2026 Season Art & Theme
60th Anniversary Season Art
Celebrating Art, Nature & Community
Our official 60th anniversary season artwork marks this milestone moment in SPAC’s history and sets the tone for a year of reflection, celebration, and forward momentum.
“As we enter our 60th year, this artwork beautifully captures what SPAC has always stood for—and what it continues to become—like a precious manuscript that captures and encodes countless moments of beauty, awe, and humanity. This anniversary season is not only a celebration of our history, but an invitation to imagine the future we are writing together.” — Elizabeth Sobol, Chief Executive Officer
Honoring six decades of shared cultural experiences while embracing the vitality of the present day, this artwork will be featured throughout SPAC’s anniversary season and will also be available for purchase soon. Stay tuned!
Artwork Inspiration
Designer Shawn Carney (The New York Times Style Magazine, Wall Street Journal) began the creative process by digging through SPAC’s archives, sifting through boxes and filing cabinets filled with thousands of paper remnants including newspaper clippings, booklets, ticket stubs, and posters.
“I wanted the artwork to acknowledge SPAC’s rich history without being a throwback. After all, SPAC doesn’t just live in the archives—it’s very much alive today and flourishing in all sorts of new ways. Standing among the piles of paper however, it occurred to me that perhaps the illustration could be paper itself. That led to a more tactile approach, and I began sketching forms built from curled, hand-shaped sheets. The final design is intentionally tactile and handcrafted. My hope is that the artwork reflects the craft, labor, and human touch behind sixty seasons of live performance. It also highlights the subtle and poetic side of the venue and the experiences within its gates. The design feels classic and timeless, nods to SPAC’s history, but leaves open space for more of its future to be recorded.”
SPAC’s 2026 Theme
Seasons
To commemorate 60 years of SPAC and its recent blossoming into a vibrant, year-round destination, the theme of Seasons is inspired by how nature and humans alike move through cycles of growth, transformation, reflection, and renewal. Each season brings its own mood and meaning, shaping both the world around us and the landscapes within us.
Seasons-Themed Programming & Events
BalletX: The Four Seasons Reimagined
Thursday, June 11 @ 7:30PM
BalletX, Philadelphia’s premier contemporary ballet company, will present The Four Seasons Reimagined in a special one-night, pavilion-only performance. This exciting new work arrives in Saratoga just days after its world premiere and was co-commissioned by SPAC.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
New York City Ballet
Wednesday, July 8 @ 7:30PM
Thursday, July 9 @ 7:30PM
Friday, July 10 @ 7:30PM
Saturday, July 11 @ 2PM
Relive the magic of SPAC’s opening night in 1966 with A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the very first piece performed for audiences on the SPAC stage. Plus, join us at Anniversary Night on Thursday, July 9 for a birthday party celebration before the performance and help us toast to 60 years!
David Kim Leads The Four Seasons
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Wednesday, August 19 @ 7:30PM
Concertmaster and violinist David Kim takes center stage as both leader and soloist in a performance celebrating SPAC’s 60th anniversary theme, Seasons. Anchoring the program is a paired performance of two iconic works: Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and Piazzolla’s The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires.
Adirondack Trust Company
Festival of Young Artists
2026 Festival Theme: Seasons
Nature moves through cycles of growth, transformation, reflection, and renewal—and so do we. Each season brings its own mood and meaning, shaping both the world around us and the landscapes within us. To commemorate 60 years of SPAC and its recent blossoming into a vibrant, year-round community space, middle and high school students were invited to create original works in visual art, poetry, or the performing arts inspired by the seasons — what shifts, what stays, and what sings beneath the surface of change.
Four Seasons Anniversary Campaign
Since 1966, SPAC has been your summer home for arts, nature, and community.
We are proud to now serve the Capital Region and beyond all year long with inspiring and accessible programs for people of all ages and interests. At SPAC, there’s something for everyone. To celebrate our 60th anniversary, we are launching the Four Seasons Campaign, with the goal of raising $17.5 million. These funds will help sustain and expand vital resources to ensure that SPAC’s new and signature programming thrives for generations to come.
Your contribution to the Four Seasons Campaign will help keep a strong and vibrant arts culture alive in the Capital Region.
In the News
Times Union, SPAC kicks off 60th season with archive-inspired art
I LOVE NY, Saratoga Performing Arts Center Reveals 2026 Season Artwork
The Daily Gazette, SPAC launches 60th anniversary year with unveiling of special logo
Recent Season Art & Themes
WONDER
2025
RHYTHM
2024
EARTH
2023
INTERDEPENDENCE
2022