For its 2026-27 season, the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech invites audiences into a world of remarkable artistry.

From internationally celebrated icons to bold contemporary voices from across the globe, the season explores the many dimensions of the human experience through legendary performers, daring dance and theatre companies, inspiring orchestras and ensembles, acclaimed jazz and global music artists, family-friendly favorites, and a hit Broadway production.

The new season features performances by renowned artists and ensembles including Emanuel Ax and Yo-Yo Ma, Béla Fleck, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Joshua Bell and Larisa Martínez, and the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, alongside innovative companies and musicians representing cultures and perspectives from around the world.

“This season reflects the extraordinary breadth of what the arts can offer us — moments of joy, reflection, wonder, and connection,” said Ruth Waalkes, associate provost for the arts and executive director of the Center for the Arts. “At a time when it can feel increasingly difficult to slow down and truly engage with one another, live performance creates opportunities to gather, listen, and share something meaningful together. These artists remind us of the creativity, compassion, curiosity, and resilience that connect us as human beings.”

Subscriptions for the full season are available on Thursday, June 18, at 10 a.m.

Center for the Arts 2026-27 performances 

Classical

Dance

Theatre/cirque

  • Article Item
    The cast of Teatro la Plaza, eight actors with Down syndrome, perform "Hamlet" on stage. Two wear paper crowns and one wears an Elizabethan ruff.
    Teatro La Plaza , article

    WED., OCT. 7-THURS., OCT. 8, 7:30 PM: In this reimagining of "Hamlet," eight actors with Down syndrome share their desires, struggles, and questions.

  • Article Item
    The cast of Teatro la Plaza, eight actors with Down syndrome, perform "Hamlet" on stage. Two wear paper crowns and one wears an Elizabethan ruff.
    Gravity & Other Myths , article

    TUES., OCT. 13, 7:30 PM: "Ten Thousand Hours" is Australian cirque company Gravity & Other Myths' tribute to the dedication required to realize physical ambitions.

  • Article Item
    The cast of Teatro la Plaza, eight actors with Down syndrome, perform "Hamlet" on stage. Two wear paper crowns and one wears an Elizabethan ruff.
    Mario the Maker Magician , article

    SUN., JAN. 31, 2 PM: In this high-energy, all-ages, inventive theatre experience, step into a world of cardboard contraptions, homemade robots, and impossible magic.

Music/jazz

  • Article Item
    Banjoist Bela Fleck, center, is a middled aged white man with red glasses and a black T-shirt holding his banjo. His fellow touring musicians, all white men, stand around him and look at each other.
    Béla Fleck: My Bluegrass Heart , article

    SAT., SEPT. 19, 7:30 PM: For "My Bluegrass Heart," banjoist Béla Fleck is joined by Michael Cleveland, Dominick Leslie, Jeff Partin, Mark Schatz, and Jake Stargel.

  • Article Item
    The cast of Teatro la Plaza, eight actors with Down syndrome, perform "Hamlet" on stage. Two wear paper crowns and one wears an Elizabethan ruff.
    Juan de Marcos and the Afro-Cuban All Stars , article

    WED., OCT. 28, 7:30 PM: Founded by bandleader Juan de Marcos González, the Afro-Cuban All Stars celebrates the full spectrum of Cuban music.

  • Article Item
    The cast of Teatro la Plaza, eight actors with Down syndrome, perform "Hamlet" on stage. Two wear paper crowns and one wears an Elizabethan ruff.
    Ju Percussion Group , article

    WED., NOV. 18, 7:30 PM: One of Asia’s most influential contemporary percussion ensembles, Ju Percussion Group fuses Eastern and Western traditions.

  • Article Item
    The cast of Teatro la Plaza, eight actors with Down syndrome, perform "Hamlet" on stage. Two wear paper crowns and one wears an Elizabethan ruff.
    Roanoke Symphony Orchestra , article

    SAT., DEC. 5, 4 PM: A sparkling seasonal tradition returns as the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra brings the unmistakable sound of the holidays to Blacksburg.

  • Article Item
    The cast of Teatro la Plaza, eight actors with Down syndrome, perform "Hamlet" on stage. Two wear paper crowns and one wears an Elizabethan ruff.
    Kings Return , article

    FRI., FEB. 12, 7:30 PM: This a cappella quartet, often compared to Boyz II Men, blends R&B influences with jazz, soulful gospel, and bright pop.

  • Article Item
    The cast of Teatro la Plaza, eight actors with Down syndrome, perform "Hamlet" on stage. Two wear paper crowns and one wears an Elizabethan ruff.
    "An Evening with Sona Jobarteh" , article

    WED., MARCH 24, 7:30 PM: The first professional female kora virtuoso, Sona Jobarteh and her band blend intricate kora playing, expressive vocals, and buoyant rhythms.

Authors/speakers 

  • Article Item
    Author Colson Whitehead, a middled aged Black man with dreads pulled back into a ponytail, wears a dark grey leather jacket and grey floral and white button down shirt in front of a light grey background.
    "An Evening with Colson Whitehead" , article

    WED., SEPT. 30, 7:30 PM: Acclaimed author Colson Whitehead ("The Underground Railroad") is one of the most dazzling and innovative voices in contemporary literature.

  • Article Item
    The cast of Teatro la Plaza, eight actors with Down syndrome, perform "Hamlet" on stage. Two wear paper crowns and one wears an Elizabethan ruff.
    "An Evening with David Sedaris" , article

    WED., NOV. 4, 7:30 PM: Bestselling author David Sedaris gives a live reading and offers reflections with his signature sharp observation and self-deprecating wit.

  • Article Item
    The cast of Teatro la Plaza, eight actors with Down syndrome, perform "Hamlet" on stage. Two wear paper crowns and one wears an Elizabethan ruff.
    National Geographic Live , article

    WED., MARCH 3, 7:30 PM: Aerospace engineer and National Geographic Explorer Tracy Drain offers a front-row view of humanity’s exploration of our cosmic backyard.

"Broadway in Blacksburg"

Broadway returns to Southwest Virginia with the center’s “Broadway in Blacksburg” series.

  • Article Item
    The cast of Teatro la Plaza, eight actors with Down syndrome, perform "Hamlet" on stage. Two wear paper crowns and one wears an Elizabethan ruff.
    "Hadestown" , article

    MON., MARCH 15, 7:30 PM: Intertwining two mythic tales, "Hadestown" is a haunting and hopeful theatrical experience that grabs you and never lets go.

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, the Broadway production is already included in the subscription. Subscriber discounts do not apply to the “Broadway in Blacksburg” series.

Purchase subscriptions

Subscriptions for the 2026-27 season offer discounted prices, priority seat selection, and first access to major events, including pre-sales for the Broadway performance, before they go on public sale.

This year, there are four ways to subscribe:

  • Premier Plus Subscription features 21 performances at a 25 percen t discount and includes tickets for the 2026-27 “Broadway in Blacksburg” performance, “Hadestown.”
  • Premier Subscription includes 21 performances 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.

Please note that the “Broadway in Blacksburg” performance and some special events, including Emanuel Ax and Yo-Yo Ma, are not eligible for subscription discounts.

Student and youth tickets are always $10 per performance, including subscriptions, excluding “Broadway in Blacksburg” performances and special events.

Subscriptions can be purchased online; at the Center for the Arts box office, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; or by calling 540-231-5300. Currently, only subscription packages are available for purchase for the 2026-27 season. Tickets for individual performances go on sale Thursday, Aug. 6, at 10 a.m.

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