What to do in Madison this week: Sept. 21-24, 2026

# What to do in Madison this week: Sept. 21–24, 2026

Big-picture pick: Idea Fest (through Sept. 26)

Idea Fest, organized by The Capital Times, continues across the UW campus and other venues through Sept. 26. The programming leans heavily on politics and activism and includes a long list of national names. The festival's arts draw is an evening with actor Jane Alexander on Sept. 22, moderated by David Maraniss. A photojournalism summit runs Sept. 24–25. Check captimesideafest.com for schedules and tickets.

Author events and readings

• Isaac Fitzgerald, Wed., Sept. 23, 7 p.m., Central Library: Fitzgerald talks American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed, blending his travels with the life of John Chapman. He'll be in conversation with producer/photographer Andy Adams.

Music and performance

• Token Creek Chamber Music — Thinking About Music lecture series, Tuesdays through Sept. 22, Token Creek Concert Barn, 7 p.m.: Madison philosopher Phil Mack leads a three-part series asking questions about musical identity and interpretation, followed by discussion. See tokencreekchambermusic.org for topics and tickets.

• CodaFest, Sept. 23–26, Cafe Coda: A four-day festival of jazz and community events. Sept. 23 features a free day honoring John Coltrane's 100th birthday. Key performances include the Hanah Jon Taylor Artet on Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. and late sets by Ronnie Burrage & the Holographic Principle. The festival features Frank Catalano, Eric Jacobson, Kahil El'Zabar's Ethnic Heritage Ensemble and Chico Freeman Quintet across the weekend. Info and tickets at cafecoda.club.

Visual art

• Slick, Sept. 23–Jan. 31, Madison Museum of Contemporary Art: A new exhibition pairing MMoCA's permanent collection with visiting works to prompt consideration of the body and its representations. It's framed as a chance to reassess how bodies appear in contemporary and historical work.

Local-interest notes

• Tom Maas, Wed., Sept. 23, 6:30 p.m., Black Earth Lanes: Maas, part of a family with long ties to distilling, discusses his background and career in the industry.

Quick practical pointers

This week offers a mix of high-profile visits and locally rooted programming, useful whether you want a single notable night out or several smaller events across the city.