Spring Arts Guide 2026

The light is lingering just a little longer each evening, patios are stirring back to life, and my inbox is nudging me with a new assignment: putting together this “Spring Arts Guide” for 2026. For this Flyer newbie, that’s all the confirmation I need that spring is not only arriving, but just beginning to stretch its arms. And with it comes the early bloom of arts events across the city: gallery walls brightening with fresh work, stages warming up with theater and dance, and a creative energy slowly, surely spilling into every corner of Memphis.

ON DISPLAY

“A Well-Trained Eye: The Work and Collections of David McCarthy”

A celebration of over three decades of teaching and scholarship through works from a personal collection.

Clough Hanson Gallery, through March 28

“From 200 to 250: America’s Bicentennial Bash of 1976”

Through photos, artifacts, and firsthand stories, this exhibition revisits Collierville’s role in America’s big Bicentennial birthday.

Morton Museum, through April 18

“Memphis College of Art, 1936-2020: An Enduring Legacy”

A major exhibition honoring one of the South’s most influential independent art schools. 

Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, through September 27

“Four Hearts”

A meditation on the realms beyond, through works from artists across various mediums, exploring the ways we gather, connect, and remember. 

Sheet Cake Gallery, March 7-21

“Grit x Art: The Musical Fashion Show + After Party”

This fashion show, featuring celebrity guest Lance Gross, will be a full-scale Memphis experience where runway, live music, and creative energy collide.

1167 Warford Street, March 8

Wiley Henry, Lawrence Matthews, and Karl Erickson

This exhibition brings together portraiture and storytelling of Wiley Henry, the spiritually inflected, heritage-centered figurative works of Lawrence Matthews, and the boundary-pushing, ecosystem-inspired animations of Karl Erickson into a dynamic dialogue across generations.

Crosstown Arts, March 13-June 7

Amy Hutcheson, Phyllis Boger, and Alisa Free 

Works by three visual artists whose dialogue between their styles becomes part of the experience.

Germantown Performing Arts Center, March 16-May 4

Billy Renkl: “A Weedy Garden”

Colorful garden paintings by Billy Renkl that combine complexity and vibrancy.

David Lusk Gallery, through April 11

“Metal Petals + Healing Roots” Exhibition

The Metal Museum’s show of artwork created out of gun parts.

Evergreen Presbyterian Church, April 12

“Summer Art Garden: A Flash of Sun”

Memphis-based artist and designer Khara Wood presents an installation of sun-drenched shades, dazzling patterns, and geometric sculptures.

Memphis Brooks Museum, April 17-November 17

“Mary Sims: A Retrospective”

Mary Sims’ artwork moves from her early intaglio prints in the last 1950s, to spare, optically flat portraits from the 1960s and 1970s, to her later-career canvases.

Dixon Gallery and Gardens, April 19-June 7

“Dorothy Gunther Pugh: Nature Yearns”

This show features Pugh’s drawings and watercolors of trees and their twisting branches, fallen limbs, and rotting stumps covered in lichen.

Dixon Gallery and Gardens, April 19-June 7

“Memphis Art and Fashion Week 2026”

Style, creativity, and community take center stage during this seven-day celebration of cultural expression, headlined by internationally recognized fashion designer Michael Ngo.

Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, May 4-9

“Minor Arcana”

The second of a two-part group exhibition where artists reimagine each card of the Tarot deck. 

Sheet Cake Gallery, May 9-June 27

“Of This Moment”

Featuring drawings and watercolors by Jeanne Seagle and paintings by Annabelle Meacham.

The Medicine Factory, May 31

“Debbie Likley Pacheco: Living in Layers”

Pacheco works in mixed media, combining digital and analog methods to create layered images.

Dixon Gallery and Gardens, June 14-September 27

“What We Surround Ourselves With”

The private collection of Metal Museum blacksmith Jim Masterson serves as a kind of love letter.

Metal Museum, through July 31

Stephanie Howard Solo Exhibition

Howard is inspired by work from self-taught artists, rich traditions of Southern storytelling and folklore, and her own experiences navigating patriarchal systems.

Sheet Cake Gallery, August 15-19

ON STAGE

Brazil By Night

Collage Dance Collective and Iris Collective present Brazilian themed music, dance, cocktails, and food.

Collage Dance Center, March 28

Dragon Medicine

A medicine turns the pain of overlooked “dragons” into sharp, funny monologues, showing that humor can heal even the deepest wounds.

