9 essential Atlanta arts events this weekend
Each week, ArtsATL curates a selection of the most exciting arts and culture events happening in Atlanta this weekend, highlighting nine must-see experiences.
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Thursday
2026 Peach Pit Pageant: A Drag Competition
The Southern Fried Queer Festival continues this weekend with two of its biggest events. In this competition, seven contestants will strut their stuff to claim the crown, while DJ Abby Dear spins tracks beginning at 9 p.m. on June 25 at 7 Stages.
Classical Remix Festival Gala Concert
On June 25, in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the Festival takes over the Trolley Barn at 7:30 p.m., featuring musicians from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, ensemble vim and others. The lineup is an eclectic mix, curated thoughtfully by Festival founder Alice Hong. The first half includes Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” Ray Charles’ version of Hoagy Carmichael’s “Georgia on My Mind” and George Gershwin’s “Three Preludes.” The second half closes with Aaron Copland’s “Appalachian Spring,” a sweeping, American epic that required expanding the ensemble from last year’s 10 musicians to this year’s 13. Two contemporary pieces round out the program: Alice Hong’s own “Pomegranate Noir,” a short, tender work commissioned in memory of a grandmother, and “Threnody” by Jeremy Crosmer, a cellist and composer with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
FIFA Fan Festival Atlanta and the Atlanta Cultural Exchange
Downtown has become a global gathering place where fans from around the world can come together to watch live match broadcasts, enjoy concerts, food and beverage offerings, interactive sponsor activations and cultural programming — all set against the iconic backdrop of Centennial Olympic Park. Musical performances include Earthgang, Ludacris, Davido and CeeLo Green. Nearby, the Atlanta Cultural Exchange puts the city’s live culture, creative performances and visual arts in the spotlight at the CTR (formerly the CNN Center) as Atlanta hosts the World Cup. Four activations remain — on June 26 and June 30 and July 6 and July 14 — but there are many other arts-related events happening downtown. Find out more here.
Friday
High Fidelity with John Cusack
Continuing the musical theme, The Fox Theatre will host a screening of the 2000 film, along with a live conversation with the film’s star, John Cusack. The film, based on the book by Nick Hornby, is about a record store owner and compulsive list maker who recounts his worst breakups. See it at 8 p.m. Friday, June 26.
The Buckhead Theatre will also play host to comedy this weekend, as the comedian takes the stage on Friday, June 26. Poundstone has been performing since 1979 and is probably best known as a frequent panelist on NPR’s Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me!
Saturday
The Chunklet Music Preservation Project Photography Pop-up
Chunklet Music Preservation Project presents a one‑day-only pop‑up of previously unseen music photography — all shot in Georgia (or spiritually adjacent) by Barbara McKenzie, Marlys Lenz Cox, Murray Silver Jr., Dana Downs, Victoria Nicholson and Sean Bourne. It’s happening from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on June 27 at the Imperial in Oakhurst.
Recent Tony Award winner Lesley Manville and Aidan Turner star in this striking new staging of Christopher Hampton’s celebrated adaptation of the classic novel, where, among the glittering salons of the super rich, one misstep can mean ruin. It’s part of the National Theatre Live series, filmed at Britain’s National Theatre. See it at 1:30 p.m. on June 27 and June 28 at the Tara Theatre.
Sunday
Marking the end of the Southern Fried Queer Pride 2026 Festival, Cinequeer wraps things up with screenings of films, shorts and more at 7 p.m. June 28 at the Plaza Theatre.
Eight Cellos of Atlanta: Around the World in 80 Minutes
On 7:30 p.m. on June 28, the Classical Remix Festival will host its season finale at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Midtown. The concert features eight cellists performing a program intended to take audiences on a journey across continents. The show travels from Japan, with an arrangement of the Studio Ghibli theme “My Neighbor Totoro,” to Ireland for the folk tune “Danny Boy” and France for Gabriel Fauré’s stately Pavane. The program will also include two very different takes on the four seasons with Vivaldi’s baroque classic “Summer” and Astor Piazzolla’s tango-infused version from Buenos Aires.
More things to do this weekend and beyond
The Plaza hosts a screening of Persepolis, the 2007 animated film by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud, at 7:30 p.m. on June 29. It’s based on Satrapi’s own autobiographical graphic novel about a young girl growing up in the aftermath of the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Satrapi died earlier this month … Colombian superstar Shakira will perform at State Farm Arena on Friday, June 26, and Sunday, June 28. The shows take place on the same weekend Atlanta hosts its final FIFA World Cup group-stage match at nearby Mercedes-Benz Stadium … British comedian and actor Paul Chowdhry became the first comedian of Asian heritage to sell out Wembley Arena in 2017 and has released four stand-up comedy specials, including What’s Happening White People. He’ll bring his Artificial Indian tour to Center Stage on Sunday, June 28. It’s a rescheduled Atlanta date; he was originally booked at the Buckhead Theatre back in January. That gig was canceled due to icy weather.
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