For three Saturdays in a row, Kaatsbaan Cultural Park presents the 2026 Annual Festival in Tivoli, NY, on August 29, September 5, and September 12, 2026. It is Kaatsbaan’s tenth festival since 2020.

Each Saturday will feature a distinct lineup and focus:
– August 29: The festival opener is an all-day celebration filled with live music and geared towards all ages. Dance performances by Calpulli Danza Mexicana, Ballez, and Anna Sperber, and an evening concert by Valerie June;
– September 5: Labor Day weekend programming centers on storytelling by individual playwrights Rachel Jendrzejewski (through collaborators Terry Hempfling and Lauren Lewis), Jeanette Harrison, Ty Defoe, Vickie Ramirez, Rose Jarboe, Sylvan Oswald, Jim Fletcher, Lucy Sexton, and Adrienne Truscott. A musical double-bill closes out the day with The Bearded Ladies Cabaret sing-along and concert/dance party by CRICKETS (JD Samson, Roddy Bottum, and Michael O’Neill); and
– September 12: The festival closes with a high-energy summer send-off. Large- ensemble dance performances by EVIDENCE and MasterZ at Work open the day and Sadonna and the Slutinos give a farewell evening concert.

The 2026 Annual Festival also marks the return of Kaatsbaan’s outdoor Mountain Stage with its expansive views of the Catskill Mountains and immersion in the natural beauty of the Hudson Valley. Most performances are an hour or less, are all ages, and the festival schedule permits an easeful and day-long schedule of art and nature alongside Tivoli’s walkable downtown amenities. Tickets will be offered on an incentive-based, affordable structure. Individual tickets and all-day passes available June 23 at https://kaatsbaan.org/performances-festivals.  

“Inspired guest curator Michèle Steinwald” (The Dance Enthusiast) returns after her first festival in 2025, noted for her “programming that leans into reflection, intimacy, and resonance” (Rural Intelligence), which is recognized as “a thoughtful, challenging, and innovative [festival] that has something—and likely many more that one thing—for everyone” (The Berkshire Edge). This year, Steinwald’s curatorial selection brings together multidisciplinary expressions of storytelling and community.

In Steinwald’s words, “The 2026 festival program reflects what I learned during my time in Tivoli last year. Kaatsbaan audiences and local artists influenced the direction of the festival in how we are centering communities and first-person narratives. Each Saturday of the festival is a mini festival of its own flavor with multiple shows that build into an all-day celebration. Our goal is to create an inviting and uniquely Kaatsbaan experience for everyone to enjoy.
 
I am particularly moved that we are able to pay homage to the legacy and power of collective organizing and creative expression rooted in Minnesota by including works by choreographer Pramila Vasudevan, playwright Rachel Jendrzejewski (1982-2025), and a work originally choreographed for TU Dance directed by the iconic and influential Toni Pierce-Sands (1962-2025). With the recent passing of Rachel and Toni, this moment to be with their life’s work is even more meaningful.”

Kaatsbaan’s Managing Director, Naomi Miller, offers that “Kaatsbaan’s signature festival, which first gathered artists and audiences during the pandemic for collective healing, continues to grow and offer new ways to come together in creativity and celebration. Working with Michèle has expanded the scope of artists we present, to everyone’s benefit. Come for distinct moments of joy and transformation, stay for the power of community.”  
 
The more events you attend, the deeper the discounts.
– One performance ticket is $25. ($15. for students)
– All-day passes:
–   A two-performance ticket bundle is $40. ($25. for students)
–   A three-performance ticket bundle is $50. ($30. for students) *only available 8/29*
–   Add a concert ticket to your bundle and receive a $10. discount
– Concerts are individually priced. Buy concert tickets early and receive a $10. discount per ticket. Offer ends July 31.