Release: Juilliard Announces Third Annual Fall Festival and More 2026–27 Creative Enterprise Programs

Juilliard Announces Third Annual Fall Festival and More 2026–27 Creative Enterprise Programs Including Collaborations With the Apollo, The Atlantic, and Carnegie Hall

Interdisciplinary Performances Feature New Works and Anniversary Celebrations

 

[NEW YORK, June 15, 2026]—Juilliard announces the return of its annual Fall Festival, launching New York’s fall performance season with dynamic performances across Juilliard’s Music, Dance, Drama, Preparatory, and Extension divisions. Fall Festival is the first of several programs throughout the year on campus and across New York City that offer audiences an expansive view of the artistry thriving at Juilliard. This season will also include new partnerships with the Apollo and The Atlantic and the continuation of the Juilliard at Zankel Hall series, presented by Carnegie Hall. 

 

Fall Festival opens on September 16 with a night of collaborative performance honoring the centennial of alum Miles Davis’ birth, the 25th anniversary of Juilliard Jazz, and the 75th anniversary of Juilliard’s Dance Division, directed by Arnhold Creative Associate at Large, distinguished visiting faculty, and acclaimed choreographer Jamar Roberts. Festival highlights include 

• The Atlantic and Juilliard Present: A Soundtrack of a Nation, a special partnership celebrating the evolution of the “American sound” as America marks its 250th anniversary featuring prominent artists and Juilliard student and alumni performers; 

• acclaimed historical performance ensemble Juilliard415 directed by violinist and visiting faculty member Rachel Podger; 

• Juilliard Outdoors: PLAZAWORK 2026, an interactive performance experience on Hearst Plaza; 

• Grammy-winning composer Teddy Abrams leading the Juilliard Orchestra in a concert celebrating music of the Americas featuring the world premiere of a commission by Pisar Prize winner Elise Arancio (MM ’25, composition) and former Juilliard and Lincoln Center president William Schuman’s Symphony No. 3; 

• activations centered on creative aging presented as part of the United Nations General Assembly’s Healing Arts week exploring the transformative role of artistic engagement in promoting health, connection, and wellbeing throughout life; 

• a celebration of the pioneering and innovative work of alum Steve Reich in his 90th year; 

• Wednesdays at One: Chamber Music featuring ensembles from Juilliard’s Chamber Music program; 

• a special showcase of scenes by recent alums of the Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Program; 

• students from Juilliard’s Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts in An Evening of Opera, Song, and Musical Theater; 

• and free events at Juilliard Station, including Pursuits of Happiness, a series of rush hour performances celebrating the utopian imagination across centuries of artistic expression, and pop-up classes offered by Juilliard Extension offering an accessible entry point into the creative process. 

 

The festival closes with an evening directed by Arnhold Creative Associate, dancer, and choreographer Caili Quan showcasing artists from the music, dance, and preparatory divisions coming together for performances that embody the curiosity, collaboration, and excellence that animate life at Juilliard. 

 

These programs are presented by Juilliard Creative Enterprise, an initiative of Juilliard President Damian Woetzel, to amplify the institution’s unique interdisciplinary focus. 

 

“Fall Festival not only launches a new year at Juilliard, it also reflects what makes this community so distinctive: as a part of education, artists and students work at the highest level of their craft, within their disciplines and in collaboration with their peers, faculty, and luminaries in the field,” said Woetzel. “The festival also begins a season centered on access to the arts, inviting audiences throughout the year to experience more than 1,000 free performances and events annually, alongside many others offered at low cost.” 

 

Juilliard continues its partnership with Carnegie Hall this season to present three dynamic Juilliard at Zankel Hall performances. On November 10, students perform innovative pieces across music, dance, and drama, spotlighting new frontiers in artistic experimentation among the next generation of performers. On February 10, Juilliard415 performs a sensational suite of works curated in collaboration with Juilliard Arnhold Creative Associate, Carnegie Hall Debs Composer’s Chair, and Pulitzer Prize recipient Caroline Shaw. Acclaimed director and Juilliard Arnhold Creative Associate Yuval Sharon takes the helm for the final performance of the Juilliard at Zankel Series on April 13, marking the first time Sharon has directed at Juilliard and featuring student and alumni singers, musicians, and dancers.  

