Fall 2026 Performing Arts Preview

ORCHESTRAL MUSIC 

With the National Symphony Orchestra performing at Strathmore — second home of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and home of the National Philharmonic — there are back-to-back orchestral concerts in North Bethesda this fall, including two season-opening galas: the BSO’s, with jazz vocalist Samara Joy, conducted by Music Director Jonathon Heyward (Sept. 25) and the NSO’s, featuring works by Tchaikovsky, Respighi and Carlos Simon, conducted by Music Director Gianandrea Noseda (Sept. 26). 

Jazz vocalist Samara Joy will appear with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at its season-opening gala concert on Sept. 25 at Strathmore.

Two more back-to-backs: the NSO with Noseda (Oct. 2) and the BSO with Heyward (Oct. 3); and the NSO with Leonard Slatkin (Oct. 24) and the BSO with Giancarlo Guerrero (Oct. 25). In between, BSO Music Director Laureate Marin Alsop returns to conduct a program for the 25th anniversary of 9/11: Tchaikovsky’s “Pathétique,” Barber’s “Adagio for Strings” and John Adams’s “On the Transmigration of Souls” with The Washington Chorus (Oct. 17). 

The NSO is playing other halls, too. For example: George Mason University’s Center for the Arts in Fairfax, where Noseda will conduct “Pictures at an Exhibition,” “Scheherazade” and “Boléro” (Oct. 1) and Adams will conduct his “Scheherazade.2” with violinist Leila Josefowicz (Oct. 15 and 16); and George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium, where Teddy Abrams will conduct the world premiere of Sarah Kirkland Snider’s “Urge” with bass-baritone Will Liverman (Nov. 12 and 14). 

First up from the National Philharmonic: “From the New World: Dvořák, Karpman & Beethoven,” conducted by Carolyn Kuan, with Inon Barnatan playing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 (Sept. 19). In November, soprano Danielle Talamantes will sing Samuel Barber’s “Knoxville: Summer of 1915” and George and Ira Gershwin tunes at “Postcards from America,” with Daniel Hege conducting (Nov. 7). 

Artistic Director Victoria Gau opens the Capital City Symphony’s season at the Atlas Performing Arts Center with “Mysterious Landscapes,” featuring Mozart’s Piano Concerto in B-flat Major, played by Novik Competition winner Caroline Su, and works by Alan Hovhaness, Doreen Carwithen and Maria Grenfell (Oct. 4). An instrument petting zoo precedes Respighi’s “Pines of Rome” at “The Mighty Pines: An Orchestral Forest Adventure” (Nov. 15). 

CHAMBER MUSIC 

Two golden anniversaries: Artistic Director Robert Eisenstein launches Folger Consort’s 50th season with a seminar (Sept. 9) explicating the following weekend’s “Monteverdi’s Legacy” concerts (Sept. 11 to 13). Also hitting the big 5-0: the Smithsonian Chamber Music Society, presenting works by Telemann at the National Museum of American History (Sept. 27). 

Counterpoint Concerts shouts “AMERICA!” in Dupont Underground, featuring works by Rachmaninoff, Schoenberg, Bartók and Lera Auerbach (Sept. 18). 

Ever-innovative PostClassical Ensemble, led by Music Director Ángel Gil-Ordóñez, presents “The Song Is You: The Classic American Popular Song and Its Sources” in Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Klein Theatre (Sept. 23). PCE next ponders “Your Brain on Music: Sound, Science and Soul” at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center (Nov. 16 and 17). 

The Phillips Collection’s 86th season of Sunday afternoon concerts — entirely sold out, with rush and standby options — opens with the Ariel Quartet, joined by pianist Orion Weiss (Sept. 27). 

More quartets: the Escher at St. John’s, Georgetown (Oct. 4), Poiesis at Strathmore (Oct. 15), Attacca (Oct. 30) and the Bennewitz with pianist Arsentiy Kharitonov (Nov. 13) at the Library of Congress and, presented by SCMS, the Axelrod at NMAH (Oct. 31 and Nov. 1). 

