Michigan Arts Festival announced for fall
The University of Michigan will celebrate the beauty, wonder and delight of the arts across the entire university this fall during the inaugural Michigan Arts Festival.
From Sept. 25 to Oct. 26, the university will encourage students, staff, faculty and community to experience the extraordinary talent and creative breadth of the arts at U-M.
Organized by the U-M Arts Initiative, the festival is a collaborative effort involving U-M schools, departments, units, programs and student organizations engaged with the arts. Performances, exhibitions, artist talks, workshops and other programs will be highlighted, reflecting the university’s dedication to making the arts an integral part of campus life and its research, learning and service mission.
“The arts at Michigan are a campus treasure too often hiding in plain sight,” said Arts Initiative Executive Director Mark Clague. “With the Michigan Arts Festival, our creative ecosystem has pulled together to issue a bold, bright, delightful invitation for everyone to take advantage of the amazing arts opportunities on our campus.”
Some of the highlights include:
Grammy-winning musician Rhiannon Giddens as part of the Penny Stamps Speaker Series on Sept. 25.
Zach Bryan and John Mayer performing the first concert at Michigan Stadium on Sept. 27.
At the U-M Museum of Art, “Both Sides of the Line” will explore the friendship that helped shape modern art, while University Musical Society will open its 2025-26 season with the breathtaking power of Verdi’s “Requiem.”
The School of Music, Theatre & Dance will bring the stage to life this fall with productions of “Gloria,” “Cabaret” and its family-friendly Halloween Concert.
The A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning will host a week of events in October with puppetry from Anima Theatre.
The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra will team up with Jacob Collier for a special performance Oct. 21.
Across campus, students can collaborate with internationally acclaimed performer and filmmaker John Cameron Mitchell — visiting faculty in LSA’s Film, Television, and Media Department — through the Arts Initiative’s Student Creative Fellowship.
A2 Artoberfest on Oct. 11-12, presented by The Guild, will fill downtown streets with local artisans and hands-on activities.
Closing out the month, faculty recipients of the Arts Research: Incubation & Acceleration grant will share their boundary-pushing work in the League Ballroom on Oct. 23.
The Michigan Arts Festival builds upon U-M’s core commitment to the arts as a transformative force in society, underscoring the university’s role as a hub for ideas, artistic exploration and cultural dialogue.
“From performances and exhibits to talks, classes and hands-on workshops, our key message is that at the University of Michigan, the arts are an integral part of everything we do and the arts are for all,” Clague said.
Other events and programs will be announced in the coming months. Those interested can stay informed by signing up for the Michigan Arts Festival mailing list.
