Memphis arts, Oct. 27 to Dec. 8: Spamalot at the Orpheum, The Planets Oct. 30, a new Stax exhibit, Dixon's 50th-year shows and holiday stages from Nov. 6.

Spamalot at the Orpheum the week of Halloween, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra’s The Planets on Friday and a new Stax Museum exhibit on the clothier who dressed Memphis music lead the next six weeks in Memphis arts. The holiday stages open from Nov. 6.

Last checked Oct. 27, 2026. This page covers today to Dec. 8 and is refreshed each month. Every listing comes from the venue’s or company’s own website, linked in each line. Times and prices are as they published them. For everything else this weekend, see things to do this weekend.

Exhibitions now showing

  • An Investment in Pleasure: Fifty Years of the Dixon Gallery and Gardens Collection, main galleries, through Jan. 10, 2027, with Making an Impression in the interactive gallery on the same dates and Mallory/Wurtzburger: 80 Exhibitions, 18 Years through Jan. 3, 2027. Dixon Gallery and Gardens, 4339 Park Ave.; open Tuesday to Sunday, closed Mondays, with Third Thursday hours to 8 p.m. Dixon current exhibitions.
  • Ain’t I Clean: Lansky Brothers and the Look of Memphis Music, through May 2, 2027, Stax Museum of American Soul Music, 926 E. McLemore Ave., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; $20 for adults, $16 for ages 7 to 12, seniors 62 and up and veterans, free for children 6 and under. Stax Museum.

Coming Dec. 6: the new Memphis Art Museum, the downtown home of the former Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, opens at 55 S. Front St. with 20 opening exhibitions, led by Making Beauty: Hooks Brothers Studio, 1907-1984. Admission is free for Shelby County residents. See our Memphis Art Museum opening page.

Theater and dance

  • Million Dollar Quartet, through Nov. 7, Theatre Memphis, Lohrey Theatre, 630 Perkins Extended. The musical about the 1956 jam session at Sun Records. Evenings at 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, matinees at 2 p.m. Sunday; $35 for adults, $15 for students. Theatre Memphis.
  • Spamalot, tonight, Tuesday, Oct. 27, to Sunday, Nov. 1, Orpheum Theatre, 203 S. Main St. Evenings at 7:30 p.m., a 2 p.m. matinee on Oct. 31 and shows at 1 and 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 1; $46.70 to $162.15; recommended for ages 8 and up. Orpheum.
  • Narnia the Musical, Nov. 6 to Dec. 20, The Circuit Playhouse, 51 S. Cooper St. Public matinees at 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Playhouse on the Square.
  • Gold In Our Bones: A Soulsville + South City Play, Nov. 6-8, Centenary United Methodist Church. Free; seating is limited and an RSVP does not hold a seat, so arrive early. Orpheum Theatre Group.
  • Byhalia, Mississippi, Nov. 11-22, Theatre Memphis’ Next Stage, written and directed by Evan Linder. $25 for adults, $15 for students. Theatre Memphis season.
  • Disney’s Frozen, Nov. 13 to Dec. 20, Playhouse on the Square, 66 S. Cooper St. Shows at 7 p.m. Thursday to Saturday. Playhouse on the Square.
  • The Night Shift Before Christmas, Nov. 20 to Dec. 20, Memphian Room at The Circuit Playhouse. An adult comedy that spoofs “A Christmas Carol” in a Texas burger joint; shows at 7:30 p.m. Playhouse on the Square.
  • Elf the Musical Jr., Nov. 20-29, Hattiloo Theatre, 37 S. Cooper St. Evenings at 7:30 p.m. and matinees at 2 p.m. on Nov. 21, 28 and 29. Hattiloo Theatre.
  • The Great Gatsby, Dec. 1-6, Orpheum Theatre. The Broadway musical; $46.95 to $174.25; recommended for ages 10 and up. Orpheum.
  • Frost: A Holiday Cirque Extravaganza, 7 p.m. Dec. 1 and 2, Halloran Centre, 225 S. Main St. Acrobatics and magic for all ages; $35.55 to $59.60. Orpheum Theatre Group.
  • A Christmas Carol, Dec. 4-23, Theatre Memphis, its 49th annual production. Theatre Memphis season.

Ballet Memphis’ The Nutcracker follows at the Orpheum Dec. 12-20; the holiday shows are gathered on our Nutcracker and holiday theater page.

Concerts and classical

  • The Orchestra Unplugged: The Planets, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, Halloran Centre. The Memphis Symphony Orchestra plays Holst. Memphis Symphony Orchestra calendar.
  • Opera Goes to Broadway, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, at Opera Memphis, 216 S. Cooper St. Sung in English. Opera Memphis.
  • Memphis Songwriters Series hosted by Mark Edgar Stuart, Thursday, Nov. 19, Halloran Centre. Orpheum Theatre Group events.
  • Home Alone in Concert, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, Orpheum Theatre. The film with John Williams’ score played live by the Memphis Symphony Orchestra; $36.10 to $117.25. Orpheum.

The Morris Day and The Time show first set for Oct. 25 at the Orpheum has moved to Jan. 8, 2027; tickets carry over, and the Orpheum box office, 901-525-3000, takes refund requests for 30 days from Oct. 21.

Classes and workshops

  • Metal Museum Repair Days, Nov. 5-8, Metal Museum, 1930 Poplar Ave. The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Metal Museum.
  • The Dixon runs weekly programs for small children (Mini Masters, ages 2 to 4, Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.), the Kaleidoscope Club for ages 5 to 9 and the TINCAN painting program for people with Parkinson’s on Wednesday mornings. Dixon events.

Regular events

  • Hattiloo Culture Box, 37 S. Cooper St.: Music Box concerts most Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m., Laugh Box comedy on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. and the Speaker Box Slam open mic on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. Hattiloo Theatre.
  • Third Thursdays at the Dixon: the galleries stay open to 8 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month; the next is Nov. 19. Dixon hours.

Send us your event

Running a show, exhibition or class in Memphis? Email hello@memphisnewsnow.com with the dates, times, venue, price and a photo, and we will add it here. More listings are on things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

What arts events are on in Memphis this month?

Spamalot plays the Orpheum Oct. 27 to Nov. 1, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra plays Holst’s The Planets at the Halloran Centre on Friday, Oct. 30, and the holiday stages open from Nov. 6 with Narnia at The Circuit Playhouse.

What exhibitions are showing in Memphis now?

The Dixon Gallery and Gardens marks 50 years with An Investment in Pleasure through Jan. 10, 2027, and the Stax Museum’s Ain’t I Clean: Lansky Brothers and the Look of Memphis Music runs to May 2, 2027.

When does the new Memphis Art Museum open?

Sunday, Dec. 6, 2026, at 55 S. Front St. downtown, with a free grand opening day. Admission is free for Shelby County residents, the museum says.

What holiday shows are on in Memphis?

Playhouse on the Square opens Narnia on Nov. 6 and Disney’s Frozen on Nov. 13, Hattiloo stages Elf the Musical Jr. from Nov. 20, and Theatre Memphis’ A Christmas Carol opens Dec. 4. Ballet Memphis’ The Nutcracker follows at the Orpheum Dec. 12-20.