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Arts + Culture

"La bohème," which runs through March 28 at Sarasota Opera House, is the first of four productions in the Sarasota Opera's 2026 Winter Festival.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • February 18, 2026
For Sarasota Opera, it's a season to remember

The 2026 Winter Opera Festival will be filled with emotion, on and off the stage.

  • Arts + Culture
Jamie Saunders, Corrie Owens and Alan Kim star in FSU/Asolo Conservatory's production of "Exit, Pursued by a Bear."
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • February 11, 2026
A wolf enters and a bear exits in twin FSU/Asolo Conservatory plays

"Wolf at the Door" and "Exit, Pursued by a Bear" follow women who escape the shackles of domestic abuse.

  • Arts + Culture
LaMichael Leonard Jr.'s dance career has taken him to New York and Paris and back to Sarasota.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • February 10, 2026
International dance star comes home to Sarasota

Booker High alum LaMichael Leonard Jr. debuts his "Hot, New Dance" at The Ringling.

  • Arts + Culture
Puerto Rican singer and rapper Bad Bunny poses with Sarasota Orchestra maestro Giancarlo Guerrero and Guerrero's wife, Shirley, before Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • February 9, 2026
Sarasota Orchestra maestro performs at Super Bowl LX Halftime Show

Giancarlo Guerrero joined Puerto Rican singer and rapper Bad Bunny on the field to conduct young string musicians.

  • Arts + Culture
"Baby Wings" and other glass art by Tom Marosz will be on display at Chasen Galleries' International Weekend of Glass from Feb. 13-15.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • February 9, 2026
International Glass Weekend celebrates many facets of glass art

The International Glass Weekend celebrates a mercurial radiance at Chasen Galleries at The Mark in downtown Sarasota from Feb. 13-15.

  • Arts + Culture
Work by Janet Echelman in “Radical Softness” at Sarasota Art Museum through April 26.
    By
  • Su Byron
  • February 6, 2026
New creations, global voices, celebrations light up our cultural horizon

Whether it's contemporary art from America, folk music from the Nordics or greatest hits from the radio, there's something for everyone this season.

  • Arts + Culture
Danny Bernardy demonstrates research with a theatrical flair to Greg Ball in Florida Studio Theatre's "The Blue-Sky Boys."
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • February 4, 2026
Florida Studio Theatre shoots for the moon with 'The Blue-Sky Boys'

Deborah Brevoort's play takes audiences on a mind-bending journey of joyful exploration.

  • Arts + Culture
Charisse Pearlina Weston is the winner of the 2026 Hermitage Greenfield Prize.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 3, 2026
Hermitage Artist Retreat awards 2026 Greenfield Prize to visual artist

The visual arts award, given to Charisse Pearlina Weston, includes a $35,000 cash award and a residency at the Englewood arts incubator.

  • Arts + Culture
Cinthia Peña is the new managing director of CreArte Latino.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 2, 2026
CreArte Latino names new full-time managing director

The new role for Cinthia Peña is made possible by a Barancik Foundation grant.

  • Arts + Culture
Ben Stahl's "Thunder on the Beach" is on display at Ringling College of Art and Design through April 11.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • January 28, 2026
Two exhibits trace the origins of the Sarasota Artist Colony

After World War II, veterans flocked to Sarasota and formed a tight-knit community of creators.

  • Arts + Culture
The Sarasota Ballet will perform Ricardo Graziano's "Valsinhas" from Jan. 30-Feb. 2 at FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • January 28, 2026
Sarasota Ballet revives 'Valsinhas' for its fourth program

Portuguese for "Little Waltzes," the piece was choreographed by Brazil-born principal dancer Ricardo Graziano.

  • Arts + Culture
Asolo Repertory Theatre's production of "The Mirror Crack'd" runs through March 14 at FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • January 27, 2026
Asolo Repertory Theatre veteran returns to helm Agatha Christie classic

Former Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards directs Rachel Wagstaff's take on "The Mirror Crack'd."

  • Arts + Culture
Ben Turoff helps bring big-name acts to the performing arts center at the Glenridge On Palmer Ranch retirement community.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • January 26, 2026
A son of the theater helps a venue come into its own

Ben Turoff has put the Glenridge Performing Arts Center on the map.

  • Arts + Culture
Mr. Swindle is the character who gives an adults-only circus its name.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • January 21, 2026
The circus gets naughty at Mr. Swindle's Traveling Peculiarium

Allison Blei and Ivan España's mom-and-pop circus is full of adult fun and laughter.

  • Arts + Culture
Key Chorale's Opus 1700 is a weekend escape for chamber music lovers
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 20, 2026
Key Chorale's Opus 1700 is a weekend escape for chamber music lovers

A two-day festival celebrates the works of Baroque music masters Bach and Handel.

  • Arts + Culture
1 2 3 4 5 »
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1
Carl Mario Nudi, Sarafina Murphy-Gibson, Ivy Sunflower, Marina Elaine and Sarah Jefferies on the promenade deck.
  • February 20, 2026
Unconventional Evening hosts 10 eras of the high school prom experience
2
Melissa Douberly, Tyson Babb, Lisa Jayne Warren-Wallace and Gina and David Warren dig the vibe of the Studio 54 theme and the cocktail hour.
  • February 20, 2026
Cooking for Wishes serves up funk, flavor and dreams that do come true
3
Three arrested, two of them juveniles, for armed robbery of a convenience store
  • February 20, 2026
Three arrested, two of them juveniles, for armed robbery of a convenience store
4
St. Barbara's Hellenic Folk Dance Group member Harrison Barakos gives a wave, while being cheered on by fellow dancers Maria Stylianoudakis and Gianni Cappelluti, as his name is called at the St. Barbara 42nd annual Greek Festival.
  • February 20, 2026
St. Barbara hosts 42nd annual Greek Festival all weekend
5
Weizhen Jiang Wolf and Yuhong Wan of Zen Rhythm Dance Group perform a Mongolian Dance at the Lunar New Year Celebration.
  • February 20, 2026
Sister Cities of Sarasota hosts Lunar New Year celebration

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