Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech announces 2025-26 season
For its newest season, the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech invites the community to reconnect — with one another, with new perspectives, and with the unifying power of the arts.
The center’s 2025-26 season celebrates the magic of shared experiences. Featuring legendary performers, inspiring voices, and spirit-lifting rhythms from around the world, the new season has something for everyone — spectacular orchestras and brilliant ensembles, Broadway blockbusters, bold jazz and global sounds, innovative dance and theatre works, family-friendly favorites, and cherished holiday classics.
“This season, we celebrate the joy of coming together — of sharing the transformative power of live performance with one another. The center continues to be a place where creativity sparks connection, and where every event is a chance to be moved, inspired, and united through the arts,” said Ruth Waalkes, associate provost for the arts and executive director of the Center for the Arts. “As we launch our 2025-26 season, we invite you to rediscover what makes live performance so powerful. The arts bring us back to what matters — collective moments, human expression, and the beauty of being present together.”
Subscriptions are now available for the full season.
Moss Arts Center 2025-26 performances
2025-26 Season Opener
Friday, Sept. 19, 7:30 p.m.
New York-based jazz ensemble the Hot Sardines brings brassy horns, rollicking piano, rich vocals, and a tap dancer.
Saturday, Sept. 27, 7:30 p.m.
Step Afrika! delivers electrifying night of rhythm, movement, and culture with traditional African stepping, drumming, and vibrant storytelling.
Abel Selaocoe, cello and vocals
Thursday, Oct. 2, 7:30 p.m.
South African cellist Abel Selaocoe blazes across genres, improvising, vocalizing, and creating his own percussion.
Saturday, Oct. 11, 7:30 p.m.
Grammy-winning mandolinist Chris Thile is a founding member of bluegrass string bands Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek.
Tuesday, Oct. 14, 7:30 p.m.
Vancouver-based Ballet BC creates dance at its most essential: visceral, powerful, thought-provoking, and transformative.
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 7:30 p.m.
New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast is one of the greatest chroniclers of life's anxieties and surreal imaginings.
Thursday, Oct. 30, 7:30 p.m.
The L.A.-based, Grammy-winning La Santa Cecilia is a modern-day creative hybrid of Latin culture, rock, and world music.
“The Great War”
Thursday, Nov. 6, 7:30 p.m.
Hotel Modern creates fascinating performances that fuse drama, object theatre, puppetry, and film.
Sunday, Nov. 9, 4 p.m.
360 ALLSTARS brings an energy-packed party with dancing, rapping, beatboxing, acrobatics, BMX biking, basketball, and more.
“Holiday Pops Spectacular”
Saturday, Dec. 6, 4 p.m.
The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra brings the magic of the season to the Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre with its beloved “Holiday Pops Spectacular.”
Handel's “Messiah”
Sunday, Dec. 14, 4 p.m.
The Blacksburg Master Chorale is joined by a professional orchestra and soloists to present an iconic work of the holiday season: Handel's "Messiah."
Benjamin Grosvenor, piano
Vasily Petrenko, music director
Thursday, Jan. 22, 7:30 p.m.
At the forefront of music-making, London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is known for its excellence and versatility.
“From Ordinary Things”
Wednesday, Jan. 28, 7:30 p.m.
Powerhouses Julia Bullock, Seth Parker Woods, and Conor Hanick unite to showcase composers of lyricism and storytelling.
Tim Etchells with Bert and Nasi
“L'Addition”
Friday, Jan. 30, and Saturday, Jan. 31, 7:30 p.m.
In “L’Addition,” brilliant theatre duo Bert and Nasi turns an ordinary restaurant scene into a hilarious theatrical experiment.
“Tilt! A Circus Thrill Ride”
Tuesday, Feb. 10, 7:30 p.m.
Journey to the backlot of an inventive theme park as Cirque Mechanics returns to Blacksburg with its newest acrobatic adventure.
with Cécile McLorin Salvant
Friday, Feb. 20, 7:30 p.m.