Strathmore presents Poiesis Quartet on Oct. 15.

The 21st Century Consort’s “An Unsecret Garden” program at the Hirshhorn includes Schoenberg’s “The Book of Hanging Gardens” for mezzo-soprano and piano, a string trio by Helen Grime, a string quartet by Caroline Shaw and works for solo flute by Peteris Vasks, for solo piano by Mikhail Johnson and for clarinet, violin, cello and piano by Paul Novak (Oct. 3 and 4). 

At the Library of Congress: Musicians from the Teatro Royal of Spain (Oct. 19) and “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band Chamber Orchestra (Oct. 21). 

Georgetown boasts not one but two Dumbarton series. Music at Dumbarton Oaks opens with cellist Eric Jacobsen & Friends (Oct. 25 and 26) and Dumbarton Concerts presents cello and piano duo Tommy Mesa and Olga Kern, playing Beethoven, Debussy and Barber (Oct. 17), and Trio Zimbalist, playing Ravel, Smetana and Robert Schumann (Nov. 14). 

Fortas Chamber Music Concerts relocated from the Ken Cen to the Corcoran. Artistic Director Jennifer Koh plays violin works by Bach, Missy Mazzoli and Philip Glass (Oct. 4). Later on, PubliQuartet performs a contemporary program named for Janet Jackson’s album “Rhythm Nation” (Nov. 14).  

Washington Performing Arts presents violinist Itzhak Perlman and pianist Rohan De Silva at Strathmore (Oct. 14) and Wolf Trap’s Chamber Music at the Barns welcomes violinist Daniel Hope and pianist Maxim Lando (Nov. 1). 

Finally, pianists: Washington Performing Arts brings Élisabeth Pion to the Hopkins Bloomberg Center (Oct. 3) and Simone Dinnerstein (Oct. 18) and Minsoo Sohn (Nov. 14) to Sixth & I; Leah Claiborne opens the National Women’s Foundation’s concert series at the Whittemore House, playing works by Florence Price (Oct. 8); GMU hosts Keyboard Conversations with Jeffrey Siegel in Fairfax (Oct. 11) and at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas (Nov. 8); and Music at Dumbarton Oaks presents Benjamin Hochman (Nov. 8 and 9). 

VOCAL MUSIC 

Vocal Arts DC delivers tenor Ben Bliss and pianist Christopher Allen, celebrating American song at Live! At 10th & G (Oct. 4), then tenor Matthew Polenzani and pianist Ken Noda, performing Schubert’s “Schwanengesang” and Italian songs and arias at the Embassy of France (Nov. 9). 

Also at the Embassy of France, the Russian Chamber Art Society opens its 20th anniversary season with “Timur: Songs of Love & Satire,” featuring the Kazakh American tenor, pianist Matt Podd and violinist Yvette Cornelia Holzwarth (Oct. 9). 

Timur: Songs of Love & Satire,” the Russian Chamber Art Society’s Oct. 9 season-opener, will feature the Kazakh American tenor.

In the Fortas series, bass-baritone Davóne Tines performs “Recital No. 1: MASS,” a reimagining of the Catholic Mass incorporating music from several centuries (Oct. 14). 

In the Dumbarton Concerts series, harpist Oliver Wass joins British countertenor Iestyn Davies to perform European and American songs and a cycle written for Davies by Nico Muhly (Oct. 23). 

Speaking of that vocal range, Anthony Roth Constanzo gives a talk and recital at the Library of Congress in connection with his book “Countertenor” (Nov. 9). 

GMU is presenting two a cappella ensembles: British octet Voces8 in Fairfax (Oct. 17), and All-Ireland champion Kevin Elam’s sextet Ars Populi in Manassas (Nov. 10). 

