Championing artists and their creative process at each step from studio to stage, so that performing artists can create with dignity––Works & Process announces its dynamic fall 2026 season. Taking place at Guggenheim New York, Manhattan West, and Free Food Refettorio Harlem, the season features premieres, rotunda dance parties, creative residencies, and performances that extend beyond the stage, inviting audiences to spectate, participate, and continue the conversation at hosted receptions.

The season kicks off on September 9 with Gather Round: Let’s Dance!, a free outdoor series presented in partnership with Manhattan West. Every Wednesday in September at 5 pm, New York City–based dancers and choreographers will celebrate social dance traditions through performances, instruction, and open dance parties.

SCUFF Queer Country Dancing returns for a Works & Process rotunda dance party at Guggenheim New York presented in partnership with the museum’s Member Monday program. Guests are invited to explore the Guggenheim’s rotunda galleries before taking part in a participatory dance lesson and party.

Across four nights in October, Works & Process will present pop-up performances by the MasterZ at Work Dance Family at Free Food Refettorio Harlem, New York City’s only free restaurant. The organization opens its doors to serve vulnerable neighbors, steward a healthier, more just food system, and celebrate the cultural heritage and diversity around us. A Works & Process commission, The 24/7 Diner by Black trans femme choreographer and ballroom Icon Courtney “Balenciaga” Washington envisions an all-night diner open to all. Blending street dance and theatrical storytelling, the work explores chosen family, resilience, and joy as acts of resistance, rooted in the spirit of ballroom culture. Like Refettorio Harlem, the work centers food as a source of both physical and metaphorical nourishment.

Beyond New York City, Works & Process continues its commitment to artist development through more than 25 fully funded creative residencies annually. Spanning Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, and Vermont, the program builds on the acclaimed bubble residencies launched during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the residency program began, Works & Process has supported over 1,000 artists through more than 100 residencies; many of which have received prestigious awards and toured nationally and internationally, including with the U.S. State Department. This fall, five Works & Process commissions will continue touring, further amplifying the voices and visions nurtured through these residencies.