Strathmore has revealed its 2025–2026 season, which will include a variety of September–June shows. Elizabeth Gilbert, David Sedaris, Herbie Hancock, Natalia Lafourcade, Joshua Bell, and the Gipsy Kings with Nicolas Reyes are among the highlights.
Strathmore claims that the programming for the season was created with safety, accessibility, and originality in mind, showcasing daring artistry, cultural celebration, and genre-spanning performances. Three locations will host the events: the Good Hope Neighborhood Recreation Center in Silver Spring, the Music Center, and The Mansion in North Bethesda.
According to Strathmore: Strathmore has announced its exciting 2025–2026 season, which will feature performances that span genres and generations while highlighting daring craftsmanship and cultural celebration. This season enables viewers to interact through humor, music, and creative experiences, featuring world-renowned storytellers like Elizabeth Gilbert and David Sedaristo as well as worldwide superstars like Natalia Lafourcade and Compagnie Herv KOUBI.
Award-winning performers, theatrical favorites, international sounds, holiday customs, and small-scale chamber music are all featured in Strathmore’s upcoming season, which runs from September to June and is hosted at the Good Hope Neighborhood Recreation Center in Silver Spring as well as The Music Center and The Mansion in North Bethesda.
The Music Center
Artists & Cultural Icons with Awards
On September 21, best-selling author Elizabeth Gilbert will kick off the season at the Music Center at Strathmore by sharing excerpts from her most recent book, All the Way to the River. Genre-defying pairWhile John Cleese (October 4) offers humor and nostalgia with a 50th anniversary showing of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Black Violin (September 25) combines hip-hop and classical music.
Powerhouses of voiceIntimate acoustic gigs by Joss Stone (October 9) and Ben Folds (October 15) are followed by flamenco fusion legends Gipsy Kings with Nicolas Reyes (October 16). Jazz great Herbie Hancock (Nov. 1) presents a retrospective of his career, and fan favorite comedian David Sedaris (Oct. 26) returns with his signature wit.
Additionally, the season showcases the powerful, bass-driven stylings of Meshell Ndegeocello (March 27), renowned violinist Joshua Bell with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields (March 6), and culinary icon Yotam Ottolenghi (March 3).
Family Favorites & Broadway
This season will also showcase Broadway genius and family-friendly entertainment with Disney’s Moana Live-to-Film Concert (October 12), which blends on-screen narrative with on-stage orchestration. Legendary singer Lea Salonga (Dec. 6) sings from her Disney and Broadway songbook, while RENT in Concert (Feb. 25) uses symphonic power to reinterpret the classic musical. On March 22, the Grammy-winning Okee Dokee Brothers perform upbeat, family-friendly Americana music.
Worldwide Music & Dancing
With pianist Ludovico Einaudi (October 7) singing from his new album Summer Portraits and the upbeat harmonies of Soweto Gospel Choir (October 10), international voices take center stage. Compagnie Herv KOUBI (October 30), Tango After Dark (February 22), and Pilobolus: Other Worlds (March 5) are examples of dance innovators.
The Silkroad Ensemble, which includesThe Ravi Shankar Ensemble (March 19) celebrates the musical legacy of the sitar master, while Wu Man (November 16) tells tales of the American railroad. Latin Grammy record-holderGrammy winner Eliades Ochoa (April 19) and the inspirational Ladysmith Black Mambazo (March 26) combine Cuban folk and storytelling with two private concerts by Natalia Lafourcade (April 14 & 15).
Roots, Jazz, and Folk
Pianist Hiromi and her electric trio Sonic Wonder (September 26) and vocalist Lizz Wright (October 5), who combines gospel, jazz, and Southern soul, are two examples of performances that push boundaries. On October 17, mandolinist Chris Thile displays his ability to blend many genres, while on October 24, Patty Griffin and Rickie Lee Jones each perform a night of poetic storytelling.
On February 13, jazz vocalist Kurt Elling plays with the Strathmore Jazz Orchestra, and on March 21, Emmett Cohen honors John Coltrane and Miles Davis. Other notable performances are the always-cheeky Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain (April 12) and the lively Anglique Kidjo (April 9).
Holiday Hits
Enjoy the season with festive cheer from Jane Lynch, Kate Flannery, and Tim Davisin, as well as multimedia magic from Mannheim Steamroller (November 28).Nov. 29: A Swingin’ Little Christmas.On December 4, Dave Koz will return with his all-star holiday tour. On December 11, Se n Heely’s Celtic Christmas will take place.The Grammy-winning holiday record by B la Fleck and the Flecktones receives a rare appearance on December 14.
The Mansion’s Music:
Celebrate Black composers with small-scale performances in the Mansion at Strathmore’s Historic Music Room, starting on September 4 with Grammy-winning pianist Leah Claiborne and flutist Brandon Patrick George. BaritoneThe musician Benjamin ApplandOn October 30, James Baillieu will sing classic art tunes, while on January 22, the Hermitage Piano Trio will thrill with chamber favorites. The Dorian Wind Quintet (February 5), the Dublin Guitar Quartet (February 19), and the progressive Overlook Quartet (March 12) are among the other acts.
Jazz, Folk, and International
Discover a variety of customs with the Celtic pair Jesse & Kevin (November 6), the Andr Mehmari Trio (September 25), and their fusion of jazz and Brazilian roots. On November 9, American roots veterans Marcy Marxer and Cathy Fink join hammered dulcimer artist Chao Tian, and on November 20, the Thirteen vocal ensemble plays music inspired by nature.
Other notable performances include the theatrical folk duo Sons of Town Hall (February 22), jazz soprano Christie Dashiell (January 18), the Lorelei Ensemble (December 14), and Lily Henley with Duncan Wickel (December 11). The series concludes with Bolero revivalists Miramar (February 26), avant-garde harpist Lily Neill (March 5), Nordic jazz ensemble Tord Gustavsen combo (March 29), pianist Charlotte Hu (April 2), and genre-bending combo Biri Union (April 12).
Good Hope Bloom:
The Strathmores Bloom at Good Hope Concert Series is back, showcasing local artists and Artists in Residence alumni at the Good Hope Neighborhood Recreation Center in Silver Spring. Admission is free or pay what you can. This season’s highlights include Dante Pope’s moving homage to Sam Cooke on September 13, Alex Hamburger’s celebration of female composers across genres on October 11, Marcel Penzes’s upbeat New Orleans jazz on trombone on November 8, and Elijah Jamal Balbed & the JoGo Project’s Go-Go take on holiday favorites on December 13. Throughout the season, more Bloom by Strathmore concerts will be revealed.
All-Year New Shows
Strathmore’s dynamic programming enables the addition of more performances during the 2025–2026 season as artists become available, building on this outstanding roster. Visit www.strathmore.org for more details and a full schedule of The Mansion, The Music Center, and other partner and special events. You can purchase tickets online or by calling 301-581-5100.