CHORAL MUSIC 

In partnership with the Embassy of Germany, the Choral Arts Society of Washington convenes an Oktoberfest Community Sing, with a performance of the fourth movement of Brahms’s “Ein deutsches Requiem,” at Sauf Haus Bier Hall, 1216 18th St. NW (Sept. 20). The following month, “In Search of Home,” at the Church of the Epiphany, “integrates multiple perspectives on refuge, identity and human connection” (Oct. 25). 

Led by Artistic Director Matthew Robertson, The Thirteen performs “Ein deutsches Requiem” and Margaret Bonds’s “Credo” with pianists Brian Gaz and Eric Conway (Oct. 16 at Schlesinger Concert Hall, Oct. 17 at National Presbyterian Church and Oct. 18 at Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church).

Washington Master Chorale, led by Artistic Director Thomas Colohan, sings works by Dvořák, Bartók and others at “Pathways of Light” at the Church of the Epiphany (Oct. 18). 

“Heated Revelry,” the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington’s fall cabaret at the Keegan Theatre, targets sports and games with songs such as “We Are the Champions,” “Playing Catch” and “Show Off” (Oct. 24). 

At Washington National Cathedral, the Cathedral Choral Society presents Rossini’s “Petite Messe Solennelle” (Oct. 25). 

With a focus on “women composers exploring women’s voices over the centuries,” Tapestry Vocal Ensemble performs at Strathmore (Nov. 5). “The Road to Ferrara,” a program of Renaissance choral music, brings the DC Singer Collective to St. John’s, Georgetown (Nov. 8). 

Conducted by Artistic Director Erin Freeman, the City Choir of Washington, with its orchestra and Wolf Trap Opera Studio Artists, performs the world premiere of Artistic Director Emeritus Robert Shafer’s “Hymn to God the Father,” Mozart’s “Vesperae solennes de confessore” and Tarik O’Regan’s “Critical Mass” at National Presbyterian Church (Nov. 8). 

“Connecting the Dots … Telling Our Story,” the Heritage Signature Chorale’s season-opener at First Congregational United Church of Christ, “explores the powerful connection between poetry, history, storytelling and music,” performing music by Black composers including Clarence Cameron White, Margaret Bonds, Ulysses S. Kay and Adolphus Hailstork (Nov. 14). 

OPERA 

In Series’ Sic Semper Tyrannis season opens with “The M.A.K.A.DO (Make America Kingly Again!), a buffo take on “The Mikado” with new texts by Bari Biern, at 340 Maple Drive SW. Stage direction is by Artistic Director Timothy Nelson and musical direction by Dana Scott (Oct. 10, 11 and 15 to 18).  

Washington Concert Opera presents Haydn’s “Armida” in Lisner Auditorium. Appearing: Lauren Snouffer, Fran Daniel Laucerica, Shannon Crowley, Jonathan Pierce Rhodes and Andrew Wilkowske. Artistic Director Antony Walker conducts (Oct. 24). 

Having disengaged from you-know-where, Washington National Opera brings “Madama Butterfly” to DAR Constitution Hall, outfitted with a thrust stage. Conducted by Erina Yashima and directed by E. Loren Meeker, the production features soprano Karah Son as Cio-Cio-San, tenor Matthew White as Pinkerton and mezzo-soprano Michelle Mariposa as Suzuki (Nov. 7, 13, 15, 18 and 20). Also at Constitution Hall: John Adams’s “Nixon in China,” conducted by Robert Spano and directed by Elkhanah Pulitzer, with Renée Fleming and Thomas Hampson as the Nixons (Nov. 14, 19 and 21); and “We the People,” a concert event with Fleming, Hampson and Marian Anderson Vocal Award winner Amber R. Monroe (Nov. 22). Note: The Library of Congress hosts “An Evening with Composer John Adams and the Washington National Opera” (Oct. 13). 

Marian Anderson Vocal Award winner Amber R. Monroe will appear with Renée Fleming and Thomas Hampson at a Nov. 22 Washington National Opera concert event, “We the People.”

