Your Guide to Seeing a Show Downtown
From musicals to symphonies, the Cultural District is bustling with an artistic world awaiting discovery.
PHOTO VIA PITTSBURGH MAGAZINE ARCHIVES
You don’t have to travel to the Big Apple to catch some of the best Broadway has to offer.
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has a lineup of popular shows on the docket for the remainder of its 2026-2027 season. Plus, this is your last year to see Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s current iteration of “The Nutcracker,” conceived by Terrence S. Orr back in 2002; in December 2027, the dance company will debut a newly developed version of the popular Christmas show.
Whether you’re a season pass holder or are just looking to add a little more theater to your life, Downtown is the place to be. Below is a list of the musicals, plays and ballets coming soon to the Cultural District.
Disney’s The Lion King
Sep. 9-27
Benedum Center
Giselle with the PBT Orchestra
Oct. 23-25
Benedum Center
Hadestown
Oct. 27 – Nov. 1
Benedum Center
Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
Nov. 5-8
Byham Theater
The Notebook
Nov. 10-15
Benedum Center
Orpheus & Eurydice
Nov. 14-22
Byham Theater
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
Nov. 24-29
Benedum Center
The Nutcracker
Dec. 4-27
Benedum Center
The Nutcracker (sensory friendly performance)
Dec. 6
Benedum Center
A Musical Christmas Carol
Dec. 11-23
Byham Theater
Maybe Happy Ending
Dec. 29 – Jan. 3
Benedum Center
The Sound of Music
Jan. 19-24
Benedum Center
Beetlejuice
Feb. 5-7
Benedum Center
Alice in Wonderland
Feb. 12-21
Benedum Center
Death Becomes Her
Feb. 23-28
Benedum Center
Miss Saigon
March 4-14
Byham Theater
The Phantom of the Opera
March 17-28
Benedum Center
Spring Mix: World Premieres
April 9-11
August Wilson Cultural Center
The Outsiders
April 27 – May 2
Benedum Center
The Sleeping Beauty with the PBT Orchestra
May 7-9
Benedum Center
Clifford the Big Red Dog: The Musical
May 15
Byham Theater
The Who’s Tommy
May 18-23
Benedum Center
More to See and Hear
Pittsburgh is also home to a world-class symphony. The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra boasts a robust calendar of events, and it isn’t just for classical music fans. Broadway enthusiasts can head down to Heinz Hall Oct. 9-11 for Everything I Know: The Music of Lin Manuel-Miranda, and movie buffs can check out a showing of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 on Oct. 30 and Nov. 1 with a twist: The PSO will perform the score live.
Nearby, Arts Landing also hosts a series of events, ranging from pickleball matches to movie nights on the great lawn.
Don’t forget about Harris Theater, which shows art films almost every day; Liberty Magic, where magicians manipulate reality; or Arcade Comedy Theater, where you can get your fix of stand-up and improv.