 

Creative Enterprise presents an impactful week of programs in January as part of the school’s annual commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. In April, Juilliard will celebrate Earth Month with events taking place at Juilliard and across the Lincoln Center campus. 

 

Details about Juilliard’s partnership with the Apollo will be announced at a later date. 

 

Creative Enterprise programming, including Creative Associates, is generously sponsored by Jody and John Arnhold and the Arnhold Foundation. 

 

Tickets to all 2026–27 season events are now on sale, and programs can be viewed on the Juilliard performance calendar. 

 

 

Fall Festival 

 

Opening Night: A Centennial Celebration of Miles Davis Directed by Jamar Roberts 

Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 7:30pm 

Peter Jay Sharp Theater 

 

The Atlantic and Juilliard Present: A Soundtrack of a Nation  

Thursday, September 17, 2026 at 7:30pm 

Zuccotti Theater at Perelman Performing Arts Center 

 

Juilliard415 Directed by Rachel Podger   

Friday, September 18, 2026 at 7:30pm 

Alice Tully Hall 

 

Juilliard Outdoors: PLAZAWORK 2026   

Saturday, September 19, 2026 at 11am 

Hearst Plaza at Lincoln Center 

 

Pop-Up Classes at the Station With Juilliard Extension 

Saturday, September 19, 2026 at 1pm 

Juilliard Station 

 

Juilliard Orchestra Conducted by Teddy Abrams 

Saturday, September 19, 2026 at 7:30pm 

Alice Tully Hall 

 

Creative Aging: A Daily Dose of Art   

Panel and Activations for U.N. General Assembly’s Healing Arts Week  

Sunday, September 20, 2026 at 10am 

Lincoln Center Campus 

 

Rush Hour Performances: Pursuits of Happiness  

Tuesday, September 22–Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 5:30pm 

Juilliard Station 

 

The New Series: Steve Reich @ 90  

Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 7:30pm 

Rosemary and Meredith Willson Theater   

 

Wednesdays at One: Chamber Music  

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at 1pm 

Alice Tully Hall 

 

Juilliard Drama Presents Scenes by Recent Playwriting Alums  

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at 7:30pm  

Paul Hall 

 

An Evening of Opera, Song, and Musical Theater  

Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 7:30pm 

Paul Hall 

 

Closing Night With Juilliard Music, Dance, and Drama Directed by Caili Quan 

Friday, September 25, 2026 at 7:30pm  

Peter Jay Sharp Theater 

 

 

Juilliard at Zankel Hall 

 

Carnegie Hall Presents Juilliard at Zankel Hall 

Tuesday, November 10, 2026 at 7:30pm 

Wednesday, February 10, 2027 at 7:30pm 

Tuesday, April 13, 2027 at 7:30pm 

Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall 

 

 

About The Juilliard School 

Founded in 1905, The Juilliard School is a world leader in performing arts education. The school’s mission is to cultivate excellence through the highest caliber of education in music, dance, and drama for gifted students from around the world, so they may achieve their fullest potential, expanding the reach and elevating the impact of the arts. Juilliard is led by Damian Woetzel, seventh president of the school, who has prioritized affordability and access to the highest level of artistic education while championing Juilliard’s tradition of excellence. 

 

Located at Lincoln Center in New York City, Juilliard offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in dance, drama (acting and playwriting), and music (classical, jazz, historical performance, and vocal arts). More than 800 artists from 42 states and 50 countries and regions are enrolled in Juilliard’s College Division, where they appear in more than 800 annual performances in the school’s five theaters; at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully and David Geffen halls and at Carnegie Hall; as well as at other venues around New York City, the U.S., and the world. The continuum of learning at Juilliard also includes nearly 400 students from elementary through high school enrolled in the Preparatory Division—Pre-College and Music Advancement Program (MAP); MAP serves students from diverse backgrounds often underrepresented in the classical music field. More than 1,200 students are enrolled in Juilliard Extension, the flagship continuing education program taught both in person and remotely by a dedicated faculty of performers, creators, and scholars. Beyond its New York campus, Juilliard is defining new directions in performing arts education for a range of learners and enthusiasts through a global K–12 educational curricula and preparatory and graduate studies at The Tianjin Juilliard School in China. 

 

juilliard.edu @juilliardschool 
 

CONTACTS: 

Brendan Padgett 

Madeleine Jennings 
news@juilliard.edu 

 

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