Festival 2026

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What's On This Summer

Jun 24 – Aug 30 in the Berkshires

Keep scrolling to explore a variety of Festival offerings including performances, classes & workshops, exhibits & Archives, special events, online offerings, dining options, and more.

Or, select a Festival week above to explore happenings by date.

In the Ted Shawn Theatre

View event Akram Khan Company: Thikra: Night of Remembering

Performance

Akram Khan Company: Thikra: Night of Remembering

Returning to Jacob’s Pillow for the first time in over 20 years, Akram Khan will present "Thikra: Night of Remembering," a journey through tradition, deeply rooted in the power of rituals.

Info & Tickets

Jul 8 — 12

Ted Shawn Theatre

Jul 8 — 12

Ted Shawn Theatre

View event A.I.M by Kyle Abraham: White Space

Performance

A.I.M by Kyle Abraham: White Space

A.I.M by Kyle Abraham will return to the Ted Shawn Theatre with the U.S. premiere of "White Space," a work that creates a charged atmosphere of collision and dialogue between reality and idealism.

Info & Tickets

Jul 15 — 19

Ted Shawn Theatre

Jul 15 — 19

Ted Shawn Theatre

View event Circa Contemporary Circus: Wolf

Performance

Circa Contemporary Circus: Wolf

Hailing from Brisbane, Australia, Circa will return to Jacob’s Pillow after six years away with "Wolf," a gasp-inducing acrobatic thrill ride.

Info & Tickets

Jul 22 — 26

Ted Shawn Theatre

Jul 22 — 26

Ted Shawn Theatre

View event Gauthier Dance

Performance

Gauthier Dance

Returning to Jacob’s Pillow by popular demand, Gauthier Dance//Dance Company Theaterhaus Stuttgart will bring a powerful program, including a work created in Becket in the week leading up to performances.

Info & Tickets

Jul 29 — Aug 2

Ted Shawn Theatre

Jul 29 — Aug 2

Ted Shawn Theatre

View event San Francisco Ballet (Indoor)

Performance

San Francisco Ballet (Indoor)

In an exciting two-stage engagement, San Francisco Ballet comes to the Pillow for the first time since 1956 to perform a mixed program featuring works by Hans van Manen (Grosse Fugue), William Forsythe (Prologue and The Barre Project), and Tamara Rojo (Raymonda), among other works.

Info & Tickets

Aug 5 — 9

Ted Shawn Theatre

Aug 5 — 9

Ted Shawn Theatre

View event Martha Graham Dance Company

Performance

Martha Graham Dance Company

The oldest dance company in the United States, Martha Graham Dance Company returns during its centennial year with a program featuring some of Graham's most defining masterpieces and new works by today's choreographers.

Info & Tickets

Aug 12 — 16

Ted Shawn Theatre

Aug 12 — 16

Ted Shawn Theatre

View event Ballet Hispánico New York

Performance

Ballet Hispánico New York

A returning classic since their first Pillow performance in 1984, Ballet Hispánico New York returns with “smashingly theatrical" performances.

Info & Tickets

Aug 19 — 23

Ted Shawn Theatre

Aug 19 — 23

Ted Shawn Theatre

View event Hubbard Street Dance Chicago

Performance

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago

Making an impressive 18th appearance at Jacob’s Pillow this summer, the beloved Hubbard Street Dance Chicago remains one of the most original forces in contemporary dance.

Info & Tickets

Aug 26 — 30

Ted Shawn Theatre

Aug 26 — 30

Ted Shawn Theatre

View event Member Theater Tours

Special Event , Member Event

Member Theater Tours

Members are invited for a special "insider's view" of our theaters. These tours give you a glimpse into the backstage magic that brings our inspiring performances to life!

Info & Tickets

Saturday, July 25 and Friday, August 28

Doris Duke Theatre , Ted Shawn Theatre

Saturday, July 25 and Friday, August 28

Doris Duke Theatre , Ted Shawn Theatre

In the Doris Duke Theatre

View event Faye Driscoll: Weathering

Performance

Faye Driscoll: Weathering

Hailed as a "startingly original talent" by The New York Times, Faye Driscoll returns to the Pillow to present "Weathering," first developed in a Pillow Lab residency in 2022.

