The Philadelphia Orchestra returns to its summer home in Saratoga for a three-week residency, featuring appearances by Tony®, EMMY®, and five-time GRAMMY® Award–nominated singer Josh Groban, GRAMMY® Award–nominated indie-folk singer Gregory Alan Isakov, and two-time Tony® Award–winning Broadway star Brian Stokes Mitchell. 

Anchoring the season is Beethoven’s monumental Ninth Symphony, featured in The Philadelphia Orchestra’s first SPAC season in 1966. Led by Yannick Nézet-Séguin alongside Albany Pro Musica and an acclaimed cast of soloists, the iconic masterpiece serves as a fitting centerpiece for the anniversary celebration.

The season also explores the theme of “Seasons” through paired performances of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and Piazzolla’s The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires led by concertmaster David Kim. Opening the residency are three performances under the baton of renowned conductor Marin Alsop including a dazzling evening of Tchaikovsky featuring the 1812 Overture with live cannon fire and a brilliant fireworks display.

The popular film nights also return to delight audiences of all ages as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ – Part 1 in Concert and Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert are projected in HD while The Philadelphia Orchestra performs the scores live.

Throughout the season, special anniversary offerings — including select $19.66 lawn  tickets — will help welcome audiences of all ages to experience SPAC’s landmark summer celebration.

“As we celebrate SPAC’s 60th anniversary season, we honor the artists, audiences, and traditions that have shaped this remarkable place while looking ahead to an exciting future filled with inspiration, discovery, and connection,” said Elizabeth Sobol, Chief Executive Officer of Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

2026 Summer Season

SPAC at 60:

Honoring a Storied Past While Shaping the Future

There are few places as deeply woven into the spirit of summer in Saratoga as SPAC. As the beloved cultural destination celebrates its 60th anniversary season, the milestone offers a moment to reflect not only on the legendary performances and memories that have shaped generations, but also on the remarkable evolution that has reshaped the organization over the past decade.

Under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Sobol, who marks her tenth anniversary with the organization this year, SPAC has grown from a primarily seasonal presenting venue into a dynamic year-round cultural institution. Reflecting on that transformation, Sobol recently shared: “Ten years ago, we were the stewards of something extraordinary—but also something at risk. We asked ourselves: what would it mean to be as bold now as SPAC’s founders were then? Over the past decade, we have transformed this campus—honoring its history while preparing it for the future. We have evolved from a seasonal presenter into a year-round institution, bringing life, learning, and artistic expression into all four seasons.”

Today, SPAC welcomes more than 500,000 visitors annually while presenting programming throughout the year spanning music, dance, literary arts, culinary arts, healing arts, and visual arts. Along the way, the organization has deepened partnerships with many of the region’s leading arts and community organizations — including Skidmore College, Caffè Lena, Saratoga Bridges, and AIM Services — helping position SPAC as an increasingly vital cultural hub for the Capital Region.

Education and community engagement have also become central to SPAC’s expanding mission. Over the past decade, SPAC’s education initiatives have grown from serving approximately 5,000 students annually to more than 60,000 individuals today through partnerships with schools and community organizations across the region. Programs ranging from SPAC School of the Arts and Classical Kids to inclusive community collaborations and wellbeing initiatives reflect the organization’s belief in the arts as a powerful force for creativity, connection, and belonging.

That same spirit of reinvention has reshaped the physical campus as well. In recent years, SPAC has transformed the Pines campus with new buildings and gathering spaces, opened SPAC School of the Arts, enhanced backstage facilities, and embarked on the historic restoration of Spa Little Theater — a project that will culminate later this year with the theater’s reopening as SPAC’s permanent year-round performance home.

And while the anniversary season offers an opportunity for reflection, it is equally a celebration. Throughout the summer, audiences are invited to experience special 60th anniversary events, exhibitions, and commemorative initiatives that honor the artists, audiences, and traditions that have shaped SPAC for generations.

Celebrate SPAC’s
60th Anniversary
All Season Long!

This summer, SPAC’s 60th anniversary celebration comes to life through special events, experiences, and festive community traditions that honor the artists, audiences, and memories that have shaped six extraordinary decades beneath the pines.

Explore This Place Loves You Back

Step into SPAC’s newest VisualArts@SPAC exhibition by artist Whitney Browne, inspired by archival images and the shared moments that have unfolded on the SPAC grounds for generations. On view in The Pines during performances by BalletX, New York City Ballet, and The Philadelphia Orchestra, the exhibition offers a moving reflection on the connection between audiences, artists, and place.

Try the Limited-Edition
“Fireworks on the Lawn” Ice Cream

In partnership with Stewart’s Shops, SPAC has created a playful anniversary flavor inspired by one of summer’s favorite traditions. The limited-edition treat — featuring vanilla ice cream, tart cherry swirl, and red and blue Pop Rocks^TM — will be available throughout the Capital Region this summer.

Bring Home a Piece of SPAC History

Celebrate SPAC’s iconic visual legacy with a special collection of vintage Milton Glaser poster prints, including artwork created for SPAC’s celebrated seasons in 1980, 1982, and 1990.

Join the July 9
“Anniversary Night” Celebration

Celebrate SPAC’s official birthday during New York City Ballet’s performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream — the very ballet that opened the SPAC stage in 1966. Audiences are invited to arrive early for a festive pre-show gathering featuring tastings, treats, music, photo opportunities, and other anniversary surprises.

SPAC 60th Anniversary Lawn Ticket Offer

As part of the celebration, special $19.66 anniversary lawn tickets will be available for New York City Ballet and select Philadelphia Orchestra performances — making it easier than ever to gather with friends and family for a memorable summer night under the stars.

Whether revisiting cherished traditions or discovering SPAC for the very first time, this anniversary season is a celebration of the artists, audiences, and shared experiences that have defined summers at SPAC for sixty extraordinary years.

Visit spac.org for more details.

Photo © Francesco D'Amico