TPA’s 2026/27 Season—Celebrating 45 Years of Artistic Excellence

We’re thrilled to welcome you to TPA’s all-new 26/27 performing arts season! Join us as we embark on a global journey through theatre, dance, and music with artistic innovators from around the world.

As TPA celebrates its 45th anniversary, this milestone season features 13 exceptional productions from across continents, bringing American and world cultures to the Austin stage. Highlights include Branford Marsalis, Dianne Reeves, Audra McDonald, Actors From The London Stage, Kodo, Limón Dance Company, Cirque Kalabanté, and much more.

To mark the special occasion, we asked TPA’s Executive & Artistic Director Bob Bursey to share his thoughts on the vision behind the season and what audiences can look forward to.


This season marks Texas Performing Arts’ 45th anniversary. How does the 26/27 performing arts season reflect TPA’s evolution over the past four and a half decades?

Bob: TPA was founded 45 years ago to bring the best of the arts to Austin. That’s still at the core of what we do. You can see that in performances like An Evening with Audra McDoanld, a significant American artist who hasn’t been in Austin in 14 years.

At the same time, Austin and UT have both grown enormously since then, and TPA is keeping pace. Both campus and the community are hubs of innovation, so we’ve included several new works that represent artistic research and development, such as Suzanne Bocanegra’s world premiere theatre piece Motherhood.

Austin is also now a dynamic, internationally connected city. We wanted to feature standout artists and productions from around the world. Kodo from Japan and Indian Ink Theater Company from New Zealand are examples of that idea.

The season does feature many artists from overseas. What inspired the amount of global performance this year?

Bob: We wanted this season to be a “creative passport” to performance. TPA is the only organization in the city that regularly features international performing arts, and that’s been part of our role in the community since the beginning. With travel being as expensive as it is these days, you can take a trip around the world with TPA a lot more easily!

It’s also important to the student audiences we serve. Both at UT and in the community, we want being a student in Austin to include having the opportunity to experience a range of different traditions. For example, the world-renowned taiko drum ensemble Kodo will have performances for both public and school audiences, along with several of our other season artists. 

What do you hope audiences take away from next season’s performing arts programming?

Bob: Something we look for in all our programming is excellence. This lineup includes many artists who are at the top of their field. Jazz musicians Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves are an example. I am always curious how we learn what excellence looks like. Artists like them represent that, especially in an unusual setting like this where they’ll be performing together to celebrate another great American artist—John Coltrane.

Which are you most excited for?

Bob: I’m excited for the range of performance TPA offers. Both within our performing arts season and across all our areas of programming including Broadway in Autin and Texas Welcomes. It’s unlike almost any other organization in the country.

I’m also looking forward to some of the collaborations we’re presenting. Sō Percussion will be returning to perform with Pulitzer Prize winner Caroline Shaw. Belgian artist Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker is one of the most important contemporary dance choreographers in the world. She’s co-created a new work with Moroccan choreographer Radouan Mriziga for her company, Rosas. Those will all be Austin premieres.

This season includes a record six School Day Performances for Central Texas students. What impact have you seen the educational performances have on students?

Bob: I hear from so many people in our community who first experienced theatre, dance, or music at TPA over the years. I’ve seen how meaningful attending a performance with a school group or with family is. That first connection to the arts can stay with a student long after they leave the theatre. I see that as a central goal for TPA as part of the state’s flagship university, whether it’s for a grade schooler or a university student.

Thanks to the incredible support of our community, we’ve been able to expand our daytime school performances as well as our free and low-cost tickets for UT students. I hear from our artists that those are often some of their favorite performances to give because the energy in the theater is just off the charts.

Thank you Bob, and thank you to our TPA community, for your support in bringing these incredible performances to our region!

Want to learn more about these programs and how you might support them more meaningfully? Contact support@texasperformingarts.org or call 512.232.8567.