Performing Arts Houston Announces 2025-2026 Season
For media inquiries, please contact:
Caroline Senter, Public Relations Manager
[email protected]
713-632-8105
39 engagements with artists from 11 countries, including Hollywood stars, Houston debuts, dinner theater from New Zealand, and more
Highlights include:
Every Tenth Seat commits over 10,000 tickets to access
Performing Arts Houston dedicates 10% of all tickets to local students, veterans, and community groups—a first-of-its-kind commitment to arts access.
Jeff Goldblum plays jazz, and more special events
Concert Truck brings free classical performances to twelve Houston locations, New Zealand’s Indian Ink Theatre shares an immersive dinner theater experience, and Performing Arts Houston’s New/Now series returns for its sixth consecutive year of multidisciplinary world premieres by local artists.
Five groundbreaking dance companies
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns with Revelations, Ballet Hispánico reimagines Carmen, Taiwan’s Hung Dance debuts with Birdy, Step Afrika! presents The Migration, and Ballets Jazz Montréal moves to music by Leonard Cohen.
Global voices & Americana
Portuguese fado icon Mariza, the Houston debut of GRAMMY-winning singer and instrumentalist Rhiannon Giddens, Irish supergroup Lúnasa, Zimbabwe’s Mokoomba, and more.
Next-level classical stars
Australian classical comedy duo TwoSet Violin and Russian-Ukrainian piano virtuoso Alexander Malofeev debut at Jones Hall, and GRAMMY winners Time For Three play holiday favorites.
Big-name speakers and Good Things
Academy Award-winner Jane Fonda joins for an inspiring conversation, Neil deGrasse Tyson returns to fact-check Hollywood sci-fi blockbusters, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat star Samin Nosrat shares her new book, Good Things.
Bubble magic and the World Cup
Gazillion Bubble Show fills Jones Hall with bubbles and lasers, Riverdance’s 30th Anniversary World Tour arrives with Houston’s 2026 World Cup games.
Solange Knowles’s Eldorado homecoming
Previously announced, Solange’s Eldorado Ballroom Houston features six evenings of music, film, and performance art in partnership with Performing Arts Houston.
(HOUSTON, April 29, 2025) – Performing Arts Houston announces its 59th season of exceptional live arts. Balancing a wide range of artistry—dance, music, theater, speakers, celebrity guests, community events, and more—the new season brings some of the most acclaimed and artistically significant artists in the world to Houston’s stages. The New/Now commissioning series, the most prolific new works project for local artists, plus a major series honoring the impact of Third Ward’s Eldorado Ballroom curated by Solange Knowles, extend the spotlight to our own communities.
“The 25/26 Season is one highlight after another,” says Meg Booth, Performing Arts Houston President & CEO. “Having spent most of my life in the arts, I’ve never been more excited about coming to the theater.”
“We’ve got scores of debuts and extraordinary artists like Rhiannon Giddens, Ballets Jazz Montréal, and Alexander Malofeev, outstanding global voices including Mariza, Lúnasa, and Mokoomba, renowned speakers Jane Fonda, Samin Nosrat, and Neil deGrasse Tyson, special events including Indian Ink Theatre’s Mrs. Krishnan’s Party, the 30th Anniversary of Riverdance and the return of Houston’s annual Mariachi Festival.”
“We have a huge range of artistry celebrating the human spirit you can’t find anywhere else. Serious fun, and serious art. I’m proud to say—at Performing Arts Houston, we do it all.”
Tickets for the 25/26 Season are currently on sale to Performing Arts Houston members. Visit performingartshouston.org for details on memberships, ticket pricing, and upcoming public on-sale dates.
Every Tenth Seat: Arts for All
Beginning with the 25/26 Season, Performing Arts Houston will launch Every Tenth Seat: Arts for All, a first-of-its-kind commitment to arts access, allocating 10% of the entire season’s tickets to students, veterans, and community partners.
“Art is for everyone, but not everyone has pathway to experience the arts. We want to do something about it and give 10% of our 25/26 season seats to our community,” says Meg Booth. “As we approach our 60th Anniversary in 2026, Performing Arts Houston is looking to the future. We know the arts help us thrive—driving incredible economic impact in our communities, improving education outcomes, helping us all see the world differently, inspiring us to connect with others and lead more creative lives. Every Tenth Seat is an initiative we’re excited to launch so more Houstonians can be welcomed into our theaters and introduced to the arts. We’re ready to thrive.”