Theatreworks @ The Square, March 13-22

Seussical

This beloved musical captures the essence of Dr. Seuss’ characters.

Playhouse on the Square, March 13-April 12

Jamie Barton in Recital

A once-in-a-generation voice, and a deeply compassionate human, Barton is an artist whose time has truly come.

Opera Memphis, March 21

Shakespeare in the Cemetery

Experience Romeo & Juliet like never before, with 90 minutes of sword fights, dancing, and timeless poetry performed outdoors by the Tennessee Shakespeare Company. Picnics encouraged. 

Elmwood Cemetery, March 21

Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana

Emotionally charged performances that blend heart-pounding music, fiery duets, and festive ensembles, honoring the rich tradition, romance, and storytelling of Hispanic heritage. 

Buckman Performing & Fine Arts Center, March 27

Verdi’s Requiem

Verdi’s masterpiece sung by a quartet — with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and the Memphis Symphony Chorus — will leave you breathless.

Opera Memphis, March 28

Clown Bar

This darkly comedic play mixes crime noir with slapstick humor, plunging the audience into a smoky underworld of clown gangsters, love, and betrayal. 

Theatreworks @ The Square, April 3-12

The Shawshank Redemption

When Andy Dufresne is convicted of murder and sentenced to life in Shawshank prison, he finds a way to keep himself and his hope alive.

Theatre Memphis, April 3-19

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

In 1927 Chicago, Ma Rainey, the fierce “Mother of the Blues,” battles to control her music during a recording session, while her ambitious trumpet player Levee seeks fame — with a powerful drama of rage, racism, and exploitation unfolding in this gripping 1982 play by August Wilson.

Hattiloo Theatre, April 10-May 10

Oliver!

This Broadway adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist follows an orphan navigating life in Victorian London after falling in with Fagin’s gang of pickpockets.

Bartlett Performing Arts & Conference Center, April 10-12

Romeo & Juliet

Every breathtaking moment of artistic director Steven McMahon’s rendition of Shakespeare’s tragic love story is charged with both intimate passion and the sweep of social forces.

Ballet Memphis, April 10-12

Julius Ceasar Brown Sugar Diner: The Last Slice — A ’50s Soulful Murder Mystery 

This soulful interactive murder mystery blends doo-wop charm, diner nostalgia, and a twist-filled whodunnit.

Halloran Centre, April 12

Julius Ceasar

An all-female cast performs this true classic of political intrigue from the mind of William Shakespeare.

Germantown Community Theatre, April 17-May 3

SIX

From Tudor Queens to pop icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the microphone to remix 500 years of historical heartbreak into a euphoric celebration of 21st century girl power.

Orpheum Theatre, April 21-26

An Unforgettable Afternoon with Misty Copeland

An inspiring conversation with Misty Copeland, the first African American female principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, featuring live performances by local dance companies and the ballet film Flower.

Canon Center for the Performing Arts, May 21

Little Shop of Horrors – Teen Edition

This show keeps the beloved dark humor and rock-infused score of the original while tailoring content and performances for a younger cast and audience.

Theatreworks @ The Evergreen, May 22-31

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

“A tale as old as time” in the structure and tone of the story that made Disney history.

Orpheum Theatre, June 2-7

Falsettos 

By William Finn and James Lapine, this 1992 musical follows a Jewish family in the ’70s and ’80s through their evolving relationships, including the father’s LGBTQ identity. 

Germantown Community Theatre, June 5-21

Legally Blonde, The Musical

Elle Woods seems to have the perfect life until her boyfriend leaves her for Harvard Law School. Determined to win him back, she cleverly gains admission to the same prestigious school to prove herself.

Theatre Memphis, June 5-June 28

Sweeney Todd

Stephen Sondheims’ chilling story of vengeance and dubious pies.

Opera Memphis (co-produced with Playhouse on the Square), June 12-July 12

The Music Man

Strike up the band for the ultimate feel-good musical as fast-talking con man Harold Hill rolls into River City, only to find himself in over his head.

Theatre Memphis, August 14-September 6

From Footlights to Spotlights: Black Theatre’s Path

On Hattiloo Theatre’s anniversary, From Footlights to Spotlights takes the Orpheum stage to celebrate Black theatre’s legacy and impact, tracing its historic milestones. This sweeping tribute honors the past, celebrates the present, and envisions the future of Black theatre.

