Fall Arts Calendar 2026

Editor's Note

Welcome to the fall.

September is the month when we here at the Weekly traditionally realize we can’t keep up with all of the events of the season all at once – important exhibits, concerts, theatrical productions, community celebrations and various holiday traditions. As we pack our calendars to the brim, it’s the most exciting and busy time of the year for the arts. So while you can still find a focus on arts and culture this week (see the Hot Picks section, p. 28), we take a look through the end of the calendar year.

This year, event powerhouse Sunset Cultural Center in Carmel is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its existence (first as a school, then as a venue). A big community block party is coming up on Oct. 25, followed by three years of special events and extra fun programming within the nonprofit’s “Century of Creativity” campaign, set to culminate in 2031, the centennial of the theater itself.

In the visual arts world, another party happens for the 150th birthday of the famous artist (and Monterey County local) Jo Mora. An exhibit of his work pertaining to his life as an author is on display at the John Steinbeck Library in Salinas now through at least October. An exhibit of his multiple artistic talents opens at One Main Street in Salinas this month and runs through the end of the year. Meanwhile, another exhibit of his life and artwork, as documented by Carmel photographer Lewis Josselyn, displayed at the Stanton Center in Monterey runs into 2027.

Local theater audiences have more opportunities for staged works than ever, with initiatives such as Enchantrix and Soapbox Stage Works supplementing productions from more established local stages. Waiting for Godot by Enchantrix is coming this October, with Fort Ord National Monument as a setting. The annual Shakespeare offering from PacRep is A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the fittingly dreamy Outdoor Forest Theater. Paper Wing Theatre is back with its annual tradition of The Rocky Horror Show, with a run ending on Halloween.

There’s more live entertainment from intimate classical ensembles to emerging local rock ‘n’ roll musicians, touring DJs and seasonal performances of The Nutcracker coming too. Seemingly every style from every era will grace Monterey County venues this season. Enjoy.

-Agata Popęda, Arts and Culture staff writer

SEPTEMBER

REX RAY: WE ARE ALL MADE OF LIGHT

On display until Jan. 17, 2027

Monterey Museum of Art, Monterey

372-5477, montereyart.org

BORN OF THE BEAR DANCE: DUGAN AGUILAR’S PHOTOGRAPHS OF NATIVE CALIFORNIA

On display until Dec. 20

Monterey Museum of Art, Monterey

372-5477, montereyart.org

MONICA LONCOLA: ON THE EDGE OF THE PACIFIC

On display until Jan. 3, 2027

Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, Pacific Grove

648-5716, pgmuseum.org

Sept. 26

JOE MANN, VICTORIA LYNN

6pm, Henry Miller Library, Big Sur

667-2574, henrymiller.org

JO MORA & FAMILY: THROUGH THE LENS OF LEWIS JOSSELYN

On display until 2027

Monterey History and Art at Stanton Center, Monterey

372-2608, montereyhistory.org

Sept. 27

MONTEREY PENINSULA GOSPEL COMMUNITY CHOIR

5pm, Sunset Center, Carmel

625-9938, sunsetcenter.org

Sept. 30

GEOFF TATE

7pm, Golden State Theatre, Monterey

SEPTEMBER

REX RAY: WE ARE ALL MADE OF LIGHT

BORN OF THE BEAR DANCE: DUGAN AGUILAR’S PHOTOGRAPHS OF NATIVE CALIFORNIA

MONICA LONCOLA: ON THE EDGE OF THE PACIFIC

JOE MANN, VICTORIA LYNN

JO MORA & FAMILY: THROUGH THE LENS OF LEWIS JOSSELYN

MONTEREY PENINSULA GOSPEL COMMUNITY CHOIR

GEOFF TATE

OCTOBER

CARMEL INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

JESSICA KIRSON

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

PERFUME GENIUS

THE GREEN

AN EVENING WITH CHRIS BOTTI

DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979: PRIVATE LIVES TOUR

KILLER QUEEN: A TRIBUTE TO QUEEN

PACREP PRESENTS: THE TRAVELING WILBURYS REVUE

TOAD THE WET SPROCKET

DESPERATE ELECTRIC

BRIAN REGAN

WE OWN THE LAUGHS PRESENTS: J. VALENTINO

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW

THE PINNACLES FILM FESTIVAL

TRANSYLVANIAN DANCE WITH LUCIAN BAN & MAT MANERI

DENNIS MURPHY’S HOMECOMING CONCERT

Anderson and Roe Piano Duo

ROGER MCGUINN OF THE BYRDS

LE PATIN LIBRE MELT

STEEP CANYON RANGERS

Natural Order, Lucien Liu and Rachel Phillips

MARGARET AND THE WAMPUS CAT

RANDY FELTFACE

ROBINSON JEFFERS TOR HOUSE FOUNDATION FALL FESTIVAL

INGRID MICHAELSON

PORTRAITS IN SONG: CINDY ALEXANDER WITH SPECIAL GUEST TWO RIVERS

QUÉBEC EN MUSIQUE

WILLIE BARCENA

MONTEREY SYMPHONY: APPALACHIAN SPRING AND ALEXI KENNEY

TWIN PEAKS: A CONVERSATION WITH THE STARS

STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN: SPEECHLESS

WHOLEHEARTED CHORUS

VOCAL RANGE

7pm Thursday, Oct. 22. Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. $42-$77. (831) 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com.

THE JANGLERS

ILUMINADO

BLIPPI

CALIFORNIA SEAWEED FESTIVAL

PFEIFFER BEACH HOTEL, ZETI, AND THE LIGHTMAN SISTERS

CELTIC THUNDER

THE SUBORBITALS

Ensemble Monterey: The Enduring Spirit

PARTY OF THE CENTURY

1-4pm Sunday, Oct. 25. Sunset Center, 908 San Carlos St., Carmel. Free. (831) 620-2040, sunsetcenter.org.

THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL

Light, Sight, and Color: A Creative Lecture on Sensory Experience by Photographer and Writer Cig Harvey

EASY STAR ALL-STARS

QUARTET NOVALIS

THE ‘WOLFGANG’ STRIKES AGAIN

OINGO BOINGO FORMER MEMBERS

LYLE LOVETT AND HIS SMALL LARGE BAND

NOVEMBER

SUPER SCIENTIFIC CIRCUS

TUSK: THE CLASSIC FLEETWOOD MAC TRIBUTE

Y&T

CHAMBER MUSIC MONTEREY BAY: MAXWELL QUARTET

WAITING FOR GODOT

PAUL CAUTHEN

TAMING OF THE PRUDE

7pm Thursdays-Saturdays, 2pm Sundays, Nov. 12-22. MPC Morgan Stock Stage, 980 Fremont St., Monterey. $7-$22. (831) 645-1360, tinyurl.com/MPCTheatre.

ANGÉLICA GALLEGOS

PRETTY FUNNY

7pm Friday, Nov. 13. Sunset Center, 908 San Carlos St., Carmel. $55-$115. (831) 620-2048, sunsetcenter.org.

AN AFTERNOON OF POETRY WITH CALEB NICHOLS

READING AND CONVERSATION WITH POET ELLEN BASS

TIME FOR THREE

‘TWO BROTHERS’

COME FROM AWAY

WHO’S BAD: THE ULTIMATE MICHAEL JACKSON EXPERIENCE

JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR