Isthmus iconIsthmusSep 24, 2026 ~7 min source read

Madison weekend picks: Sept. 24–27, 2026 — festivals, music, theater and outdoor opera

A compact guide to notable events in Madison for Sept. 24–27: openings at Reindahl Park, CodaFest at Cafe Coda, exhibitions at MMoCA, comedy, outdoor opera and multiple theater productions.

What to do in Madison this weekend: Sept. 24-27, 2026

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The Imagination Center at Reindahl Park opens its weekend events, and Madison Vegan Fest returns to Lake Farm County Park on Sept. 26.

MMoCA presents Gelsy Verna’s two-sided mixed-media work 'Mother, Father, Please Help Me' through Sept. 27.

Theater highlights include Broom Street Theater’s Do it to Julia! and Forward Theater’s Steady She Goes, plus Phil Hanley’s stand-up at Comedy on State.

This weekend in Madison mixes festival energy, live music, visual art and theater. Choose events based on how much time you have and whether you want outdoor activity, late-night jazz, family-friendly programming or a theater evening.

Madison Vegan Fest (Sept. 26) — The fest returns to Lake Farm County Park for a day of food, vendors and community programming. It's a single-day outdoor festival aimed at plant-based food and related vendors.

Idea Fest (through Sept. 26) — Organized by The Capital Times, Idea Fest focuses on politics and activism with a lineup of journalists, public figures and policymakers. A concurrent photojournalism summit runs Sept. 24–25. Schedules and tickets at captimesideafest.com.

Phil Hanley (Sept. 24–26) — Stand-up at Comedy on State. Hanley performs at 7 p.m. on Sept. 24 and at 7 and 9 p.m. on Sept. 25–26. Tickets available at madisoncomedy.com.

Opera on the Point (Sept. 24, 26 and Oct. 3) — Fresco Opera stages a themed opera program at Picnic Point at 7 p.m., combining songs and ghost stories around a campfire. Walk or park at UW Lot 130 and bring a camp chair and flashlight for comfort.

Gelsy Verna at MMoCA (through Sept. 27) — The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art features a single work and a recent acquisition: Gelsy Verna's mixed-media drawing 'Mother, Father, Please Help Me.' The two-sided piece and a reproduction of its reverse encourage slow looking and layered interpretation. The exhibition runs through Sept. 27.

  • If you want evening music and late-night sets: prioritize CodaFest at Cafe Coda.
  • If you prefer a daytime outdoor festival and food: Madison Vegan Fest on Sept. 26.
  • If you want a single artwork experience and quieter museum time: visit MMoCA's Verna show.
  • For theater lovers: Broom Street's Do it to Julia! and Forward Theater's Steady She Goes both run through the weekend.
  • For something outdoors and theatrical: Opera on the Point offers a casual, walk-in campfire opera experience.

Practical links mentioned in coverage: captimesideafest.com, cafecoda.club, madisoncomedy.com, overture.org.

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