Tudor Family Dance Series
The 25/26 Season features five world-renowned dance companies, each performing works indicative of their unique styles. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns with Revelations on every performance plus works from the company’s modern repertoire. This marks Performing Arts Houston’s 20th engagement with the “quintessential American dance company” (The New York Times). NYC’s Ballet Hispánico, the largest Hispanic cultural organization in the U.S., performs CARMEN.maquia for the 150th anniversary of Bizet’s opera, pairing his score with Picasso-inspired production design and infusions of Latin dance. Washington D.C.’s Step Afrika!, founded by Houston native Brian Williams, returns with The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence, inspired by Lawrence’s 60-panel series depicting the migration of African Americans to the industrial North during the Jim Crow era. Canadian contemporary dance company Ballets Jazz Montréal give their first Houston performances with Dance Me, a highly evocative evening inspired by the words, music, and philosophy of Montreal artist, poet, and singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen. Marking another Houston debut, Taiwan’s Hung Dance performs the visually innovative work Birdy, a critically acclaimed experience exploring themes of isolation and entrapment through contemporary dance styles.
Global Voices Music Series
The Global Voices Music Series returns, highlighting music of Ireland, Mexico, Portugal, and Zimbabwe with masters of the genre. Mariza returns to Jones Hall for the first time in over a decade, singing fado classics (a style of Portuguese blues, meaning “fate”) and her own original songs. Lúnasa brings some of Ireland’s most celebrated instrumentalists together, sharing folk dances and melodies of the Emerald Isle. The group makes their Houston debut for St. Patrick’s Day weekend. GRAMMY & Latin GRAMMY winner Lila Downs returns with a reimagined celebration of Mexican and Mexican-American Day of the Dead traditions. All attendees are invited to honor loved ones at Performing Arts Houston’s community ofrenda. Mokoomba, a six-piece band from Victoria Falls, creates a new blend of sound, combining Afrobeat dance music, electric guitar rock, and traditional Zimbabwean rhythms.
Chiang Family Series
The 25/26 Season Chiang Family Series features popular productions for all ages. Comedy duo TwoSet Violin reimagines what classical music can be, pairing equal parts humor and high-caliber musicianship. The duo got their start on YouTube, quickly building an enormous online following (9.5 million followers across platforms, with over 1 billion streams). Gazillion Bubble Show, NYC’s longest-running off-Broadway family show, fills the newly renovated Jones Hall auditorium with thousands of bubbles plus lasers, in three performances. Cirque Dreams Holidaze, Cirque du Soleil’s longest-running holiday celebration, brings contemporary circus arts and Broadway-style production. Blue Man Group returns with eight performances featuring improvised instruments and a musical approach that inspires curiosity and play while transcending boundaries. Irish dance phenomenon Riverdance embarks on a new world tour, elevating the production with fresh choreography, costumes, and stage design. The June 2026 performances coincide with Houston’s World Cup games, building on the cultural options available to visitors.
Admiral Transfer Music Series
Continuing a decades-long tradition, Performing Arts Houston presents the Houston debut of the next Gold Medalist of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. More information will be available after the competition closes, on June 7, 2025. Ukrainian-Russian piano virtuoso Alexander Malofeev arrived on the world stage with a career-defining win at the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians at age 13. Malofeev makes his Houston debut in the refined acoustics of the newly renovated Jones Hall. GRAMMY-winning American mandolinist and singer-songwriter Chris Thile, a founding member of the groups Nickel Creek and Punch Brothers, performs a one-night-only evening of songs from his latest solo album. Pioneering organ virtuoso Cameron Carpenter will perform two major works at The Church of St. John the Divine—J.S. Bach’s Goldberg Variations and Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. Two-time GRAMMY-winner Rhiannon Giddens, a multi-faceted artist with projects including the Silk Road Ensemble and contributions to Beyonce’s Texas Hold ‘Em, and a recipient of the MacArthur “Genius” Grant and the Pulitzer Prize, makes her Houston debut at Jones Hall. Virtuoso artists and ensembles shaping the future of classical music offer invigorating performances on the 25/26 Season. Austrian septet Mnozil Brass, known as the “Monty Python of the music world,” transforms music by The Waltz King in their new tour, called Strau$$. Time For Three, a trio of GRAMMY-winning classical soloists ring in the season with a genre-bending blend of holiday favorites.
Speaker Series
Two-time Academy Award-winning actor and stalwart humanitarian Jane Fonda joins the season with an evening of stories and discussion. Chef Samin Nosrat (Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat) will discuss her latest cookbook, Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with the People You Love. A limited number of premium tickets are available, which include a signed copy of the new book. Beloved humorist David Sedaris returns to Jones Hall with excerpts from his published and unpublished writing, plus a book signing for all attendees that typically runs late into the night. Another Houston audience favorite, Neil deGrasse Tyson explores the science behind Hollywood blockbusters in An Astrophysicist Goes to the Movies.
Special Events
Actor Jeff Goldblum & the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra return for an evening of jazz, humor, and audience interaction for Performing Arts Houston’s annual Opening Night event. Indian Ink Theatre’s immersive dinner theater experience, Mrs. Krishnan’s Party, debuts with twelve performances at Asia Society Texas Center. Each performance brings audiences into the story, with the opportunity to enjoy a feast cooked live during the show. Mobile performance venue Concert Truck, created by classical soloists Nick Luby and Susan Zhang, performs a dozen free performances in communities around Houston to be announced later this year. The truck travels fully equipped with lights, sound system, piano, and performance stage. Continuing a partnership with Mariachi Festival, the three-day celebration gathers mariachi musicians, folklorico dancers, and audiences from across Texas. Blade Runner Live takes audiences into the futuristic world of Ridley Scott’s 1982 Academy Award-nominated motion picture starring Harrison Ford.
