Arts & Culture
Boston’s cultural scene is vibrant in all seasons. From museums and performing arts, to International Festivals and outdoor concerts, Boston is abuzz with activities for cultural enthusiasts.
Festivals
Explore Boston's many cross cultural festivals and celebrations...
Museums & Attractions
Discover places such as the Boston African American National Historic Site, and more...
Events
Take in one of the many performing arts events the area has to offer...
If you love the classics, ensembles such as Handel & Haydn Society and the Boston Symphony Orchestra are reason enough to visit Boston. If you prefer a lighter, contemporary flair then the Boston Pops is your orchestra of choice. The Pops is a staple of spring and come December the famous Holiday Pops enthrall audiences of all ages. Boston’s renowned music colleges, including Boston Conservatory, New England Conservatory, and Berklee College of Music, also perform weekly throughout the school year.
Boston Symphony Orchestra / Boston Pops / Symphony Hall
A Boston tradition in world-class entertainment providing music to delight audiences year-round. Boston Symphony Orchestra, October-April; Boston Pops, May to July 4. Call for concert information. Founded in 1881, the Boston Symphony…
If outdoor concerts and music festivals are more appealing, head to the Esplanade during the summer for the Boston Landmarks Orchestra or The Blues Barge behind Boston Harbor Hotel for an evening delight. For cultural festivals with music and dance check out City Hall Plaza during the summer months, and in late May, Boston Calling, a 3 day musical extravaganza in Allston.
The performing arts in Boston reveal a rich array of theatre, dance and intimate concerts. Award-winning theater companies across the city include Huntington Theatre Company, ArtsEmerson’s World on Stage, and American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge. Iconic venues such as the Boston Opera House and the Boch Center bring captivating drama, comedy, dance and popular music performances to Boston’s theatre district.
Commonwealth Shakespeare Company
Founded in 1996, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company is dedicated to presenting the works of William Shakespeare in vital and contemporary productions to the people of Boston and to exploring Shakespeare's plays with Greater Boston's youth in…
Boch Center Shubert Theatre
The Boch Center includes the Wang and Shubert Theatres. These historic landmarks present dance, Broadway, concerts, comedy, dramatic productions, popular artists and a range of other performing arts. Since its opening on January 24, 1910…
Broadway In Boston / Blue Man Group
Each year Broadway In Boston presents a spectacular season of critically-acclaimed Broadway musicals and plays at historic Boston venues. Blue Man Group will rock your world, blow your mind, and unleash your spirit. As three bald and blue…
Boston Ballet
Boston Ballet is an internationally renowned ballet company. We present a broad repertoire of works, including timeless classical ballets such as The Nutcracker and innovative contemporary ballets by some of the most ground-breaking…
Explore Boston’s diverse museums, from the great masters at the Museum of Fine Arts, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Harvard Art Museums to modern art at the Institute of Contemporary Art. Artifacts as well as photography exhibits are on display at the Museum of African American History and the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum. Most of these sites, as well as the Boston Public Library, feature intimate concerts set against the backdrop of their distinctive settings.
