Spring into the Arts

oRLANDO IS BLOOMING WITH CREATIVITY

Plan your perfect arts-filled spring!

March brings you stirring performances from Orlando Ballet, Opera Orlando, Orlando Shakes, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Renaissance Theatre Company—plus a fresh-air cultural escape at Harry P. Leu Gardens and a the kick-off of UCF Celebrates the Arts.

April lights up the season with the Florida Film Festival at Enzian Theater, an Oscar®-qualifying festival packed with special events, and productions for the entire family at the Orlando Family Stage.

May is your grand finale! The Orlando Fringe takes over Loch Haven Cultural Park, and the Florida Prize in Contemporary Art at the Orlando Museum of Art delivers the perfect “wow” to end the season.

Browse through the main events of the season below.

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april

Henry vi, part 3: the rise of richard iii

Orlando Shakes

Select Dates April 1-19, 2026

Battles are fought and precious lives lost. Fathers and sons are murdered as the War of the Roses becomes a brutal landscape of death, carnage and murder. Leading the slaughter is York’s hunchbacked son, Richard of Gloucester, who plots to remove all obstacles in his way and rise to become Richard III.

37th Spring Fiesta at Lake Eola

City of Orlando | Lake Eola Park

April 1-5, 2026

Experience the creativity of 250 artists and crafters set up to show and sell in the heart of downtown Orlando. Enjoy delicious fresh food from various vendors in the food court, and stop by the beer garden for a cocktail or two. The amphitheater stage will feature live entertainment, and families can enjoy the free Kid’s Zone.

the sound of music

Athens Theatre

Select dates April 10-May 3, 2026

As the world begins to change, one woman brings something the von Trapp family hasn’t known in a long time—joy. When Maria steps into their lives, she brings laughter, music, and a renewed sense of connection—just as the world outside their home begins to shift in dangerous ways. A timeless story of love, family, and standing up for what truly matters, brought to life with one of the most beloved scores in musical theatre history.

FLORIDA film festival

Enzian Theatre

April 10-19, 2026

Now in its 35th year, the Florida Film Festival is an Oscar®-qualifying festival, premiering the best in current, independent, and international cinema. Through 10 days of 160+ films and first-class events, film lovers mingle with filmmakers and celebrities over hand-crafted cocktails and a delicious menu at Eden Bar and inside Enzian Theater.

18th Annual winter park paint out

Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Garden

April 19-25, 2026

Over twenty professionally-acclaimed plein air artists will be painting at the Polasek Museum and throughout Winter Park and Orlando. Art lovers are invited to watch the artists at work and attend free painting demonstrations.

Disney & Pixar's Finding Nemo Theatre for young audiences

Orlando Family Stage

Select dates April 11-May 10, 2026

A fun, colorful, and epic undersea adventure about courage, connection, and the unbreakable bond between parent and child.

The Merry Widow

Opera Orlando at The Dr. Phillips Center

April 24-26, 2026

A taste of genuine old world glamour, aristocratic reverie, catchy melodies, and of course the can-can. The Merry Widow delivers a perfect blend of screwball comedy and timeless operatic charm.

Oh Snap! A "Schools Out" Family day

Art & History Museums of Maitland

April 24, 2026

Create a mini camera, then “snap” photos (sketch) in our museums & gardens! Finish the day by making a film strip accordion book! Join us on a teacher’s workday, when school is out in Orange Counties, for a very special family day adventure!

64th art & foliage festival

April 25 & 26, 2026
Saturday 9am – 5PM | SUNDAY 10AM – 4PM

The Apopka woman’s Club in Partnership with the City of Apopka hosts the 64th annual Apopka Art & Foliage festival- a festival with beautiful plants, art, workshops, and friendly competition.

The Great Gatsby

Orlando Ballet & Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra at The Dr. Phillips Center

Select dates April 30- May 3, 2026

Step into the roaring 1920s, where champagne flows, secrets simmer, and the drama unfolds in real time—accompanied by a vibrant live orchestra that brings every moment to life.

may

35th annual orlando international fringe theatre festival

Orlando Fringe at Loch Haven Park

May 12-25, 2026

Celebrate 14 days of theatre, dance, music, art, and all-ages fun at the largest and longest-running Fringe Festival in the U.S. — every May!

Beethoven Symphony No. 9

Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra at The Dr. Phillips Center

May 9-10, 2026

New pieces transcend the emotional and raw power like Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, a masterpiece that has inspired audiences for generations.