Orpheum Theatre, September 22

AROUND TOWN

Bloom Saturdays: A Weekly Spring Tradition

At the heart of the season is BLOOM Saturdays, a weekly, all-ages celebration that transforms each Saturday into a make-a-day-of-it Garden experience.

Memphis Botanic Garden, March-May, 2026

An Evening with David Sedaris

With sardonic wit and incisive social critiques, Sedaris has become one of America’s pre-eminent humor writers.

Germantown Performing Arts Center, April 22

Art for All Festival

The Dixon, in partnership with Shelby County, will host the 2026 Art for All Festival, a day celebrating creativity and community with live performances, hands-on art activities, and local talent.

Dixon Gallery and Gardens, May 9

Stories of Stone

Discover the hidden meanings behind Elmwood Cemetery’s monuments in this walking tour with staff member Amanda Zorn, who will explain the symbolism, artistry, and traditions behind these historic memorials.

Elmwood Cemetery, April 18 

…

Strutting into the Spotlight

For Memphis Brooks Museum of Art creative director Ramona Sonin, Memphis Art & Fashion Week has always been about more than a runway. It’s about what happens when a city decides to show up for its creatives.

“What makes Memphis Art & Fashion Week special is how the city truly shows up for it,” Sonin says. “It’s not just designers on a runway — it’s artists, students, stylists, shop owners, musicians, creative entrepreneurs, and people who simply love fashion all in one space.”

Now in its third year, Memphis Art & Fashion Week 2026 is bigger and bolder than ever. What began five years ago as a single sold-out runway — born from a conversation between Sonin and museum leadership — has evolved into a full week of programming in partnership with the University of Memphis fashion program. “That first show packed in extra seats and sold out in seven minutes. The appetite was undeniable,” Sonin reflects.

“Memphians are showing up for fashion, and we’re giving them a place to do it,” Sonin says. “We’re taking something that’s been here all along — passion and community around this art form — and giving it a life of its own.”

This year’s headliner signals just how far the week has come. Celebrity designer Michael Ngo — whose clients include Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande — will present 30 looks on the runway, including five brand-new pieces inspired by Memphis. He’ll also headline Thursday’s Art & Apéritifs panel alongside stylist Joey Thao and jewelry designer Kyle Chan, offering insight into the intersection of art, fashion, and entertainment.

“Michael has dressed icons, and now he’s designing pieces just for Memphis,” Sonin says. “That tells us Memphis is in the national conversation.”

Still, the heart of the week remains local. University of Memphis fashion students will debut their senior collections on the same runway as emerging and featured designers — a professional launchpad beyond campus walls. Friday’s immersive runway transforms the museum galleries into a living, breathing celebration.

“You can’t miss the runway,” Sonin says. “The museum is completely transformed. People are cheering, feeling fabulous, and taking it all in. It feels like a citywide celebration.”

The celebration extends beyond one night. From Monday’s Met Gala Watch Party to Wednesday’s Fashion Lunch and Saturday’s family-friendly Artful Paper Dolls workshop, the week invites everyone in. Shop Memphis — the official retail activation — keeps the momentum going all month with a “passport” connecting attendees to local boutiques, spas, and storefronts.

As the Brooks prepares to open its new downtown home later this year, fashion is poised to play an even larger role in shaping the museum’s identity as a cultural hub. Sonin, chair of fashion at the museum, envisions expanded programming through the Couture Collective and future rooftop runways.

“When audiences leave,” she says, “I hope they feel the excitement — and know there is a true, inclusive fashion community here. There’s something happening in Memphis. And everyone is invited to be part of it.” 

Memphis Art & Fashion Week 2026, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Monday, May 4-Saturday, May 9

…

Raising the Curtain on the Future: The Orpheum’s Next Act

For nearly a century, the Orpheum Theatre Group has stood as a cultural cornerstone of Memphis, its iconic marquee promising nights of music, laughter, and Broadway magic. But for President & CEO Brett Batterson, honoring that legacy is only part of the mission. The real work — and the real joy — lies in what happens inside the historic walls of the Orpheum Theatre.

Programming a Broadway season is both art and strategy. Batterson says he makes a point to include at least one family-friendly title each year — a conscious investment in the next generation of theatergoers. In the current 2025-2026 Orpheum Broadway season, that means Disney’s beloved classic, Beauty and the Beast, brought to life in a new touring production. “It doesn’t get any family-friendlier than a Disney classic,” he says, noting that audiences can expect the same level of spectacle and heart they experienced with stage adaptations of Frozen and The Lion King. For Memphis families, it’s more than a night at the theater; it’s an introduction to the shared wonder of live performance.