The Museums
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston is one of the world's great art museums with masterpieces from around the world and across the…
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Inspired by Venetian Renaissance architecture surrounding an elegant courtyard filled in every season with extraordinary flora…
Harvard Art Museums
Free every day (open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am–5pm) and just steps away from Harvard Square, the Harvard Art Museums welcome…
Institute of Contemporary Art
Founded in 1936, The Institute of Contemporary Art is the oldest non-collecting contemporary arts institution in the United…
Museum of African American History
With campuses in Boston & Nantucket, the Museum of Afro-American History is New England's largest African American history museum…
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum
Overlooking the sea he loved so much and the city that launched him to greatness stands a vibrant tribute to the life and times of…
Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists
The Museum of the National Center of Afro American Artists (NCAAA) celebrates the visual arts heritage of African cultures and the…
Boston Public Library
Boston Public Library is America's first public library serving the city of Boston with 27 neighborhood branch libraries, a…
Upcoming Events
Belmont World Film's 23rd International Film Series: "Freedom on Film"
May 5 (West Newton Cinema): SIMA’S SONG (Netherlands/France/Spain, North American premiere). The bonds of friendship between a…
Boston Chinatown Tours
Chinatown can be intimidating for outsiders. Travelers and locals alike rave about the food, fun and fables, insights gained as…
Castaway: The Afterlife of Plastic
In this exhibition, the art collective TRES invites us to share their 2016 journey to document, collect, and photograph debris…
Don Quijote Tours - Day Trips from Boston
Operating in the New England and metropolitan area of Boston, since 1991, Don Quijote Tours has provided our exclusive tour…
Intentional Beauty: Jewish Ritual Art from the Collection
Jewish communities around the world have long believed that beauty has the power to enhance ritual practice. According to the…
Live Like a Local Tours
Live Like A Local Tours brings you out of downtown Boston and into the city's neighborhoods where you'll be exposed to foods from…
Shop Latinx-owned Restaurants & Businesses
Looking for Latinx-owned Restaurants & Businesses? See our list below. La Mamma Pizza, Pasta & More…
Spring Experience 2025
The 2025 Spring Experience program combines three sublime ballets that showcase the breadth and beauty of ballet today. Alongside…
Support Black-Owned Restaurants
Support Black-owned restaurants in the area. Check out highlights from this crowdsourced list below: Rock City Pizza Allston…
Support Chinatown Restaurants
Support Chinatown restaurants in the area. Check out highlights from this list below: 10 Second Yunnan Rice Noodle 60 Beach Street…
The Mural Project
Learn about local artists-in-residence cultivating hip-hop culture through street art. As artists-in-residence at the MFA…
Year of the Dragon by Ponnapa Prakkamakul
The Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy is excited to announce its collaboration with artist Ponnapa Prakkamakul on a new public art…
The Light in the Piazza
A lush and soaring romance unfolds as Huntington Artistic Director Loretta Greco ( Prayer for the French Republic ) creates a…
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
A naïve and impossibly upbeat Brit, Dougal, has just landed in New York for his dad’s second wedding—the dad he’s never known…
Boston Ballet: Next Generation
Next Generation is Boston Ballet's annual one night only performance that empowers talented young dancers to reach for the stars…
Hello, Dolly
Brimming with classic musical theater tunes, endearing characters, and good-humor all around, Hello Dolly! is the perfect balm for…
Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
It’s a hot summer day in 2019, and in Harlem, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding salon is open for business, even though its eponymous…
North End: Boston's Immigration Gateway Guided Walking Tour
Explore Boston’s oldest neighborhood, the North End, with our knowledgeable guide. Discover the charm of this unique, compact city…
The Murder Mystery Dinner Theater Show
A two-hour-long comedic murder mystery where even YOU can be the killer! Join us for the event everyone is dying to attend! Friday…
Los Rivera Destino
Bohemia, satire, and plenty of wit: that's the unique musical style of Puerto Rican group Los Rivera Destino, whose recognition…
Roméo et Juliette
Jean-Christophe Maillot’s version shares the tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet through the eyes of the remorseful Friar…
Guided Tour: Jewish Beacon Hill
Journey to Beacon Hill’s North Slope at the turn of the 20th century. Explore the lives of its Jewish residents during a period of…
Boston's Chinatown Guided Walking Tour
Boston’s Chinatown is one of the city’s smallest yet most vibrant neighborhoods. Join us to learn about the neighborhood’s…
Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival
The Boston Dragon Boat Festival takes place annually on the banks of the Charles River in Boston and Cambridge. Starting in 1979…
Latino Family Festival
¡El día familiar más grande de Nueva Inglaterra se llevará a cabo en el histórico Fenway Park! Más de 65 expositores, juegos…
Reinhard Keiser's Octavia
The GRAMMY-winning Boston Early Music Festival returns with an all-new production of Reinhard Keiser's Octavia! The virtuous…
Back Bay Shuffle
The Huntington Hosts Boston Lindy Hop for the “Back Bay Shuffle” – a one-of-a-kind Lindy Hop dance event in The Huntington’s…
Seaport x Black Owned Bos. Outdoor Market
From gifts and apparel to packaged foods and beauty & skincare products, the Seaport x Black Owned Bos. Market will offer…
Juneteenth Underground Railroad Tour of Beacon Hill
Join Hub Town Tours on Juneteenth for an Underground Railroad tour of Beacon Hill! We will explore Boston’s role in the fight to…
BAMS Fest Momentum - Culture. Creativity. Collaboration.
