” (Sept. 24) and “Featuring Vivaldi’s Four Seasons & More” (Feb. 13). mononaterrace.com
Coppia Concerts was created by renowned violinist and artistic director Dongeun Dawn Wohn and executive director Jay Hutchinson, who has an extensive background in the hospitality and wine industries. Wohn has performed across five continents and at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Coppia Concerts’ home is at Fitchburg’s Four Winds Farm, where visitors can hear world- class performers bring new life to the classics and break the boundaries of established musical genres. coppiaconcerts.com
Formed in Madison in 2018, the Avanti Piano Trio, comprised of Alissa Freeman on piano, Hillary Hempel on violin and Hannah Wolkstein on cello, has performed across the state in concert series and festivals and on the radio on Wisconsin Public Radio and on PBS. Driven by a passion to enrich the piano-trio repertoire, the trio performs beloved standards and champions a range of styles. They provide a platform for under-explored gems and works by female composers, delivering performances both innovative and rooted in tradition. avantipianotrio.wixsite.com/home
INDIE MUSIC VENUE HAPPENINGS
Leslie Vincent and The Vibes grace the stage at The North Street Cabaret on Sept. 17. Join Vincent and her band as they play reinterpretations of timeless jazz standards as well as original jazz, pop and blues tunes from their forthcoming record, “Little Black Book” (northstreetcabaret.com). “The Three Wishes Tour,” including Rabbitology, Amélie Farren and Lilith Max, makes a stop at Atwood Music Hall on Oct. 7 (theatwoodmusichall.com/shows). On Oct. 11 at Gamma Ray Bar in downtown Madison, Quintron and Miss Pussycat showcase their genre-defying noise and hard-rocking dance music that originally hails from New Orleans. A majority of their 19 full-length albums have the psychedelic soul of traditional New Orleans party music, filtered through an organ, puppets and homemade instruments (gammaray.bar/show). On Nov. 7 at Atwood Music Hall, Eivør, one of the most distinctive voices to emerge from the Nordic music scene, highlights her blend of Nordic folk, cinematic composition and modern production. She’s built a catalog of 11 studio albums (theatwoodmusichall.com).
“The Ryan Miesel Quartet: Holiday Jazz Show with Susan Hofer” gets The North Street Cabaret visitors into the spirit of the holiday season on Dec. 11 with soulful, original jazz (northstreetcabaret.com/events).
GET VISUAL WITH IT
“Interwoven: TAC Members Show 2026”: This exhibition showcases the wide variety of fiber art practices of the Textile Art Center of Madison’s (TAC) creative member community. The exhibition honors and celebrates the center’s supporters and gives every TAC member an opportunity to exhibit one of their recent fiber artworks. Oct. 21-Dec. 12, textileartsmadison.org
Native Art Market 2026: Forty-plus Native American artists share and sell their work throughout Arts + Literature Laboratory’s galleries and education studio. Works span a wide range of traditional and contemporary art forms including Indigenous beadwork, quillwork, weaving, leather work, metals, basketry, clothing and more. Nov. 14, artlitlab.org/events
“Chuck Bauer: Recent Paintings”: Madison artist Chuck Bauer showcases his recent works in a month-long exhibition. Bauer is the former owner of The Soap Opera in downtown Madison. Through Oct. 31, carnelianart.com
“Inner Realms: An Arts for All Wisconsin Benefit Exhibition”: Carnelian Art Gallery hosts a month-long benefit show for Arts for All Wisconsin that exhibits the work of Wisconsin artists GG, Pita Daniels, Zelda Bean, Fred Seger, Alan Wiltgen, Ryan Cain and Paulina Ivanova. Through Sept. 27, carnelianart.com