The Notebook, The Musical

Dr. Phillips Center

May 12-17, 2026

Based on the best-selling novel that inspired the iconic film, The Notebook tells the story of Allie and Noah, both from different worlds, who share a lifetime of love despite the forces that threaten to pull them apart.

Mess Fest

Orlando Science Center

May 16-17, 2026

Two full days of colorful chaos, wild science, and hands-on fun that’s anything but tidy. Whether you’re into flying flips, foamy eruptions, or squishy, slimy creations, something exciting (and a little messy) is waiting around every corner.

Cirque Musica Heroes & Villians

Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra at The Dr. Phillips Center

May 23, 2026

A symphonic spectacle between good and evil. Featuring a world-class cast of cirque performers, Heroes and Villains tells the mesmerizing story of heroism and villainy.

Orlando Carnival Downtown

Caribbean American Passport Foundation

May 22-24, 2026

A fun parade and festival celebration of Caribbean culture held every Memorial Day Weekend in the heart of Orlando. The festival brings together masqueraders in costumes, music trucks, and food enthusiasts from around the world.

Florida Prize in Contemporary Art

Orlando Museum of Art

Exhibit: May 29-August 23, 2026

Recognizing and exhibiting works of the 10 most progressive artists in the state of Florida. Artists range from emerging to mid-career, often with a distinguished record of exhibitions and awards that reflect recognition at national and international levels.

march

Timucua Opera Festival

Timucua Arts Foundation

Select Dates March 1-22, 2026

Experience a bold lineup that brings opera up close and personal. Expect a mix of classic-inspired storytelling and fresh, contemporary works in Timucua’s immersive setting.

MEAN GIRLS: the musical

Renaissance Theatre Company

Select Dates through March 15, 2026

The iconic high school saga you know and love into a laugh-out-loud, glitter-packed spectacle with killer songs, big feelings, and even bigger pink energy.

fat ham

Orlando Shakes

Select Dates March 4-29, 2026

A southern-fried take on Hamlet, this comedy follows the life of a college student struggling with questions of identity.

The Secret River

Opera Orlando

March 6-7, 2026

Follow the journey of young Calpurnia through the backwoods of Central Florida and find the goodness within us all, based on the book by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings.

LEgacy in bloom

Harry P. Leu Gardens

Select dates March 7 – May 31, 2026

Celebrating Harry P. Leu Gardens’ 65th anniversary with a year-long festival of flowers, exhibits, programs, and seasonal installations.

e.t. the extra terrestrial in concert

Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra

March 14, 2026

Watch Steven Spielberg’s & John WIlliam’s Academy Award winning film with a live full symphony orchestra.

make fest

Orlando Science Center

March 14-15, 2026

Build, craft, tinker, and invent alongside a community of makers just like you. Take part in interactive workshops, tackle creative challenges, and enjoy films that celebrate the spirit of making.

The Pin-Up Girls

The Winter Park Playhouse

Select Dates March 19-April 25, 2026

From The Andrews Sisters to hip-hop and Gershwin to Beyoncé, The Pin-Up Girls sing a cavalcade of hits inspired by letters home from our troops overseas!

Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival

March 20-22, 2026

Taking over Park Avenue and Central Park in the heart of Winter Park. One of the nation’s most prestigious juried outdoor art shows, it draws hundreds of top artists, live music, great food, and family-friendly art activities.

ORLANDO JAZZ FESTIVAL

March 21-21, 2026

The Mennello Museum of American Art

Designed for true music lovers, the festival blends premium hospitality, beautiful scenery, and boundary-pushing performances into an unforgettable experience. A curated moment in time where sound, space, and community come together.

balanchine, godden, gill

March 27-29, 2026

Orlando Ballet at the Dr. Phillips Center

Brings three bold works into one unforgettable program—spanning classical brilliance, haunting beauty, and striking contemporary movement. From exhilarating pure dance to evocative, visually stunning storytelling, each piece offers a distinct emotional punch.

UCF CELEBRATES THE ARTS

March 30-April 12, 2026

Dr. Phillips Center

An immersive and dynamic cultural extravaganza that fuses creativity, innovation and community engagement. This annual festival showcases the artistic prowess of UCF’s faculty and students and invites the broader community to enjoy performances, exhibitions, presentations and interactive experiences.