This year, BAMS Festival is expanding with Momentum, six days of free and ticketed arts and culture events across the city. From…
The Artimus Pyle Band
APB features Artimus Pyle, the last surviving member and drummer of the classic Lynyrd Skynyrd lineup & 2006 Rock & Roll…
BAMS Festival
Experience two days of Black joy, including some of the biggest names in music, live DJ sets, food trucks, dance performances, and…
The Wiggles: Bouncing Balls Tour
The Wiggles will be returning for an extensive tour with their new show, based on their smash hit single Bouncing Balls!…
Back to the Future
Great Scott! Back to the Future , the beloved, cinematic classic is now a Broadway musical. Winner of the 2022 Olivier Award for…
Boston JerkFest 2025
Boston JerkFest is a family-friendly Caribbean-style food festival offering two days of fun in the sun and featuring Jamaican jerk…
Free Shakespeare on the Common: As You Like It
After her father’s kingdom is seized by his power-hungry brother, Rosalind and her cousin Celia flee in disguise, seeking refuge…
Guided Tour in Russian: Jewish Beacon Hill
Journey to Beacon Hill’s North Slope at the turn of the 20th century. Explore the lives of its Jewish residents during a period of…
Boston Puerto Rican Festival
The annual Puerto Rican Festival of Massachusetts will be held July 26 and 27, 2025 at Franklin Park! Come immerse yourself in our…
111th Annual Saint Agrippina Di Mineo Feast
Join us during the first weekend of August to kick off the Feast season in Boston's North End with The Saint Agrippina di Mineo…
The Wiz
Everybody Rejoice! The Tony Award-winning musical THE WIZ is coming to your city! Producers Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Brian…
African Festival of Boston
Get ready for two days of music, culture, food, and community as the African Festival of Boston (AFOB) returns from August 16-17…
106th Annual Saint Anthony's Feast
Each year, the people of the North End invite you to celebrate with them as they honor their patrons, Saint Anthony and Saint…
Cambridge Carnival
Join Cambridge Carnival International Inc. on Sunday, September 7, 2025, for a vibrant and immersive celebration of African and…
The Ceremony
Mfoniso Udofia continues her Ufot Family Cycle with a vibrant, heartwarming celebration of love intertwining Nigerian and Nepali…
The Hills of California
Internationally renowned Olivier and Tony Award–winning playwright Jez Butterworth ( The Ferryman, Jerusalem ) weaves the…
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Join the original 'Brad Majors' — Barry Bostwick — for a screening of the unedited movie with a live shadow cast, audience…
Churchill
In this often funny, sometimes touching and always engaging one-man-show… veteran British actor, David Payne brings Churchill to…
Kim's Convenience
This laugh-out-loud, deeply touching comedy centers around Mr. Kim, a Korean-Canadian convenience store owner, as he navigates…
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Broadway’s spellbinding spectacular Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is coming to Boston. Join the next adventure and experience…
Fun Home
Winner of five Tony Awards including Best Musical, Fun Home is a beloved, groundbreaking, and emotionally rich story of seeing…
We Had A World
A dying woman calls her grandson and asks him to write a play about their family. “But I want you to promise me something,” she…
Oedipus El Rey
Luis Alfaro reimagines Sophocles’ classic in his acclaimed and electrifying Oedipus E l Rey , set in the heart of Los Angeles…
Eureka Day
Hot from celebrated productions on Broadway and in London, Eureka Day is a new, wildly funny, on-the-pulse satire which asks if…
Sam Morril
Morril is one of the fastest-rising stand-up comics in New York City and one of the best joke writers in the scene today. He was a…
Sasha Colby: Stripped II
As a proud trans-Hawaiian woman, Sasha is a staple in the American drag industry. She’s been hailed “A LEGEND” by castmates of…