Info & Tickets

Jul 15 — 19

Doris Duke Theatre

Jul 15 — 19

Doris Duke Theatre

View event Brian Brooks Moving Company

Performance

Brian Brooks Moving Company

In their return to Jacob’s Pillow, Brian Brooks Moving Company will present a mixed program including Closing Distance, the world premiere of Elsewhere, and a new work titled Could we be Quiet?

Info & Tickets

Jul 29 — Aug 2

Doris Duke Theatre

Jul 29 — Aug 2

Doris Duke Theatre

View event Ephrat Asherie Dance: Shadow Cities

Performance

Ephrat Asherie Dance: Shadow Cities

In Shadow Cities, Ephrat Asherie Dance has collaborated with Grammy Award-winning pianist and composer Arturo O’Farrill to reflect on the beauty, vastness, and joy of the in-between.

Info & Tickets

Aug 5 — 9

Doris Duke Theatre

Aug 5 — 9

Doris Duke Theatre

View event Brinae Ali: Baby Laurence Legacy Project

Performance

Brinae Ali: Baby Laurence Legacy Project

Tap dancer, choreographer, and vocalist Brinae Ali returns with Baby Laurence Legacy Project, exploring and celebrating the artistic genius of "Baby" Laurence Donald Jackson, whose impact on tap dance and jazz music is legendary.

Info & Tickets

Aug 12 — 16

Doris Duke Theatre

Aug 12 — 16

Doris Duke Theatre

View event Huang Yi: Ink

Performance

Huang Yi: Ink

Taiwanese dancer, choreographer, and inventor Huang Yi creates partnership between humans and robots in his Pillow debut of Ink, in which lines from a hundred artworks by renowned calligrapher Tong Yang-Tze are dismantled and reconstructed.

Info & Tickets

Aug 19 — 23

Doris Duke Theatre

Aug 19 — 23

Doris Duke Theatre

View event Member Theater Tours

Special Event , Member Event

Member Theater Tours

Members are invited for a special "insider's view" of our theaters. These tours give you a glimpse into the backstage magic that brings our inspiring performances to life!

Info & Tickets

Saturday, July 25 and Friday, August 28

Doris Duke Theatre , Ted Shawn Theatre

Saturday, July 25 and Friday, August 28

Doris Duke Theatre , Ted Shawn Theatre

On the Henry J. Leir Stage

View event Acosia Red Elk

Performance , Outdoor

Acosia Red Elk

A world champion Jingle Dancer, Acosia Red Elk returns to perform an evening-length work featuring Native violinist Geneviève Gros-Louis.

Info & Tickets

Jul 9 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

Jul 9 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

View event Pua Ali'i 'Ilima

Performance , Outdoor

Pua Ali'i 'Ilima

Pua Ali'i 'Ilima returns to the Henry J. Leir Stage for the first time since 2012. The mission of this hālau hula (school of Hawaiian culture) is to preserve and perpetuate Native Hawaiian arts and cultural traditions for future generations.

Info & Tickets

Jul 10 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

Jul 10 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

View event BAAD! Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance

Performance , Outdoor

BAAD! Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance

As part of Pillow Pride weekend, BAAD! will present 15-minute dance works by artists Abdiel, Imani Gaudin, and Edrimael Delgado Reyes, followed by a Q&A session.

Info & Tickets

Jul 11 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

Jul 11 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

View event Michela Marino Lerman: Steppin' with "The Kid"

Performance , Outdoor

Michela Marino Lerman: Steppin' with "The Kid"

Award-winning tap dancer Michela Marino Lerman leads an ensemble of tap dancers and musicians in Steppin’ with "The Kid": A Celebration of Betty Carter, honoring iconic vocalist and one of Lerman's greatest inspirations, Betty Carter.

Info & Tickets

Jul 16 — 17

Henry J. Leir Stage

Jul 16 — 17

Henry J. Leir Stage

View event The School at Jacob's Pillow: Contemporary Performance Ensemble

Performance , Outdoor

The School at Jacob's Pillow: Contemporary Performance Ensemble

Presentations by The School at Jacob’s Pillow Performance Ensembles showcase the work of the next generation of dance artists. This event is the culmination of a two-week Contemporary Program, featuring original repertoire.

Info & Tickets

Jul 18 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

Jul 18 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

View event Kalindá: Zafra

Performance , Outdoor

Kalindá: Zafra

Kalindá is a professional live music and dance ensemble that performs bomba, Puerto Rico’s oldest musical tradition.