Opera Lafayette’s 32nd season, themed “Crazy in Love,” hits the Folger stage with a modern world premiere of Rameau’s 18th-century opera-ballet “Les Surprises de l’Amour” (Nov. 13 to 15).  

MUSICALS 

For the 9/11 anniversary, Ford’s Theatre is presenting Irene Sankoff and David Hein’s Newfoundland-set musical “Come From Away,” directed by Kevin S. McAllister and choreographed by Katy Tabb (through Oct. 18). 

Stephen Sondheim’s 1981 musical “Merrily We Roll Along” is rolling along at Signature Theatre, directed and choreographed by Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner with music direction by Jon Kalbfleisch (through Nov. 1). Ahead, also with Gardiner directing: Adam Gwon’s new musical about a closeted math teacher, “All the World’s a Stage,” with music direction by Marika Countouris (Oct. 20 to Dec. 20). 

Stephen Sondheim’s “Merrily We Roll Along” is at Signature Theatre through Nov. 1.

Olney Theatre Center Artistic Director Jason Loewith is directing the Marc Shaiman (composer and co-lyricist) and Scott Wittman (co-lyricist) adaptation — with a book by Matthew Lopez and Amber Ruffin — of the Marilyn Monroe classic “Some Like It Hot,” with choreography by Karla Puno Garcia and music direction by Christopher Youstra (Sept. 18 to Nov. 8). Partly overlapping: a new production of “Les Misérables,” directed by Stephen Brackett with choreography by William Carlos Angulo and music direction by Youstra (Oct. 30 to Jan. 31).  

Here’s The National Theatre lineup: “Dirty Dancing” (Sept. 29 to Oct. 4), “Maybe Happy Ending” (Oct. 6 to 11) and “Mamma Mia” (Oct. 27 to Nov. 15). Also, for one night only: “The Carpenters Songbook: A Live Celebration” (Oct. 17). 

Dupont Underground pulls up the gate for “Woody Sez: The Life & Music of Woody Guthrie,” presented by Voices Festival Productions and Woodrow Theatricals and starring David M. Lutken (Oct. 8 to 25). 

To The Keegan Theatre, celebrating its 30th anniversary season, comes the musical “Hundred Days,” a “true story about embracing uncertainty, taking a leap and loving as if you only had 100 days to live.” The music and lyrics are by indie-folk-punk duo the Bengsons, who wrote the book with Sarah Gancher (Oct. 10 to Nov. 15).  

Cross the river for the Little Theatre of Alexandria’s production of Bock and Harnick’s “She Loves Me” (Oct. 17 to Nov. 7). 

Postponed: The new musical “Nikola” at Arena Stage. 

THEATER  

Closing this weekend: Noël Coward’s “Blithe Spirit” at the Little Theatre of Alexandria, directed by Ward Kay (through Sept. 19).  

At the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, Taffety Punk is wrapping up the world premiere of “Freddie: A Girl” by Kelsey Mesa, directed by Lise Bruneau, about the teenage Oversteegen sisters, who joined the Dutch Resistance and became spies, saboteurs and assassins (through Sept. 19). 

On the spy front, Gala Hispanic Theatre’s tells the hard-to-believe-but-true story of a World War II double agent in Artistic Director Gustavo Ott’s “Garbo: El Actor Que Salvó al Mundo/The Actor Who Saved the World,” directed by Carlos Celdrán (through Sept. 27).  

Now at Woolly Mammoth: Steve Yockey’s “Venus,” directed by Artistic Director Reggie D. White, in which two women on a first date “find themselves haunted by a woman in a red raincoat” (through Oct. 4). Max Posner’s “Hanukkah Spectacular,” directed by David Cromer, follows (Nov. 14 to Dec. 13). 

Also underway: Atlas-based Mosaic Theater Company’s production of “Somewhere Over the Border” by Brian Quijada, directed by Raymond O. Caldwell (through Oct. 4). From the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Hannah Khalil’s “My English Persian Kitchen” — from a story by Atoosa Sepehr — will have its U.S. premiere, directed by Chris White and produced by Mosaic and Irish arts organization Solas Nua (Nov. 12 to Dec. 6). 

