Copyright Norfolk Virginian-Pilot
From the music of Queen and “Top Gun: Maverick” to a Grammy Award-winning violinist and acclaimed tap dancer, Virginia Arts Festival’s 2026 lineup is packed with diverse acts expected to deliver top-notch shows. The season will open with dance on March 5 when the contemporary company BalletX stops at Chrysler Hall in Norfolk. The Dance Theatre of Harlem will appear at the venue later that month to perform one of its signature works that’s seldom staged outside of New York, “Firebird,” alongside students from The Governor’s School for the Arts in Norfolk and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient Michelle Dorrance and her tap dance company, Dorrance Dance, will deliver performances in Norfolk and Newport News. Another season highlight will be violinist Joshua Bell, who arguably is “currently the world’s most famous violinist,” according to Robert Cross, VAF’s artistic director. Bell and the chamber orchestra Academy of St. Martin in the Fields will perform March 7 in Newport News and March 8 in Virginia Beach. Hampton Roads native and Tony Award winner Adrienne Warren, who originated the lead role in the hit “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical” on Broadway, will travel home for a May 16 performance at the Harrison Opera House in Norfolk. If you love great dance, jazz, world music or classical music, Cross said, it’ll be an exciting season. Pre-season performances Lynnhaven River Now: Musicians of Virginia Symphony Orchestra Benefit Concert, 4 p.m. Nov. 15, Harrison Opera House, Norfolk. Ken Peplowski, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15, Attucks Theatre, Norfolk. Luca Stricagnoli and Matt Thomas, 3 p.m. Nov. 23, Attucks Theatre, Norfolk. Voces8, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16, Christ & St. Luke’s Church, Norfolk; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17, St. Bede Catholic Church, Williamsburg; and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18, River Road Church, Baptist, Richmond. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” by The Acting Company, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16, Attucks Theatre, Norfolk. Joel Frahm, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 17, Attucks Theatre, Norfolk. René Marie, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7, Attucks Theatre, Norfolk. Danish Radio Big Band with Cécile McLorin Salvant led by Miho Hazama, 5 p.m. Feb. 22, Attucks Theatre, Norfolk. March BalletX, 7:30 p.m. March 5, Chrysler Hall, Norfolk. Joshua Bell and Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, 7:30 p.m. March 7, Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News; 3 p.m. March 8, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia Beach. Sérgio and Odair Assad, 7:30 p.m. March 12, Norfolk Academy, Norfolk. Anaïs Reno, 7:30 p.m. March 14, Attucks Theatre, Norfolk. Dance Theatre of Harlem, “Firebird,” 7:30 p.m. March 20-21 and 3 p.m. March 22, Chrysler Hall, Norfolk. Dance Theatre of Harlem, 7:30 p.m. March 24, Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News. “All Things Equal: The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg,” 7:30 p.m. March 29, Attucks Theatre, Norfolk. Meow Meow, 7:30 p.m. March 30-31, Robin Hixon Theater, Clay and Jay Barr Education Center, Norfolk. April Lucía, 7:30 p.m. April 7, Robin Hixon Theater, Clay and Jay Barr Education Center, Norfolk. “Peppa Pig: My First Concert,” 2 p.m. April 12, Chrysler Hall, Norfolk. Borromeo String Quartet and Verona String Quartet, 7:30 p.m. April 13, Kaufman Theater, Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk. Virginia International Tattoo, 7:30 p.m. April 16-18 and 2 p.m. April 19, Scope arena, Norfolk. Dorrance Dance, 7:30 p.m. April 21, Attucks Theatre, Norfolk and 7:30 p.m. April 23, Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News. “One Night in Memphis,” 7:30 p.m. April 24, Perry Pavilion, Norfolk. Kayce Laine: “Sound Bath,” 7:30 p.m. April 25, Chrysler Hall, Norfolk. Celebrating Adolphus Hailstork’s 85th Birthday with Virginia Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. April 30, L. Douglas Wilder Performing Arts Center, Norfolk State University. May Attucks Jazz Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. May 9, Attucks Theatre, Norfolk. James Kealey, 4 p.m. May 10, Christ & St. Luke’s Church, Norfolk. Music of Queen with Virginia Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. May 15, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia Beach. Adrienne Warren, 7:30 p.m. May 16, Harrison Opera House, Norfolk. Christian McBride with Ursa Major, 5 p.m. May 17, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia Beach. Olga Kern, 10:30 a.m. May 21, Robin Hixon Theater, Clay and Jay Barr Education Center, Norfolk; 10:30 a.m. May 22, Miller Studio Theatre, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia Beach. “Finding Peace at Potsdam” with Virginia Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. May 29, Chrysler Hall, Norfolk; 7:30 p.m. May 30, Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News. June Olga Kern and Orava String Quartet, 7:30 p.m. June 3, Robin Hixon Theater, Clay and Jay Barr Education Center, Norfolk; 7:30 p.m. June 4, William & Mary Concert Hall, Williamsburg. New York Voices, 7:30 p.m. June 4, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia Beach. Orava String Quartet, 10:30 a.m. June 5, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Portsmouth. The Leila, 7:30 p.m. June 6, Perry Pavilion, Norfolk. Alexandre Da Costa, Tommy Mesa and Olga Kern, 7:30 p.m. June 9, Robin Hixon Theater, Clay and Jay Barr Education Center, Norfolk; 10:30 a.m. June 10, William & Mary Concert Hall, Williamsburg; 10:30 a.m. June 11, Towne University, Suffolk. Chris Thile, 7:30 p.m. June 12, Perry Pavilion, Norfolk. “Top Gun: Maverick” with Virginia Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. June 13, Chrysler Hall, Norfolk. Williamsburg Live, 7:30 p.m. June 25-28, The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg. For details, visit vafest.org.
