Celebrating Our 60th Anniversary in 2026
For sixty years, Saratoga Performing Arts Center has been a vibrant home where art, nature, and community converge. Nestled within a 2,400-acre park — surrounded by hiking trails, geysers, and mineral springs — SPAC has welcomed generations of artists and audiences to experience the magic of performance in harmony with the natural world.
From the timeless artistry of our resident companies — New York City Ballet, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center — to the electrifying Saratoga Jazz Festival and concerts by Live Nation, SPAC has long been a destination for lovers of art, culture, and beauty.
In recent years, SPAC has blossomed into a year-round cultural home, expanding beyond the summer season with signature programming in dance, jazz, classical, and world music at the intimate Spa Little Theater, just steps from the iconic amphitheater. Guided by a vision that embraces an ever-widening definition of the arts — from performing to literary, culinary, visual, and healing — SPAC continues to evolve as a place of shared, transformative experiences where creativity and nature intertwine to educate, connect, and inspire us all.
Tell us your SPAC Story!
In celebration of our 60th anniversary, we’d love to hear your SPAC stories… memories and moments you’ve experienced over the past ten years at SPAC. We’re looking for your stories for a chance to be featured in SPAC videos and content to be used throughout 2026 to commemorate 60 years of art, nature, and community.
There’s no right answer — we’re looking for personal stories, emotions, and moments. Speak from the heart. 60 stories will be selected throughout the year to win SPAC prizes like free tickets, merchandise and more!
Plus, for the chance to be included in a special SPAC video, submit your entry by Saturday, February 14.
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.
Spa Little Theater Renovations
In honor of SPAC’s 60th anniversary, Spa Little Theater is undergoing a $12 million renovation, its first major renovation since it was built in 1935. View the gallery to explore the renderings or see the latest renovation updates and photos by clicking below!
60th Anniversary Season Art
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.
Designer Shawn Carney (The New York Times Style Magazine, Wall Street Journal): “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.
60th Anniversary Programming & Events
Stay tuned for more special 60th anniversary performances and special events!
New York City Ballet:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
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!
New York City Ballet:
Innovators & Icons
Friday, July 10 | 2PM
Saturday, July 11 | 7:30PM
Celebrate 60 years of SPAC and New York City Ballet’s historic partnership with works by innovative and iconic choreographers both past and present, featuring George Balanchine’s iconic Serenade, which was first performed at SPAC during our inaugural season in 1966.
2026 Commemorative Calendar
Keep up with your favorite venue all year long with our 2026 commemorative calendar! Plan your year ahead at SPAC with our special edition anniversary calendar, celebrating six decades of art, nature, and community.
Each month features a gorgeous, perforated 8×10” SPAC photo — perfect for saving, framing, and loving all year long. Plus, enjoy fun historic tidbits that honor six decades of unforgettable moments at SPAC throughout each month.
