The Wisconsin Union Theater (WUT) has announced its 2026–27 season and its lineup of 2026 Madison Jazz Festival performances, featuring top and emerging performers.
As part of the 2026 Madison Jazz Festival co-presented with Art + Literature Laboratory, WUT will present free performances on the UW Credit Union Summer Stage at the Terrace on June 26–27. The lineup includes Canção, The Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, which is often referred to as DLO3, and Nate Smith on June 26 and the Madison High School Jazz All-Stars, the Alysha Brilla Trio, Endea Owens and The Cookout, Wycliffe Gordon and Ghost-Note on June 27. The Festival’s lineup at the Terrace is presented with support from The Cap Times, the Evjue Foundation and WMTV and made possible in part by a grant from the Brittingham Wisconsin Trust.
Seating for Terrace performances is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Food and beverages are available for sale at on-site dining options, such as the Brat Stand, der Stiftskeller, and der Rathskeller. A 2026 Madison Jazz Festival T-shirt will be available for purchase at the Terrace, while supplies last.
The new 2026–27 WUT season brings a mix of classical, jazz, dance and storytelling to WUT’s two performance spaces in Memorial Union: Shannon Hall on the first floor and the Play Circle Theater on the second floor.
The Classical Series includes Cantus & Imani Winds on Sept. 16, Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble on Nov. 20, Canadian Brass on Dec. 4, Bang on a Can All-Stars on Jan. 27, 2027, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra with pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason on Feb. 12, 2027, and pianist Yuja Wang on April 10, 2027.
The Jazz Series features Linda May Han Oh on Sept. 10, Michael Mayo on Oct. 1, Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science on Nov. 21, Zohar & Adam on March 4, 2027, ARTEMIS on April 1, 2027, and the Joshua Redman Quartet on May 1, 2027.
Additional performances throughout the season include Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Angélique Kidjo on Sept. 17, “THE POISONER” co-produced by WUT and Uncommon Productions Oct. 8–10, Raveena on Oct. 16, “Frankenstein” performed by Manual Cinema on Oct. 23, "A Guaraldi Holiday” with the Isaiah J. Thompson Quartet on Dec. 5, "Selected Shorts" with to-be-announced storytellers on Feb. 21, 2027, the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain on April 8, 2027, and dance company Pilobolus’ “Trips” on April 16, 2027.
The WUT team also anticipates the return of Black Box Sessions, an intimate, club-style performance series. The team will release details about the series, which will feature R&B and neo-soul performances, at a later date.
“Since it opened its doors in 1939, the Wisconsin Union Theater has presented the highest quality performing arts across genres and disciplines,” WUT Director Elizabeth Snodgrass said. “No matter one’s familiarity with the artist or the genre, if the Wisconsin Union Theater is presenting it, it’s going to be the best of the best. The 2026–2027 season and this summer’s Madison Jazz Festival lineup at the Terrace are some of the finest artists we’ve ever had.”
Subscription packages for the 2026–27 season will be available to the public for purchase beginning May 15, including Classical Series and Jazz Series subscriptions as well as a build-your-own option. Subscribers receive ticket discounts, early access to tickets, and first choice of seating. Single tickets will be available for purchase on June 1.
For more than 90 years, WUT has presented performing arts experiences in collaboration with the student-led Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee.
Patrons can visit union.wisc.edu/theater for more information about the 2026–27 season and union.wisc.edu/visit/wisconsin-union-theater/seasonevents/madison-jazz-festival for details about Madison Jazz Festival events.