Info & Tickets

Jul 23 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

Jul 23 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

View event Ogemdi Ude: MAJOR

Performance , Outdoor

Ogemdi Ude: MAJOR

Brooklyn-based artist Ogemdi Ude makes her Pillow debut with MAJOR, a dance theater piece that explores the world of majorette dance at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Info & Tickets

Jul 24 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

Jul 24 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

View event Benjamin Akio Kimitch: Tiger Hands

Performance , Outdoor

Benjamin Akio Kimitch: Tiger Hands

In Kimitch's Tiger Hands, Peking opera technique becomes a channel for reconnection, transformation, and personal expression, drawing on the experimental energy that birthed this artform.

Info & Tickets

Jul 25 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

Jul 25 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

View event UFlyMothership

Performance , Outdoor

UFlyMothership

UFlyMothership is a collaborative musical and artistic project by dancer, singer, and songwriter Tendayi Kuumba and barber, visual artist, and music producer Greg Purnell.

Info & Tickets

Jul 30 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

Jul 30 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

View event KaJe Movement Collective: ÌYÁguration

Performance , Outdoor

KaJe Movement Collective: ÌYÁguration

ÌYÁguration, a live performance and ceremonial work adapted from an original dance film, celebrates the resilience, joy, and sisterhood of Black women across the diaspora.

Info & Tickets

Jul 31 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

Jul 31 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

View event Art Omi: Dance | 20 Years of International Exchange

Performance , Outdoor

Art Omi: Dance | 20 Years of International Exchange

This special anniversary program from the Hudson Valley-based international arts center is titled "20 Years of International Exchange," and celebrates its global community of artists by reuniting alumni who first met in residence.

Info & Tickets

Aug 1 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

Aug 1 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

View event San Francisco Ballet (Outdoor)

Performance , Outdoor

San Francisco Ballet (Outdoor)

In an exciting two-stage engagement, San Francisco Ballet comes to the Pillow for the first time since 1956 to perform a mixed program including works by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Marius Petipa, and Frederick Ashton, among others.

Info & Tickets

Aug 5 — 8

Henry J. Leir Stage

Aug 5 — 8

Henry J. Leir Stage

View event Sorzano Dance Works

Performance , Outdoor

Sorzano Dance Works

A former Alvin Ailey principal dancer, Yusha-Marie Sorzano creates where lineages meet—where identity, migration, and memory move through the body as lived experience.

Info & Tickets

Aug 13 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

Aug 13 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

View event Artists of the Berkshires

Performance , Outdoor

Artists of the Berkshires

The outdoor Henry J. Leir Stage hosts selected Berkshire-region artists for a special one-day-only performance on August 14, as part of Jacob’s Pillow’s annual Community Day.

Info & Tickets

Aug 14 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

Aug 14 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

View event HopeBoykinDance

Performance , Outdoor

HopeBoykinDance

HopeBoykinDance arrives for their highly anticipated Pillow debut, bringing a compelling collaboration of contemporary-modern movement, spoken word, and storytelling to the stage.

Info & Tickets

Aug 15 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

Aug 15 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

View event Kia the Key & Company

Performance , Outdoor

Kia the Key & Company

Jacob’s Pillow welcomes Kia the Key & Company, a local dance company grounded in street and club dances bringing together dancers across race, nationality, and background to explore the complexity and beauty of Black social dance.

Info & Tickets

Aug 20 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

Aug 20 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

View event New York Theatre Ballet

Performance , Outdoor

New York Theatre Ballet

New York Theatre Ballet returns to Jacob’s Pillow for the first time since 2016 with a mixed program, including a revival of a piece that premiered at Jacob’s Pillow in 1952.

Info & Tickets

Aug 21 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

Aug 21 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

View event The School at Jacob's Pillow: Musical Theatre Performance Ensemble

Performance , Outdoor

The School at Jacob's Pillow: Musical Theatre Performance Ensemble

Presentations by The School at Jacob’s Pillow Performance Ensembles showcase the work of the next generation of dance artists. This event is the culmination of a three-week Musical Theatre Program, featuring original repertoire.

Info & Tickets

Aug 22 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

Aug 22 5:30pm

Henry J. Leir Stage

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EXHIBITS & ARCHIVES

Dive into a collection of dance, past and present, in the Jacob's Pillow Archives.

