The 2026 Fall Arts Preview: Discover the best of the new season

Fall is my favorite season, and it’s not just because of the weather. Sure, it’s nice when the heat finally begins to subside, but, more importantly, it’s the time of year when a new arts season begins — and this one is packed with great things.

Along with the cooler autumn weather, the 2026-27 season brings us a wealth of premieres and debuts and reliably thrilling and highly anticipated programming from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Atlanta Opera, the Atlanta Ballet, the Alliance Theatre and Out on Film. But that’s just the beginning. Atlanta has such a vibrant and diverse arts scene, from small independent galleries to innovative chamber ensembles to cutting-edge theater companies. Our critics and editors have looked ahead to the coming months to find the best bets in Art + Design, Books, Dance, Film + TV, Music and Theater.

And as always, we’ve got our Ones to Watch. These six creative and talented artists demonstrate that the future of Atlanta’s arts scene is in good hands, and we urge you to keep an eye on their careers. They’re going places.

— Shane Harrison, Executive Editor

Our 2026 Fall Picks