That shared energy is equally central to the return of SIX, the high-octane pop musical that reimagines the wives of Henry VIII as a fierce girl group. Coming back to Memphis for a second engagement at the end of April, SIX reflects a programming philosophy driven by audience demand. “If it sold well the first time and there’s enough enthusiasm for its return, I try to work it into our schedule,” Batterson explains. A second (or even third) run ensures that those who missed out the first time — or simply want to relive the experience — get their chance.

While the Orpheum’s architecture speaks to history, its impact is decidedly contemporary. Partnerships with organizations such as the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and Ballet Memphis, along with concerts, comedians, education initiatives, and the Halloran Centre Presents series, keep the programming dynamic and community-centered. “We are shaped by our history,” Batterson says, “but we are always looking to the future.”

In an era of streaming and at-home entertainment, he believes live theater’s power remains unmatched. “Laughing, crying, cheering, and feeling joy as a collective mass of 2,300 people in the theatre is irreplaceable,” he says. The key is continuing to welcome everyone — young and old — through the doors, nurturing tomorrow’s audiences by encouraging adults to bring children to experience Broadway in their hometown.

So when patrons raise a glass after March 16th’s 2026-2027 Orpheum Broadway Season Reveal to “another unforgettable year,” Batterson hopes they’re toasting more than marquee titles. He hopes they’re celebrating the excitement, anticipation, and communal joy of gathering together. With a loyal audience and an eye firmly on the future, the Orpheum’s next act looks as bright as its storied past. 

Beauty and the Beast, Orpheum Theatre, Tuesday, June 2, to Sunday, June 7; SIX, Orpheum Theatre, Tuesday, April 21, to Sunday, April 26

…

Love, Loss, and Leadership at Ballet Memphis

When Steven McMahon arrived in Memphis from Scotland in 2004, he wasn’t plotting a rise to artistic leadership. “I just wanted a job,” he says with a laugh. Fresh off the plane and focused on dancing, he quickly sensed something singular about Ballet Memphis — its adventurous repertory, its narrative drive, and its deep community roots.

Under the mentorship of founding artistic director Dorothy Gunther Pugh, McMahon gained insight into the company’s inner workings. Choreography soon beckoned. By the end of his first season, he had created his first piece, and commissions followed naturally. “My career unfolded in a beautiful, natural way,” he says. When Pugh retired in 2018, she tapped McMahon as her successor. The past six years, he says, have been “a whirlwind of learning,” shaped by challenge, growth, and continual re-imagining of what the company can be.

This spring, Ballet Memphis revisits McMahon’s sweeping Romeo & Juliet at the Germantown Performing Arts Center, set to Sergei Prokofiev’s lush, cinematic score. When the ballet premiered in 2012, it marked his first choreographic encounter with William Shakespeare. “The music is so laid out dramatically,” McMahon says. “You just have to ride it.” Prokofiev’s vivid orchestration provided a roadmap; McMahon’s task was to fuse movement and narrative into something visceral and immediate.

Revisiting the ballet in 2026, he views choreography as a living entity — never too precious to evolve. A new generation of dancers brings fresh emotional texture to the iconic roles. “I like to see where my sensibilities have shifted,” he says. “How can I build on what was good?” For many dancers, Romeo and Juliet are dream roles. McMahon asks them to read the play, unpack its archetypes, and enter the studio willing to risk vulnerability. The rehearsal process demands trust, patience, and connection — qualities mirrored in the young lovers themselves.

What still feels urgent about the story is its intensity. Though synonymous with romance and tragedy, McMahon is drawn to the intimacy of the bond at its center — not just physical passion, but emotional recognition. The speed of the lovers’ devotion, and the devastating consequences that follow, reflect both the best and worst of human nature. “We all just want to love who we want to love,” he says. External pressures — family, politics, expectation — constrict that freedom, and catastrophe follows. In the end, “nobody wins.”

Staging the ballet at GPAC for the first time expands its scale while preserving its emotional closeness. For McMahon, theater is reciprocal: Dance only has meaning when shared. In that exchange between artist and audience, even tragedy becomes sustaining — a reminder that, in Memphis, art continues to make space for empathy and connection.  

Romeo & Juliet, Ballet Memphis | Germantown Performing Arts Center,
Friday, April 10, through Sunday, April 12