Archives/Norton Owen Reading Room

Open Tuesday through Sunday, noon through final curtain during the Festival

Drop into a relaxed space to browse books, watch archival videos, explore historic programs and photographs, and find treasures from the Stephan Driscoll Collection in our newly added Special Collections Room. Come lose yourself in the world of dance.

Learn More Explore Dance History Online

Martha Graham: Call to Action

Martha Graham: Call to Action

In tandem with Martha Graham Dance Company's performance run, this exhibit explores Graham's artistic and political voice during the 1930s, curated by former Graham dancer and scholar Oliver Tobin.

Illuminating the American Experience: Groundbreaking U.S. Women in Dance

Illuminating the American Experience: Groundbreaking U.S. Women in Dance

This exhibit features women whose creative practice illuminates the American experience of their times and reveals new possibilities for the generations who follow.

Parable of Portals: The Acorn Archives

Parable of Portals: The Acorn Archives

This artist installation by d. Sabela grimes and Meena Murugesan integrates dance, sound, video, sculpture, and emerging technologies.

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CLASSES & WORKSHOPS

Dance With Us

Move, learn, and connect through classes and workshops for all ages and experience levels.

See More

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SPECIAL EVENTS

View event VR Experience: Collective Body

Special Event

VR Experience: Collective Body

For one week only in Sommers Studio, Jacob’s Pillow will host Collective Body, an interactive virtual reality experience that invites us to meet ourselves and each other through movement.

Info & Tickets

Jul 8 — 11

Sommers Studio

View event FUTURE FIGURES: Dance and Emerging Technologies

Livestream Available, Special Event

FUTURE FIGURES: Dance and Emerging Technologies

With a free livestream, FUTURE FIGURES: Dance and Emerging Technologies is a symposium offering a series of conversations, performance/demonstrations and talks surrounding the use of new technology in dance.

Info & Tickets

Jul 9 10:00am

Doris Duke Theatre

View event Pillow Pride Dance Party

Special Event

Pillow Pride Dance Party

Join us for a queer hustle dance lesson by Abdiel before dancing the night away at the Pillow Pride Dance Party with beats provided by special guest DJ CHARI in the Doris Duke Theatre.

Info & Tickets

Jul 11 8:00pm

Doris Duke Theatre

View event Pillow Pride History Tour

Special Event

Pillow Pride History Tour

Uncover hidden queer history with Pillow Historian and Founding Director of Preservation Norton Owen on a celebratory tour of the Pillow’s past. Juicy stories, legendary artists, and plenty of tea.

Info & Tickets

Jul 12 11:00am

Welcome Center

View event Curriculum in Motion™ Institute Public Presentations

Talk

Curriculum in Motion™ Institute Public Presentations

Hear Curriculum in Motion™ Institute educators share how dance builds community and fosters creative dialogue across K-12 classrooms, medical providers, businesses, and civic and cultural organizations.

Info & Tickets

Jul 25 — 26 11:00am

Jameson Family Lobby, Doris Duke Theatre

View event Fire Pit Gathering at the Indigenous Garden

Special Event, Outdoor

Fire Pit Gathering at the Indigenous Garden

Gather for a Fire Pit activation in the Indigenous Garden with André StrongBearHeart Gaines Jr., engaging Eastern Woodlands traditions, community, and connection to land.

Info & Tickets

Aug 1 11:00am

Indigenous Garden at the Doris Duke Theatre

View event Alumni Day

Special Event

Alumni Day

Calling all Pillow Alumni! We're excited to welcome you home for our annual Alumni Day. We invite you to participate in the Festival throughout the entire weekend and enjoy the beauty of the Berkshires.

Info & Tickets

Aug 1 10:00am

Pillow Grounds

View event Public Flower Garden Tour

Outdoor, Special Event

Public Flower Garden Tour

Join a free guided tour of the flower beds at Jacob’s Pillow, exploring the plantings, care practices, and stories that shape these vibrant spaces.

Info & Tickets

Aug 2 12:00pm

Welcome Center

View event Community Day

Special Event

Community Day

Spend a free Friday afternoon at Jacob’s Pillow with movement classes, dance-themed activities for kids, and tours for all ages.

Info & Tickets

Aug 14 2:30pm

Campus Grounds

View event School Sponsor Luncheon

Member Event, Special Event

School Sponsor Luncheon

School Sponsors will begin the day by observing a class, followed by lunch in the Event Tent alongside the dancers and faculty of The School at Jacob’s Pillow. During this gathering, we will present the 2026 Lorna Strassler Award.