New/Now: The Houston Artist Commissioning Project
Performing Arts Houston is committed to uplifting local working artists through the New/Now commissioning series, creating a unique pathway to the stage for new works by professional and emerging Houston creatives. Applications for 25/26 New/Now awards are open now, and close on June 15, 2025. New/Now winners receive wholistic creation support for their proposals, including promotional asset development by Houston photographer Claire McAdams, marketing, public relations, technical support, and a full presentation of their new works onstage at the Wortham Center’s Cullen Theater.
“As we approach our sixth year of this program, we’re so proud to have supported the creation of 16 new works by accomplished Houston artists (in addition to 9 virtual commissions during the pandemic),” says Meg Booth. “These programs have been fantastic showcases of the breadth and depth of creativity within Houston’s cultural sector. Our growing audiences have loved the personality and exposure to new ideas and programs.”
“New/Now gives audiences a rare opportunity to see a broad sample of Houston’s artists and be present for the true heartbeat of creation.”
Winners will be announced later this year. Tickets to New/Now premieres are Pick Your Price, allowing buyers to select prices on a scale from $0 and up, with proceeds supporting new works by Houston artists. More information at performingartshouston.org/newnow.
Education & Community programs bring artists into the community
Performing Arts Houston’s Education & Community Engagement programs bring 25/26 Season artists into Houston-area schools and communities. Programs include extensive residences with leading dance companies, Step Afrika!, Hung Dance, and Ballet Hispánico, artist Q&As (Creative Chats) with mainstage artists and special guests, masterclasses, workshops, open rehearsals, and dozens of opportunities for local student and professional performers to share their artistry before mainstage events (H-E-B Prelude Performances). Learn more at performingartshouston.org/education.
Houston Creates film series with global strategic company CLICKON
This season, Performing Arts Houston unveils Houston Creates, a film series that takes audiences behind the scenes of the organization’s vibrant arts community. Produced in collaboration with CLICKON, a global strategic and production company known for working with brands like BBC Storyworks, the U.S. Navy, Land Rover, and Special Olympics, the series includes four powerful profiles
Featured are Performing Arts Houston board member Jay Jones, longtime Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater attendee Beverly Smith, Houston muralist David Maldonado, and Virginia Johnson, the visionary Artistic Director of Dance Theatre of Harlem, who recently retired.
Additional stories are told through the lens of Houston photographer Claire McAdams, along with interviews with Performing Arts Houston’s Public Relations Manager, Caroline Senter.
Eldorado Ballroom Houston, curated by Solange Knowles for Saint Heron
As previously announced, Solange Knowles and Saint Heron bring the multidisciplinary series Eldorado Ballroom Houston, this June 10-20, 2025. The series unfolds in partnership with Performing Arts Houston through six programs across three venues, Jones Hall, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the historic Eldorado Ballroom.
Driven by her dedication to Black artists through Saint Heron, Solange Knowles formed the Eldorado Ballroom series at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) in 2023. The event prompted one New York Times critic to write, “With a little luck, Houston may have its own Eldorado Ballroom soon, too.”
Now, thanks to the generous support of sponsors, donors, and community partners, Eldorado Ballroom Houston becomes a reality.
“Working with Solange and her team at Saint Heron, to honor the legacy of Houston’s Eldorado Ballroom is a highlight of our organization’s history. We could be more proud to bring this series home to Houston,” says Booth.
More about Eldorado Ballroom Houston at performingartshouston.org/eldorado.
25/26 Season Sponsors
Performing Arts Houston’s 25/26 Season is sponsored in part by Le Meridien Houston Downtown, H-E-B, and the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. Series sponsors include the Tudor Family, Chiang Family, and Admiral Transfer and Rigging.
Tickets & Memberships
Performing Arts Houston members enjoy priority access to all performances, ticket savings, and behind the scenes exclusives. One contribution, starting from $25, unlocks an entire year of benefits. Membership contributions are tax deductible, minus fair market value, and support arts education programs in our city. Visit performingartshouston.org to learn more.
About Performing Arts Houston
Performing Arts Houston connects audiences with exceptional artists from around the world. Founded in 1966, the multi-disciplinary arts non-profit presents national and international tours while creating pathways to the stage for Houston’s artists, through New/Now: The Houston Artist Commissioning Project. Each season, touring and local artists reach Houston-area students and community members through an extensive range of bespoke education and community engagement programs. Learn more at performingartshouston.org and follow on social @performingartshouston.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Caroline Senter, Public Relations Manager
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 713-632-8105
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