The Berkshires Are Alive with the Sounds of Music

From classical mastery to genre spanning festivals, Western Massachusetts is calling music lovers to the Berkshires in 2026.

This year the region once again proves why it is one of the Northeast’s most celebrated cultural escapes. The calendar is packed with classical masterworks, bold contemporary sounds, jazz, indie rock and immersive live performances. As the official Regional Tourism Council for Berkshire County, Berkshire is shining a spotlight on a season that makes it easy to build a getaway around music.

Tanglewood in Lenox remains the iconic summer centerpiece. From June through September, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra offers what it promises is the best in classical music and beyond. Expect appearances by Yuja Wang, Augustin Hadelich and Laurie Anderson alongside concerts from James Taylor and his All Star Band, Carrie Underwood, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Weird Al Yankovic, Ziggy Marley with Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue and many more. Tanglewood’s Festival of Contemporary Music returns as well, curated this summer by Esa Pekka Salonen.

In North Adams, MASS MoCA continues to anchor the region’s more adventurous side. Wilco’s Solid Sound Festival is back from Friday June 26 through Sunday June 28 with Wilco headlining and a lineup that includes The Breeders, Gang of Four, Billy Bragg, S G Goodman, L Rain and others. Later in the summer the Bang on a Can Summer Music Festival takes over from Monday July 13 through Sunday August 2, bringing three weeks of cutting edge performances and culminating in the high energy LOUD Weekend.

Opera fans are not forgotten. Berkshire Opera Festival returns to the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington with Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor while the Mahaiwe schedules concerts throughout the year. To the north the Adams Theater’s summer season includes ARKAI the Grammy winning electroacoustic string duo.

You’ll also find live music woven into the region’s everyday rhythm. In Stockbridge, the Lions Den at The Red Lion Inn keeps an intimate schedule of regular performances. In Great Barrington, Barrington Hall has built a following as a solar powered live events space hosting concerts and open mic nights. In Pittsfield, the Colonial Theatre, part of Berkshire Theatre Group continues to present music centric events and one night only shows. On warm evenings you can also catch the street performers of Berkshire Busk in and around Great Barrington.

For classical purists, South Mountain Concerts carries on its early fall chamber music tradition in Pittsfield. The Aston Magna Music Festival celebrates its 53rd season with historically informed performances on period instruments from Renaissance works through later eras. As the weather turns mild, expect music to spill outside at stunning venues like The Clark, The Mount and Naumkeag. Even Bousquet ski area gets in on the fun with events like its Fire on the Mountain Jam.

FreshGrass will take a breather in 2026 but is already planning a return in 2027. In the meantime, the Berkshires are more than ready to fill your calendar. With world class performances in a relaxed mountain setting and an easy drive from both New York City and Boston, 2026 is the year to make this Western Massachusetts music playground part of your travel plans.