Round House Theatre opened its 50th anniversary season with August Wilson’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” with Nicole Michelle Haskins as the Mother of the Blues, co-produced with Olney Theatre Center and directed by Lili-Anne Brown (through Oct. 11).  

Now playing in Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Harman Hall: Oliver Cotton’s “The Score,” directed by Trevor Nunn and starring Brian Cox of “Succession” as Johann Sebastian Bach (through Oct. 18). Coming to STC’s Klein Theatre next month: “Frida … A Self Portrait,” written and performed by Vanessa Severo. Joanie Schultz directs (Oct. 8 to Nov. 8).

Through Oct. 18: Brian Cox of “Succession” plays J.S. Bach in “The Score,” at Shakespeare Theatre Company.

Psalmayene 24 directs Mekala Sridhar’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Measure for Measure” at Folger Theatre, with choreography by Tony Thomas and music by Kokayi (Sept. 22 to Nov. 1). 

More Bard: Doreen Bechtol and Matt Radford Davies direct “The Tempest” at American Shakespeare Center in Staunton (through Nov. 13), playing in repertory with “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein,” directed by Aidan O’Reilly (Oct. 1 to Nov. 14), and “Witch” by Jen Silverman, directed by Jemma Alix Levy (Oct. 8 to Nov. 14). 

NextStop Theatre starts “Reimagining Resiliency” in Herndon with the U.S. premiere of “The Second Best School Shooting” from Edinburgh Fringe, a dark comedy by Alice Stanley Jr. with the following advisories: “discussions of gun violence and self-harm, gunshot sound effects.” Producing Artistic Director Heather Lanza directs (Sept. 17 to Oct. 11). The company’s next stop: Kristoffer Diaz’s “The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity,” directed by Stefan Sittig, about Macedonio “The Mace” Guerra, a wrestler paid to lose (Nov. 5 to 29). 

Sanaz Toossi’s “Wish You Were Here” will arrive at Studio Theatre, directed by Sivan Battat (Sept. 23 to Nov. 1), followed by “Handle With Care” — “No actors, no technicians. Just a box. And you.” — by Ontroerend Goed (Oct. 14 to 25).  

At the Atlas: ExPats Theatre presents “Coming to America: An Immigrant Cabaret,” conceived and directed by Karin Rosnizeck, with “songs, stories and satire” by Vidyuth Sreenivasan, Jacqueline Youm, Karin Rosnizeck and Erick Acuna (Sept. 30 to Oct. 18); Solas Nua presents Meghan Tyler’s “Crocodile Fever,” directed by Jeda de Bri, “celebrating sisterhood whilst reminding us that the pressure cooker of The Troubles is closer than we imagine” (Oct. 17); Ukrainian American event agency MoLoKo presents “Kyivska Perepichka,” a one-woman performance by Irma Vitovska “that explores the lives, dreams, and resilience of Ukrainians in the aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion” (Oct. 18); and the Atlas itself presents “The Room Where It Happened: Songs of Protest and Patriotism,” conceived by Rachel Potter with music from “Hamilton,” “Spring Awakening” and other shows (Oct. 20). 

Theater J at the Edlavitch Jewish Community Center presents Daniel Jamieson’s “The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk,” telling the love story of Bella and Marc Chagall, with music by Ian Ross and Sarah O’Halloran. Artistic Director Hayley Finn directs. (Oct. 7 to Nov. 1). 

At press time, Arena Stage added the Red Scare docudrama “Are You Now or Have You Ever Been?” by Eric Bentley, directed by Anna D. Shapiro, to its fall lineup (Oct. 17 to Dec. 6). 

Synetic Theater’s wordless adaptation by Nathan Weinberger of Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” directed by Paata Tsikurishvili and choreographed by Irina Tsikurishvili, is coming to Olney (Oct. 7 to Nov. 1). 

