You really should have to fly across an ocean, or deal with the chaos of a big city to see the masterful musicians, global dance companies, Pulitzer-winning writers, architectural wonders, and glorious theater we have in abundance in our bucolic little neck of the woods. We have it all here—(the people, places, and things) from A to Z and everywhere in between.

By Marisa Cohen
Illustrations by Aaron Meshon

A

Adams Theater

Housed in a revamped 1937 movie theater, this ambitious venue is one of the newest in the Berkshires—opened in 2021, it now has a full roster of performances through October, including classical music, contemporary dance, storytelling, and comedy. “We are proud to be a ‘living room’ for the community, where high-caliber art feels accessible and unpretentious,” says artistic director Yina Moore, who adds that the theater was created as a cultural anchor to breathe new life into downtown Adams. Highlights of the 2026 season include Grammy-winning composer and pianist Gustavo Casenave, Pulitzer-winning author and Adams native Stacy Schiff talking about her new book on patriot (and town namesake) Samuel Adams, and “Different Ships, Same Boat,” featuring Massachusetts Poet Laureate Regie Gibson and musician Guy Mendilow.
adamstheater.org

B

Barrington Stage Company

“A five, six, seven, eight…” If those words immediately launch the entire soundtrack to “A Chorus Line” running through your head, you’ll be thrilled to know that Barrington Stage—home to Broadway-caliber theater in downtown Pittsfield—is reviving the groundbreaking musical July 15-August 8. “I am exhilarated for the opportunity to direct ‘A Chorus Line,’” says BSC artistic director Alan Paul. “I fall more in love with this musical the longer I am in the theater, because it is the quintessential show about what theater means to many of us.” The season also includes the classic farce “Noises Off,” “Driving Miss Daisy” starring Debra Jo Rupp, and several other revivals and new works, including the sure-to-be debated topical play “The Zionists: A Family Storm.” Don’t miss the summer cabaret, which has lined up two superstar Broadway divas: Megan Hilty on July 20 and the incomparable Patti Lupone on August 3.
barringtonstageco.org

Berkshire Museum

Your kids know it as the museum with a stegosaurus on the front lawn. After being closed for renovations for the past year and a half, this Pittsfield museum that combines art, science, and history is having its grand reopening later this summer. “Every decision in this renovation was made with our community in mind,” says executive director Kimberley Bush Tomio. “The spaces people loved most were given the room they deserve.” The much-loved aquarium, formerly tucked away in the basement, has been moved up to the first floor, nearly doubling its size and welcoming new creatures, including moon jellyfish and an octopus. Look for an expanded space for the collection of important innovations, and the new exhibit “Voices of Rebellion: Berkshire’s Revolutionary Legacy.”
berkshiremuseum.org

Berkshire Theatre Group

In 2010, Stockbridge’s legendary Berkshire Theatre Festival merged with Pittsfield’s historic Colonial Theatre to create Berkshire Theatre Group, which now presents plays, musicals, concerts, and children’s theater on three stages in two locations. (They even kept the magic alive in summer of 2020, presenting the first Equity-approved musical of the pandemic, a socially distanced “Godspell” in a tent.) “Our mission is to present a wide range of work, and this summer’s season really reflects that,” says BTG artistic director Kate Maguire, who points out that each show on the lineup—from the classic musical “1776” to the plays “Summer, 1976” and “The American Five”—reflects on our nation’s growth as it turns 250.
berkshiretheatregroup.org

C

The Clark

Located in the purple mountains of Williamstown, the Clark Art Museum gives you access to masterpieces worthy of the Met or the Louvre in a setting as bucolic as a Monet landscape. “You can spend time with incredible paintings, then wander outside for a walk on the trails, or enjoy a picnic on the terrace as the sun sets—art and nature come together naturally, and everything unfolds at your own pace,” says deputy director (and future executive director) Esther Bell. This June marks the opening of “An Exquisite Eye: Introducing the Aso O. Tavitian Collection,” featuring works by Jan van Eyck, Peter Paul Rubens, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
clarkart.edu

Ballerina by Ben Garver

D

Daniel Chester French / Chesterwood

Known for his majestic sculpture of Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial, Daniel Chester French’s Stockbridge estate is one of the most beautiful spots in the Berkshires. Visitors can tour his home and studio, wander the grounds exploring contemporary sculpture, and attend special events ranging from jazz concerts to sculpture classes. An exhibit centered around French’s iconic “Minute Man” statue will explore notions of liberty and patriotism through monuments and memorials.
chesterwood.org

Lincoln Memorial by Aaron Meshon

E

Edith Wharton / The Mount

Edith Wharton designed The Mount as her Lenox writing retreat, and today visitors can tour the mansion and gardens before enjoying jazz concerts, dramatic readings, and dance performances on the grounds. This summer’s New York Stories series includes talks on Gilded Age fashion, dining, and society, along with the fascinating history of organized crime figure Fredericka Mandelbaum.
edithwharton.org

F

Frelinghuysen Morris House & Studio

The Lenox home and studio of abstract artists George L.K. Morris and Suzy Frelinghuysen remains one of the earliest modernist buildings in New England. Visitors can admire works by Picasso, Braque, and Léger, picnic on the grounds, and attend art-making workshops and artist gatherings throughout the summer.
frelinghuysen.org

