Arts in Atlanta, October 2026: Puryear and a new photo show at the High, two Alliance musicals, Atlanta Ballet's Cinderella and a free Marine Band concert.

The High Museum of Art has a new photography show alongside Martin Puryear’s sculpture, the Alliance Theatre runs two musicals, Atlanta Ballet brings Cinderella to the Fox Theatre Oct. 16-17, and the U.S. Marine Band plays a free concert at Symphony Hall Oct. 26.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. This page covers the next six weeks and is retitled each month. Every listing links to the museum, theater or orchestra that published it; confirm times and tickets there before you go. For festivals, food and family events, see things to do this month and things to do this weekend.

Exhibitions now showing

All four are at the High Museum of Art, 1280 Peachtree St. NE, on the Woodruff Arts Center campus by Arts Center MARTA station. The museum lists general admission at $23.50 for nonmembers; members get in free.

  • Martin Puryear: Nexus, through Jan. 17, 2027. Sculpture by Martin Puryear. Exhibition page.
  • Photography as a Way of Life: Minor White, Aaron Siskind, and Harry Callahan, through Feb. 7, 2027. Three photographers who shaped postwar American photography. Exhibition page.
  • I SPY! Walter Wick’s Hidden Wonders, through Jan. 3, 2027. Photographs from the I SPY picture-puzzle books, a good pick for children. Exhibition page.
  • Los Porfiados (The Stubborns), through Nov. 29. An installation by the Chilean design studio gt2P. Exhibition page.

Atlanta Contemporary, 535 Means St. NW, which is free every day, says it is closed while it installs its next exhibitions. Opening dates will be added here when the center publishes them.

Theater and dance

  • Mexodus, through Friday, Oct. 16, Alliance Theatre’s Coca-Cola Stage, 1280 Peachtree St. NE. A two-person hip-hop musical by Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson about enslaved people who escaped to freedom in Mexico, with live-looped music. Alliance Theatre page.
  • Like Father, Oct. 8 to Nov. 15, Alliance Theatre’s Hertz Stage. A coming-of-age musical by Jacob Ryan Smith and Caroline Pernick in which a true-crime podcast exposes a family’s past. Post-show “Afterwords” talks follow the Oct. 24, 29 and 31 performances. Alliance Theatre page.
  • Atlanta Ballet: Cinderella, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 16-17, Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. NE. Bruce Wells’ family ballet. Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker follows Dec. 5-26 at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre; see our Nutcracker show times. Atlanta Ballet page.
  • The Ghastly Dreadfuls, through Oct. 31, Center for Puppetry Arts, 1404 Spring St. NW. Gothic tales from musicians, dancers and puppeteers, 7:30 or 8 p.m. depending on the date. Ages 18 and up; tickets from $29. Center for Puppetry Arts page.
  • Spookhouse Annie, Oct. 14 to Nov. 1, Center for Puppetry Arts. A not-too-scary Halloween puppet show for ages 4 and up: 10 and 11:30 a.m. Wednesday to Friday, 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday, and 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $20, $16 for members, and include museum admission. Center for Puppetry Arts page.

Concerts and classical

All at Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. NE, according to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

  • Guster with the ASO, 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 16-17. The band plays a different set with the orchestra each night. ASO page.
  • The Rocky Horror Picture Show, 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18. The film with a live shadow cast, a costume contest and original cast members Barry Bostwick and Nell Campbell. There is no orchestra; the film is rated R. ASO page.
  • Black Violin, 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19. The string and hip-hop duo’s Be Free Tour. ASO page.
  • Rhapsody in Blue, 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, and Saturday, Oct. 24. Kristiina Poska conducts Gershwin’s Catfish Row suite and Rhapsody in Blue, with jazz pianist Sullivan Fortner, and Nielsen’s Fourth Symphony. ASO page.
  • Family Concert: Halloween, Hogwarts & More, 1:30 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25. Harry Potter music and other spooky pieces for children under 12, who are invited to come in costume. ASO page.
  • “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26. Free, but tickets are required; reserve through the ASO or the box office at 404-733-4800. ASO page.

Classes and workshops

  • XPT Xemplified, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, and XPT New Director Workshop, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, at the Center for Puppetry Arts, for adults making their own puppet work. Workshops and classes.

Regular events

  • Friday Jazz at the High Museum, every third Friday (next Oct. 16), with seating from 6 p.m. first come, first served, and HIGH Frequency Friday, every first Friday (next Nov. 6), with music, art and dancing; preregistration required, the museum says.

Send us your event

Galleries, theaters and arts groups can email hello@atlantalivenews.com with the date, time, venue, price and a photo. Listings are free and go on this page and the monthly listings.

Frequently asked questions

What arts events are on in Atlanta in October 2026?

Martin Puryear: Nexus is at the High Museum of Art through Jan. 17, the Alliance Theatre has Mexodus through Oct. 16 and Like Father through Nov. 15, and Atlanta Ballet dances Cinderella at the Fox Theatre Oct. 16-17.

What exhibitions are at the High Museum right now?

Martin Puryear: Nexus, I SPY! Walter Wick’s Hidden Wonders, Los Porfiados (The Stubborns) and Photography as a Way of Life: Minor White, Aaron Siskind, and Harry Callahan, the museum says.

What is on at the Center for Puppetry Arts for Halloween?

Spookhouse Annie, for ages 4 and up, runs Oct. 14 to Nov. 1, and The Ghastly Dreadfuls, for adults 18 and up, runs through Oct. 31, the center says.

When does Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker start?

Atlanta Ballet’s The Nutcracker runs Dec. 5-26, 2026, at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, not the Fox. Show times are on our Nutcracker page.