Info & Tickets

Jul 10 12:15pm

IN STUDIO OBSERVATION IN THE SCHOOL

Wednesdays through Fridays, 10:45am-12:15pm and 2:30-4pm

Quiet observation of classes and rehearsals inside the Perles Family Studio will be open on a first come, first served basis. In the case of inclement weather, School observation hours will not be held.

Pillow Pride Weekend

Pillow Pride Weekend

Join us July 11–12 for a a celebration of pride and the joy of moving together.

Member Events

Member Events

Our Members get exclusive access to events throughout the year.

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TALKS & TOURS

PillowTalk: Akram Khan Company

PillowTalk: Akram Khan Company

Saturday, July 11 at 4pm in Blake's Barn

PillowTalk: Kyle Abraham and Faye Driscoll

PillowTalk: Kyle Abraham and Faye Driscoll

Saturday, July 18 at 4pm in Blake's Barn

PillowTalk: Liz Lerman with Suzanna Tamminen

PillowTalk: Liz Lerman with Suzanna Tamminen

Saturday, July 25 at 4pm in Blake's Barn

PillowTalk: Norman Walker

PillowTalk: Norman Walker

Saturday, August 1 at 4pm in Blake's Barn

PillowTalk: Tamara Rojo

PillowTalk: Tamara Rojo

Saturday, August 8 at 4pm in Blake's Barn

PillowTalk: Janet Eilber and Oliver Tobin

PillowTalk: Janet Eilber and Oliver Tobin

Saturday, August 15 at 4pm in Blake's Barn

PillowTalk: Perspectives on Latine Dance in the U.S. with Eduardo Vilaro, Nélida Tirado, and Luis Salgado

PillowTalk: Perspectives on Latine Dance in the U.S. with Eduardo Vilaro, Nélida Tirado, and Luis Salgado

Saturday, August 22 at 4pm in Blake's Barn

PillowTalk: Dianne McIntyre and Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell

PillowTalk: Dianne McIntyre and Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell

Saturday, August 29 at 4pm in Blake's Barn

Public Tours of Campus

Public Tours of Campus

Weekly on Fridays at 4:30pm

Pillow Pride History Tour

Pillow Pride History Tour

Sunday, July 12 at 11am

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JACOB'S PILLOW LIVE

Take part in the Festival wherever you are in the world with free livestreams throughout the summer, registration open now.

View & Register For All

Livestream: The School at Jacob's Pillow Contemporary Performance Ensemble

Livestream: The School at Jacob's Pillow Contemporary Performance Ensemble

Saturday, July 18 at 5:30pm ET

Livestream: Brian Brooks Moving Company

Livestream: Brian Brooks Moving Company

Thursday, July 30 at 8pm ET

Livestream: Brinae Ali

Livestream: Brinae Ali

Thursday, August 13 at 8pm ET

Livestream: The School at Jacob's Pillow Musical Theatre Performance Ensemble

Livestream: The School at Jacob's Pillow Musical Theatre Performance Ensemble

Saturday, August 22 at 5:30pm ET

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SHAMEL PITTS RECEIVES THE 2026 JACOB'S PILLOW MEN DANCERS AWARD

Honoring the spirit of Jacob’s Pillow founder Ted Shawn and his Men Dancers, the award is a biennial honor recognizing visionary choreographers who create work for men dancers.

Learn more about the award

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PLAN YOUR VISIT

Jacob's Pillow is located in the Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts in the town of Becket. The 225-acre National Historic Landmark is within easy driving distance of Boston, New York, Albany, Burlington, and Hartford.

Visit the Pillow

Box Office

Box Office

Find key information regarding tickets, exchanges, and more

Food & Drink

Food & Drink

Enjoy outdoor food, drink, and merriment

Membership

Membership

Jacob's Pillow Members have special perks

Campus Accessibility

Campus Accessibility

We’re committed to making every visit welcoming, accessible, and enjoyable

The Pillow Store

The Pillow Store

Explore Pillow merchandise

Self-Guided Tour

Self-Guided Tour

Learn more about the history of our grounds

The Festival Returns For A Season of Connection

For Summer 2026, Jacob’s Pillow returns for a 10-week Festival celebrating its 94th year with a season that promises to connect us to each other and to our past, present and future.

Learn More About The Festival