Renée Fleming with Béla Fleck: The Fiddle and the Drum
Date: May 23
Venue: Charleston Gaillard Center
Renée Fleming returns with banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck for The Fiddle and the Drum, a radiant tribute to Appalachian folk traditions and America’s musical heritage.
An Evening with Ken Burns
Date: May 27
Venue: College of Charleston Sottile Theater
A luminous celebration of America at 250, this evening with filmmaker Ken Burns blends conversation, music, and imagery to explore the ideals, struggles, and contradictions of the American Revolution—and their enduring impact today.
The Old Maid and the Thief
Date: May 22, 25, 27, 29
Venue: Dock Street Theatre
A new Spoleto production of Gian Carlo Menotti’s comedic radio opera, The Old Maid and the Thief, featuring live sound effects that evoke the excitement of radio’s golden age.
Dido and Aeneas
Date: May 23, 26, 28, 30
Venue: College of Charleston Sottile Theater
Heart-stopping acrobatics and Henry Purcell’s haunting score propel Dido and Aeneas to new heights in a visionary collaboration with the internationally acclaimed physical theater ensemble Circa.
Scottish Ballet: Mary, Queen of Scots
Date: May 28, 29, 30
Venue: Charleston Gaillard Center
The U.S. premiere of Scottish Ballet’s Mary, Queen of Scots, a sweeping dance-theater work exploring power, identity, and the reverberations of the Reformation amid Europe’s dynastic conflicts.
Martha Graham Dance Company: Graham 100
Date: May 22, 23, 24, 25
Venue: Festival Hall
Celebrate the enduring legacy of visionary choreographer Martha Graham with a powerful program marking the company’s centennial.
Ayodele Casel: The Remix
Date: June 4, 5, 6, 7
Venue: College of Charleston Sottile Theater
Ayodele Casel returns to Spoleto Festival USA with The Remix, a vibrant celebration of tap as a uniquely American art form, revisiting two decades of her work through the music and cultural spirit of the 1990s tap renaissance.
George + George
Date: May 29, 30, 31
Venue: Emmett Robinson Theatre at College of Charleston
A comedic romp through the American Revolution, this inventive new work unfolds as a lively staged reading.
All the Devils Are Here: How Shakespeare Invented the Villain
Date: June 3, 5, 6, 7
Venue: Festival Hall
Patrick Page dives into Shakespeare’s darkest hearts, uncovering the twisted motives and hidden humanity of the Bard’s greatest villains in a riveting tour de force.
Tell Your Story
Date: May 26
Venue: Simons Center Recital Hall at College of Charleston
Four Festival Orchestra fellows pair with Charleston-based entrepreneurs, artists, and activists to create aural memoirs—works of creative placemaking distinct to the South Carolina Lowcountry and to this moment.
The Untold Story Behind Porgy & Bess
Date: June 2
Venue: Charleston Gaillard Center
Explore the hidden history of Porgy & Bess in a one-night-only free event featuring excerpts from the documentary When Porgy Came Home, live music, and a panel on its Gullah roots, Charleston legacy, and the opera’s complex journey.
Table Read: The Duchy
Date: May 31
Venue: Emmett Robinson Theatre at College of Charleston
Spoleto Festival USA proudly presents a special table read of The Duchy, a bold new play by Denis O’Hare. This sharp, provocative story imagines a time where the Red States and the Blue States have separated, leaving a tiny island of neutrality called the “Duchy” in a wild and tenuous position.
Humans 2.0 by Circa
Date: May 24, 25
Venue: College of Charleston Sottile Theater
An unforgettable adventure of movement, music, and light! Circa’s Humans 2.0 is a breathtaking blend of acrobatics and imagination—where ten incredible performers twist, balance, and soar together in ways that seem to defy gravity.
Spoleto Festival USA Chorus: The Chorus Concerts
Date: June 5, 6
Venue: St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
The Festival chorus fills the stunning St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church for these beloved performances, integral to the Festival since 1977.
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5
Date: May 24
Venue: Charleston Gaillard Center
Experience Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5, celebrated for its sweeping melodies and narrative brilliance—qualities that also define his iconic ballets Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.
Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra: Appalachian Spring and American Classics
Date: May 31
Venue: St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
Celebrate the richness of American music with the Festival Orchestra, under the dynamic direction of Music Director Timothy Myers, in the stunning, historic St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church.
Mozart’s Mass in C Minor
Date: May 29
Venue: College of Charleston Sottile Theater
Mozart’s Mass in C Minor, premiered in 1783—the year Britain recognized American independence—comes to life with the Festival Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Amanda Quist in her Festival Chorus debut, reflecting freedom and creative spirit.
Mahler Symphony No. 1
Date: June 4
Venue: Charleston Gaillard Center
The Festival Orchestra presents Mahler’s “Titan,” famed for its darkly humorous funeral march and triumphant finale, alongside the premiere of Paul Wiancko’s new violin concerto, co-commissioned by Spoleto for violinist Livia Sohn.
Bank of America Chamber Music
Date: May 22–June 7
Venue: Dock Street Theatre
Rich in revelry and fellowship, this Festival institution features globally renowned musicians performing 11 programs that span canonical classics and vibrant new works.
Dead as a Dodo
Date: May 29, 30, 31
Venue: Festival Hall
Dead as a Dodo is a mesmerizing musical odyssey— sparking a darkly funny, life-affirming tale of friendship, transformation, and survival. This show is perfect for families with children 7+.
Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer
Date: May 23, 24, 25
Venue: Emmett Robinson Theatre at College of Charleston
A multi-award-winning, one-man puppet show that combines live performance, animation, and music into a moving story of love, hope, and courage.
Terence Blanchard + The E-Collective: Miles Davis & John Coltrane at 100
Date: May 26
Venue: Charleston Music Hall
Terence Blanchard brings his electrifying trumpet and E-Collective to Spoleto in a bold tribute to jazz innovators Miles Davis and John Coltrane, fusing fearless improvisation, powerful melodies, and urgent contemporary vision.
Sullivan Fortner
Date: June 5, 6
Venue: Simons Center Recital Hall at College of Charleston
Returning to Spoleto after his acclaimed 2025 appearance, jazz pianist Sullivan Fortner presents two programs in 2026: an intimate solo recital and a dynamic trio performance, showcasing his virtuosic improvisation, ensemble mastery, and singular artistry.
Pedrito Martinez Group
Date: June 3
Venue: College of Charleston Cistern Yard
Grammy-winning percussionist Pedrito Martinez returns to Spoleto with his electrifying ensemble, blending Afro-Cuban rhythms, powerful vocals, and infectious energy into an irresistible celebration of dance, heritage, and improvisation.
Mali Obomsawin
Date: May 23, 24
Venue: Dock Street Theatre
Rising artist Mali Obomsawin makes her Spoleto debut, blending Indigenous tradition with modern jazz and improvisation. Leading her ensemble, the bassist, vocalist, and composer weaves Native rhythms, bold harmonies, and stories of identity and resilience.
Jason Moran: Ellington in Focus
Date: June 1
Venue: College of Charleston Sottile Theater
Jason Moran reimagines the world of Duke Ellington in an immersive concert blending inventive piano, storytelling, and Gordon Parks’ iconic images. Music, history, and imagery combine in a bold, playful tribute to an American original.
Black Gold: Quentin E. Baxter Celebrates Moacir Santos featuring Chico Pinheiro
Date: May 30
Venue: Charleston Music Hall
Charleston native Quentin E. Baxter joins Brazilian guitarist Chico Pinheiro to celebrate visionary composer Moacir Santos, reimagining Ouro Negro in a vibrant evening of jazz, rhythm, and cross-cultural dialogue.
Punch Brothers
Date: May 24
Venue: College of Charleston Cistern Yard
Punch Brothers—five virtuosos redefining bluegrass—return to Spoleto to open Live at the Cistern 2026. Known for boundary-breaking originals and inventive reimaginings, they blend conservatory mastery with the spirit and accessibility of their roots.
Mountain Goats with William Tyler and Yasmin Williams
Date: May 31
Venue: College of Charleston Cistern Yard
The Mountain Goats, led by John Darnielle—once dubbed “America’s best non-hip-hop lyricist”—bring their story-driven folk-rock to Spoleto, with guitarists William Tyler and Yasmin Williams opening.
Molly Tuttle
Date: June 4
Venue: College of Charleston Cistern Yard
Molly Tuttle, Grammy-winning bluegrass virtuoso and award-winning guitarist, blends stunning flatpicking, sharp songwriting, and genre-defying sound that celebrates roots, resilience, and optimism.
Indigo Girls
Date: June 2
Venue: College of Charleston Cistern Yard
The Indigo Girls make their Spoleto debut with harmonies and anthems of hope. Their rare 2026 performance promises intimate, charged energy, and a celebration of enduring musical impact.
Emmylou Harris
Date: June 5
Venue: College of Charleston Cistern Yard
Emmylou Harris, one of country music’s most distinctive voices, returns to Spoleto with her own band. From legendary duets with Gram Parsons to iconic albums and collaborations, her quavering soprano has shaped generations of music lovers.
Colin Meloy
Date: June 6
Venue: College of Charleston Cistern Yard
Colin Meloy of The Decemberists makes his Spoleto debut, delivering literate, urgent indie rock sagas. Known for ambitious albums, solo work, and novels, he brings wit, warmth, and storytelling magic to Cistern Yard under the live oaks.
Brandi Carlile
Date: June 7
Venue: College of Charleston Cistern Yard
Brandi Carlile takes the Cistern stage for an intimate solo acoustic performance. Experience a deeply personal evening of music and storytelling—pure artistry at its finest.
Opening Gala
Date: May 21
Please join Spoleto Festival USA in celebrating the start of another extraordinary Festival at the Opening Gala, all to support the Festival’s mission.
Opening Ceremony
Date: May 22
Venue: Charleston City Hall
Spoleto and the Charleston community unite to open the Festival at this public event.
Jazz Talks
Date: May 24, June 1
Venue: Various
Spoleto Festival USA’s Jazz Curator Larry Blumenfeld speaks with artists from the 2026 Wells Fargo Jazz Series.
Conversations With
Date: May 27, June 1, 4
Venue: Simons Center Recital Hall at College of Charleston
Emmy Award-winning CBS News correspondent Martha Teichner hosts intimate conversations illuminating the creative process behind select 2026 productions.