In Tysons, 1st Stage will mount Harold Pinter’s “Betrayal,” directed by Alex Levy (Oct. 8 to 25). 

AAPI-centered Jaemi Theatre Company presents “Spotlight,” a cabaret at Busboys and Poets in Takoma, to raise funds for an Asian Theater Festival next May (Oct. 19). 

Now a resident partner at the Atlas, Constellation Theatre looks skyward with PigPen Theatre Co.’s “The Old Man and The Old Moon” (Nov. 19 to Dec. 13). 

THEATER FOR KIDS 

Adapted from the book by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert, “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom: The Musical,” written and directed by Nina Meehan with music and lyrics by Austin Zumbro, is coming to Imagination Stage (Sept. 26 to Oct. 18). 

Glen Echo Park’s Adventure Theatre MTC opens its 75th anniversary season with a world premiere: “Beatrice Likes the Dark” by Dani Stoller, based on April Genevieve Tucholke’s picture book. Patrick Flynn directs (Oct. 2 to Nov. 1).  

In the Smithsonian’s Ripley Center, Discovery Theater offers morning performances of “Professor Wingnut Wants to Fly!” (Oct. 27 to 29) and “Dance Stories” with Kalanidhi Dance (Nov. 5 and 6). 

GALA’s fall family show is “Pancho Villa y los Niños de la Bola/Pancho Villa and the Children of the Revolution” by Antonio Zúñiga, directed by Mauricio Pita (Oct. 17 to 31). 

JAZZ, ROOTS, WORLD, POP, ROCK AND HIP HOP 

At Georgetown’s own Blues Alley, trumpeter Nicholas Payton celebrates the Miles Davis/John Coltrane centennial (Sept. 26 and 27). Next month’s highlights: pianist Arturo O’Farrill with his quintet (Oct. 3 and 4), a Cuban Jazz Series (Oct. 11 to 18) and Hammond B-3 Week (Oct. 19 to 23). 

Performing at the Library of Congress: jazz harpist Edmar Castañeda (Nov. 5) and — as part of the library’s “Miles Davis at 100” programming — jazz pianist John Beasley (Nov. 6). 

Some Wolf Trap shows of note: The Avett Brothers (Sept. 18 and 19), Erykah Badu (Sept. 20), Art Garfunkel at Capital One Hall in Tysons (Oct. 30), Jim Messina and Orleans (Nov. 4) and Red Baraat (Nov. 7).  

Coming to Wolf Trap on Nov. 7: Red Baraat.

The Birchmere presents, among others: mandolinist Sierra Hull (Sept. 21), Robin Trower (Sept. 24), John Hiatt (Oct. 6 and 7), Dweezil Zappa (Nov. 1) and ukulelist Jake Shimabukuro (Nov. 8).  

Farther out in the Commonwealth, GMU’s Center for the Arts in Fairfax welcomes Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer [Google her] Orchestra (Oct. 3). Coming to the university’s Hylton Center in Manassas: Bernadette Peters with the American Festival Pops Orchestra (Sept. 19), the Maximilian Jacobs Trio, playing a blend of jazz, classical and Balkan folk (Oct. 13), a live taping of “Mountain Stage” hosted by Kathy Mattea (Oct. 18) and electric blues vocalist Shemekia Copeland (Nov. 7). 

Strathmore standouts: Jacob Collier (Sept. 28), UB40 (Sept. 30) and Chucho Valdés’s 85th birthday (Oct. 18). 

Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band will be at The Anthem (Sept. 28), followed by Shaboozey (Sept. 30), Indigo Girls (Oct. 4), The Chicks (Oct. 6), Morrissey (Oct. 15), Steve Lacy (Oct. 18) and Beck (Oct. 25). 