Danish Radio Big Band brings powerhouse sound alongside three-time Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant.
“The Trials of Tenducci”
Tuesday, March 17, 7:30 p.m.
Experience something different this St. Patrick’s Day with music from flagship period classical instrument ensemble Irish Baroque Orchestra.
“Manifesto”
Saturday, March 28, 7:30 p.m.
With all-out dancing and electrifying sound, Stephanie Lake Company's "Manifesto" features nine dancers and nine drummers on nine drum kits.
“In My Dreams”
Featuring Jenny Scheinman, Eyvind Kang, Hank Roberts, Thomas Morgan, and Rudy Royston
Friday, April 3, 7:30 p.m.
Grammy-winning jazz guitar icon Bill Frisell’s career as a musician and composer has spanned more than 40 years and many recordings.
“Beauty Beyond the Frontlines”
Muhammed Muheisen, photographer
Tuesday, April 7, 7:30 p.m.
“National Geographic” Explorer Muhammed Muheisen's photographs take an unflinching but hopeful look at lives impacted by war.
with Jordan Bak, viola
Wednesday, April 15, 7:30 p.m.
The world-renowned Takács Quartet and violist Jordan Bak bring an expressive evening of Mozart viola quintets and Schubert's “Quartettsatz.”
“Music, Dance, and Women's Resilience”
Wednesday, April 23, 7:30 p.m.
Performer and educator Esraa Warda brings a night of music, voice, and dance to highlight the artistry and spirit of Algeria.
“An Evening with Kelli O'Hara”
2025-26 Season Closer
Saturday, May 9, 7:30 p.m.
One of the most beloved leading ladies of Broadway, Kelli O’Hara is a force of nature on stage and screen.
Broadway in Blacksburg
Broadway returns to Southwest Virginia with the center’s “Broadway in Blacksburg” series, featuring two performances:
“TINA – The Tina Turner Musical”
Monday, Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m.
“TINA – The Tina Turner Musical” is the inspiring journey of a woman who broke barriers and became the queen of rock ‘n’ roll.
Monday, Feb. 23, 7:30 p.m.
“Chicago” is the musical with everything that makes Broadway shimmy-shake: a universal tale of fame, fortune, and all that jazz.
Season subscribers — at the Silver, Gold, and Premier levels — will have advance access to purchase tickets, prior to public single ticket sales, for these events. For Premier Plus subscribers, these Broadway shows are already included in the subscription. Subscriber discounts do not apply to the “Broadway in Blacksburg” series.
Purchase subscriptions
Subscriptions for the 2025-26 season offer discounted prices, priority seat selection, and first access to major events, including pre-sales for Broadway performances, before they go on public sale.
This year, there are four ways to subscribe:
Premier Plus Subscription features 22 performances at a 25 percent discount, one additional performance that can be added on, also at a 25 percent discount — and includes tickets for the two 2024-25 “Broadway in Blacksburg” performances, “TINA – The Tina Turner Musical” and “Chicago.”
Premier Subscription includes 22 performances at a 25 percent discount, plus one additional performance that can be added on, also at a 25 percent discount — and the option to purchase “Broadway in Blacksburg” tickets before they go on sale to the public.
Gold Subscription gives a 20 percent discount for 12 or more performances and the option to purchase “Broadway in Blacksburg” tickets before they go on sale to the public.
Silver Subscription starts at just five performances at a 15 percent discount and includes the option to purchase “Broadway in Blacksburg” tickets before they go on sale to the public.
Student and youth tickets are always $10 per performance, including subscriptions, excluding “Broadway in Blacksburg” performances.
Subscriptions can be purchased online; at the Center for the Arts box office, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday; or by calling 540-231-5300. Currently, only subscription packages are available for purchase for the 2025-26 season. Tickets for individual performances go on sale Thursday, July 31, at 10 a.m.
