A contemporary family drama exploring generational ties and urban transformation, written by James Ijames.

Theater: Arden Theatre Company
Address: 40 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106

World Premiere by Phaedra Michelle Scott.
Two contemporary families: one white, descended from the original owners of the Civil War era plantation, and the other Black, descended from the people who were enslaved on the same plantation.

Theater: InterAct Theatre Company
Address: 2030 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

A one-night staged reading of a new play about identity, love, and transformation. Horsegirl, a trans woman in her thirties, lives a quiet life with her father in a forgotten town in southern Pennsylvania until falling in love forces her to redefine happiness and selfhood.

Venue: Wilma Theater
Address: 265 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Adapted by Tyler Dobrowsky
From Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
Directed by Morgan Green
Shakespeare’s classic political tragedy is reborn as a gripping contemporary thriller in this bold new adaptation by Tyler Dobrowsky. Caesar stays true to Shakespeare’s original language but trims the story to its leanest, most urgent core—cutting to the heart of ambition, authoritarianism, and the cost of protecting democracy.


Venue: Philadelphia Theatre Company
Address: 480 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19146

World Premiere
Libretto by Michael R. Jackson based on an idea by Justin Vivian Bond
Music by Andy Akiho, Alistair Coleman, Nathalie Joachim, Missy Mazzoli, Nico Muhly, Rene Orth, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Kamala Sankaram, Dan Schlosberg, and Errollyn Wallen
Performed in English with English supertitles

Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning playwright Michael R. Jackson (A Strange Loop) makes his operatic debut with an original libretto that brings his “provocative mix of high-mindedness and low satire” (The New York Times) to a new scale. Starring cabaret icon and MacArthur Genius Justin Vivian Bond, Complications in Sue pieces together one woman’s existence across ten decades, each scored by a different composer. Directors Zack Winokur and Raja Feather Kelly bring Sue, and the myriad characters who surround her, to life under the baton of Caren Levine, while Jonathan Anderson, the creative force behind Dior and JW Anderson, dresses her through life and death. Complications ensue this February.
This production contains adult language and content.

Theater: Academy of Music

The Broadway musical adaptation of the classic fairy tale, presented as part of the touring Broadway series.

Theater: Academy of Music
Address: 240 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19102

Directed by Peter Reynolds
A love story begins when two strangers meet by letter during World War II. U.S. Army Captain Jack Ludwig, a military doctor stationed in Oregon, begins writing to Louise Rabiner, an aspiring actress and dancer in New York City, hoping to meet her someday, if the war allows. Tony Award-winning playwright Ken Ludwig tells the joyous, heart-warming story of his parents’ courtship during World War II, and the results are anything but expected.

Theater: Hedgerow Theatre Company
Address: 64 Rose Valley Rd, Media, PA 19063

A major international exhibition marking the centenary of Surrealism, featuring nearly 200 works of painting, sculpture, and photography by more than 60 artists, including Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí, Dorothea Tanning, and others.

Venue: Philadelphia Museum of Art
Address: 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19130

An annual group exhibition showcasing projects by approximately 15 emerging Philadelphia artists participating in the Mural Arts Fellowship program, including painting, works on paper, and multimedia installations.

Venue: 
Ubuntu Gallery

A group exhibition exploring softness, care, and emotional refuge as forms of strength and resistance within queer communities.
Opening Reception:

• Date: Thursday, February 12, 2026
• Time: 6:00–9:00 PM
• Admission: Free

Artists: Jah Beverly, Santiago Galeas, Peri Law, Stevie Laney, Olivia “LIT LIV” Morgan, German Vazquez, Nila Devaney
Curator: Chelsey Luster

Venue: 
Luster Gallery + Studio
Place:
Crane Arts Building, 1400 N American St, Philadelphia, PA 19122

A juried exhibition of contemporary art by regional artists, presenting a wide range of media, techniques, and conceptual approaches. The exhibition continues beyond February.

Place:
Gallery at Delaware County Community College

February 1: Fade to Black — new restoration
February 11: Wanda (dir. Barbara Loden)
February 15: Fiume o Morte! — Philadelphia premiere

Place:
Lightbox Film Center
Bok Auditorium, 800 Mifflin St

Screenings of leading contenders for the 2026 Academy Award for Best Picture.

Program:

February 6:

• Hamnet
• Frankenstein

February 7:

• F1
• The Secret Agent
• Marty Supreme

February 8:

• Sentimental Value
• Train Dreams
• Bugonia

Venue: Philadelphia Film Center
Address: 1412 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19102

Student and independent films by Black, Indigenous, and filmmakers of color

Venue: Student Center, Temple University
Address: 1755 N 13th St, Philadelphia, PA 19122

Short film festival focused on love, intimacy, and kissing,

Venue: PhilaMOCA
Address: 531 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19123

Program:

February 20: 

• Ganja & Hess

February 21:

• I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
• Harlem Nights

February 22:

• One Night in Miami
• Fences

February 26: 

• Riverbend — premiere of a newly restored version

Venue: Film Society East
Address: 125 S 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106

• February 3: Gaslight
• February 12: Roman Holiday
• February 21: Eraserhead (35mm screening)
• February 23: Ordinary People

Place:
Bryn Mawr Film Institute

February 18 & 25: 

• Cat and Dog Film Festivals

February 20:

• The Rocky Horror Picture Show
• The Crow (1994)

Place:
Ritz Five

Curated evenings of experimental cinema, video art, and hybrid film practices, often followed by discussion with filmmakers and artists.