The Lincoln Theatre lineup includes Men at Work (Sept. 20), Lucinda Williams (Sept. 29), Vitamin String Quartet and Girl Named Tom (Oct. 7) and the Longest Johns (Nov. 6). Coming to The Howard Theatre: Cabaret Voltaire (Sept. 23), Tamar Braxton (Oct. 11), 2 Chainz (Oct. 12) and Skilla Baby (Oct. 23). Screenings: “Little Shop of Horrors” with Ellen “Audrey” Greene (Sept. 25) at the Lincoln and “Hedwig” with  John Cameron Mitchell at the Howard (Sept. 29). 

MGM National Harbor presents The Roots with Junkyard Band (Sept. 18), Roger Daltrey (Sept. 24), New Jack Swing Birthday Bash with Teddy Riley and Guy 2.0 (Oct. 11), Kool & the Gang (Oct. 15), Jodeci (Nov. 12) and Air Supply (Nov. 13). 

More big names, natch, at Capital One Arena: Garth Brooks (Sept. 18 and 19), Charli xcx (Sept. 28), Phoebe Bridgers (Sept. 29), The Jonas Brothers (Sept. 30), Weezer (Oct. 2), Olivia Rodrigo (Oct. 3 and 4) and Rush (Oct. 25 and 27). 

A highlight of Capital One’s fall lineup: Charli xcx on Sept. 28.

The festival season at Merriweather Post Pavilion bows out with the All Things Go Music Festival (Sept. 25 to 27) and the Power To The People Festival (Oct. 3). 

One more: sitarist Niladri Kumaar, presented by Washington Performing Arts at Sixth & I (Oct. 24). 

DANCE 

Arena Stage is stepping up with StepAfrika!’s “The Fruits of Our Labor,” a “visceral new dance piece [that] examines what it means to believe in a nation still in the making,” directed by Jakari Sherman with Conrad R. Kelly II and Vusi Mdoyi (through Nov. 1). 

At Arena Stage through Nov. 1: StepAfrika!’s “The Fruits of Our Labor.”

Washington Performing Arts presents Dance Theatre of Harlem’s “Firebird” at the National Theatre (Sept. 25). 

In residence at the Kreeger Museum, the Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company celebrates kinetic sculptor George Rickey’s “Two Lines Oblique Down III” with “Vectors” (Sept. 26). 

The Embassy of Sweden presents Hiroki Ichinose at Dance Place (Sept. 23 and 24), where the season continues with the Latinx Movement Festival (Oct. 9 to 11), In Flight Theater (Oct. 17) and Family Spooky Disco (Oct. 24). 

Moveius Contemporary Ballet performs “Prelude: A Season of Migration” at Dance Loft on 14 (Oct. 10 and 11). A South Asian Dance Festival arrives the following month, courtesy of Dance Loft Presents! (Nov. 6 and 7). 

International offerings: Ballet Hispánico New York performs “Mujeres” at the McLean Community Center’s Alden Theatre (Oct. 2); Lisner Auditorium hosts Georgian National Ballet “Sukhishvili” (Oct. 28); and GALA’s XXII Fuego Flamenco begins with “La Velada,” created, choreographed and performed by Marta Gálvez (Nov. 5 to 8).  

The Washington Ballet marks its golden anniversary with a 50 Forward Celebration at the National Union Building (Sept. 26) and “Go-Go 50” at the Warner Theatre, featuring choreography by Trey McIntyre, Choo San Goh, Artistic Director Edwaard Liang and Chanel DaSilva, set to music by Etta James, Samuel Barber, Michael Torke and Black Alley (Oct. 30 to Nov. 1). 

And there is dance aplenty on GMU’s campuses this fall. In Fairfax: Music From The Sole tap company (Sept. 26), Compagnie Hervé Koubi (Oct. 24) and the Shanghai Ballet performing “Butterfly Lovers” (Nov. 7) and “Giselle” (Nov. 8). In Manassas: Complexions Contemporary Ballet (Oct. 4) and Manassas Ballet Theatre (Oct. 23 to 25).