G

Gardens

Berkshire Botanical Garden continues to blend horticulture with arts and culture through rotating sculpture exhibits, concerts, family programming, and classes in everything from flower arranging to cooking.
berkshirebotanical.org

H

Hancock Shaker Village

This Pittsfield living history museum celebrates the 200th birthday of its iconic Round Stone Barn this year, alongside the grand opening of its renovated museum building. Visitors can enjoy goat yoga, Shaker Suppers, and a new exhibit tied to the filming of “The Testament of Ann Lee.”
hancockshakervillage.org

Round Stone Barn by Aaron Meshon

Hudson Hall

Originally opened in 1855 as the Hudson Opera House, this restored theater in Hudson, NY now hosts a lively summer season of performance, film, music, and community events.
hudsonhall.org

I

Images Cinema

One of the country’s last remaining single-screen theaters, Images Cinema in Williamstown reopens this summer after renovations that include a second, smaller screen.
imagescinema.org

J

Jacob’s Pillow

The nation’s longest-running international dance festival returns with a full 10-week season featuring Urban Bush Women, Martha Graham Dance Company, San Francisco Ballet, and more. The season also explores dance and technology through Future Figures, a symposium focused on AI, motion capture, and emerging tech.
jacobspillow.org

K

Kripalu

The Stockbridge wellness destination continues to expand beyond yoga retreats with playful offerings like Circus Yoga camp, blending yoga, clowning, circus tricks, and movement workshops for all ages.
kripalu.org

L

Lincoln / Philip Glass at Tanglewood

Philip Glass’ highly anticipated 15th symphony, “Lincoln,” premieres at Tanglewood after being withdrawn from the Kennedy Center. The work features lyrics drawn from Abraham Lincoln’s writings and joins a summer lineup that also celebrates Glass’ piano works.
bso.org/tanglewood

M

Mahaiwe

This restored 1905 theater in Great Barrington continues its mission of making the arts accessible with concerts, comedy, film, opera, and performances from artists like Branford Marsalis and Béla Fleck.
mahaiwe.org

MASS MoCA

One of the country’s largest contemporary art museums, MASS MoCA continues to transform its sprawling mill campus through major installations, festivals, comedy, and immersive art experiences. Summer highlights include Wilco’s Solid Sound Festival and Bang on a Can LOUD Weekend.
massmoca.org

N

Naumkeag

The Trustees’ beloved Gilded Age estate offers full house tours this summer alongside tea dances, outdoor talks, and garden programming.
thetrustees.org

O

Opera

The Berkshire Opera Festival celebrates its 10th season with productions of “The Beauty and the Beast” and Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor.”
berkshireoperafestival.org

P

PS21

The Chatham contemporary arts venue continues its adventurous programming with experimental theater, contemporary dance, circus arts, and music performances.
ps21chatham.org

Q

Queer Culture

From Berkshire Pride Tea Dance at Naumkeag to the Berkshire LGBT+ Pride Art Exhibit at Becket Arts Center, queer cultural programming continues to flourish across the region.
thetrustees.org
becketartscenter.org/pride

R

Rockwell

The Norman Rockwell Museum’s new exhibition, “American Stories: From Revolution to Rockwell,” examines patriotism and storytelling through the iconic artist’s work.
nrm.org

Cover illustration for The Saturday Evening Post, February 13, 1960. Norman Rockwell Museum Collection, ©1960 SEPS

S

Shakespeare & Company / Solid Sound

Shakespeare & Company celebrates founder Tina Packer while presenting “Hamlet,” “Twelfth Night,” and more. Meanwhile, Wilco’s beloved Solid Sound Festival returns to MASS MoCA with performances from The Breeders, Gang of Four, Billy Bragg, and others.
shakespeare.org
solidsoundfestival.com

T

Tanglewood / TurnPark

Whether it’s the Boston Symphony Orchestra, James Taylor on the lawn, or immersive sculpture and performance at TurnPark Art Space, summer in the Berkshires continues to blur the line between nature and culture.
bso.org/tanglewood
turnpark.com

U

Upstreet Arts District

Pittsfield’s First Fridays block parties continue through September, filling downtown with music, performances, food, and late-night shopping.
lovepittsfield.com

V

Ventfort Hall

Ghost tours, Gilded Age lectures, and elegant afternoon teas bring Lenox’s grand historic mansion to life.
gildedage.org

W

WAM Theatre / Williams College Museum of Art

WAM Theatre continues producing works centered on women’s stories and gender equity, while the Williams College Museum of Art offers exhibitions and interdisciplinary experimentation ahead of its major 2027 reopening.
wamtheatre.com
artmuseum.williams.edu

X

Marks the Spot…

…where we’d like to sit at any number of concerts at The Shed this summer.

Seating map of The Koussevitzky Music Shed at Tanglewood; Cellist illustration by Aaron Meshon

Y

Yo-Yo Ma…

…whom we originally wanted for the cover. The world-renowned cellist performs at Tanglewood on August 7.

Z

Ziggy’s Stardust

Ziggy Marley brings reggae to Tanglewood on July 14.