Venue: PhilaMOCA
Address: 531 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19123

An ongoing live jazz series featuring modern jazz, spiritual jazz, and free improvisation. Each evening presents two sets by rotating local and touring musicians, creating an intimate listening environment that emphasizes experimentation and deep musicianship.

Venue: Solar Myth
Address: 1131 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Late-night jazz performances in a classic club setting, showcasing straight-ahead jazz, vocal jazz, and small ensemble performances by Philadelphia-based and touring artists. A cornerstone of the city’s traditional jazz scene.

Venue: Chris’ Jazz Café
Address: 1421 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA 19102

A curated experimental music series presenting noise, electronic composition, electroacoustic performance, and hybrid sound practices. Evenings often feature multiple artists and emphasize risk-taking, improvisation, and interdisciplinary approaches.

Venue: PhilaMOCA
Address: 531 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19123

A focused ambient and drone performance exploring sustained sound, texture, and atmosphere. Designed as an immersive listening experience, often with minimal lighting and long-form compositions.

Venue: PhilaMOCA
Address: 531 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19123

The Philadelphia Orchestra’s winter subscription concerts, featuring core classical repertoire alongside contemporary works and new commissions. Performances include evening concerts and weekend matinees in one of the city’s premier concert halls.

Venue: Verizon Hall
Address: 300 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19102

An in-depth exhibition exploring the techniques, influences, and legacy of Henri Rousseau, with related public programs and member activities throughout February.

Venue: The Barnes Foundation
Address: 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19130

A lunchtime lecture previewing PAFA’s upcoming 2026 exhibitions, with a focus on Bodies and Souls and A Nation of Artists.

Place:
Venue: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Address: 118–128 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19102

Monthly citywide art evening featuring gallery openings, receptions, and artist meet-and-greets across multiple neighborhoods.

Old City District highlights:

• Muse Gallery. An artist-run cooperative gallery presenting rotating exhibitions of contemporary work by its member artists, with a focus on painting, mixed media, and personal visual narratives. The gallery is a regular participant in Old City’s First Friday events.
• Paradigm Gallery + Studio. A gallery focused on painting, sculpture, and drawing, frequently presenting solo exhibitions by regional and national artists.
• F.A.N. Gallery. A gallery presenting solo exhibitions and group shows with a focus on contemporary and emerging artistic voices.
• Jane Gallery. An art space dedicated to supporting women and nonbinary artists, most often featuring a new solo project during First Friday events.
• Tribal Home. A gallery showcasing exhibitions by contemporary artists and fostering the exchange of creative ideas within the local art community.
• Arch Enemy Arts. A contemporary art gallery known for its regular solo exhibitions and curated programs featuring emerging and established artists.

Venue: The Barnes Foundation
Address: 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19130

Venue: Free Library of Philadelphia
Address: 1901 Vine St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Venue: PhilaMOCA
Address: 531 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19123

Формат:

• керамика
• ручные техники
• работа с художниками-резидентами

Место: The Clay Studio
Адрес: 1425 N American St, Philadelphia, PA 19122

A guided drawing session led by artist Bob Dix, focused on observational drawing, creative practice, and informal group critique. Open to all skill levels.

Venue: Tacony LAB Community Arts Center
Address: 6918 Torresdale Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19135

Формат:

• открытые мастерские
• личные разговоры с художниками
• живопись, керамика, текстиль, дизайн

Место: BOK Building
Адрес: 1901 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19148

Формат:

• встречи с резидентами
• open studios
• мини-презентации

Место: Cherry Street Pier
Адрес: 121 N Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19106

A hands-on First Friday workshop where participants create their own custom picture frames, combining craft techniques with design experimentation.

Venue: Tacony LAB Community Arts Center
Address: 6918 Torresdale Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19135

A creative workshop focused on designing and crafting vintage-style Valentine cards using collage, printmaking, and decorative techniques.

Venue: Fleisher Art Memorial
Address: 719 Catharine St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

A rare opportunity to visit student studios at PAFA, featuring open workspaces, live demonstrations, and conversations with emerging artists.

Venue: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Address: 118–128 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19102

Evening talks and discussions with contemporary artists, curators, and cultural thinkers, presented as part of ICA’s public program series.

Venue: Institute of Contemporary Art
Address: 118 S 36th St, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Parades, lion dances, fireworks, street food, live performances. One of Philadelphia’s most atmospheric winter street festivals, bringing large-scale outdoor celebrations to the cold season

Venue: Chinatown
Address: 10th St & Arch St, Philadelphia, PA

Venues: Museums, libraries, and cultural institutions citywide
Format: Lectures, exhibitions, concerts, film screenings, and art events
Scale: A citywide cultural program marking Black History Month across Philadelphia

Large-scale floral exhibition featuring landscape installations, floral design, and horticultural innovation. Officially a spring event, but it often opens in late February.

Venue: Pennsylvania Convention Center
Address: 1101 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA