Longwood Gardens Announces 2026 Summer Performance Series

Press Release

Longwood Gardens today announced its Summer Performance Series, an expansive season of acclaimed performances across music, dance, and theater set in the beauty of the world-renowned Gardens. A highlight of the Festival of Fountains Season (May 8-September 27, 2026), the series invites guests to experience stellar performances alongside Longwood’s signature summer offerings, including its popular Illuminated Fountain Performances, Fireworks & Fountains Shows, live music in the beer garden, carillon concerts, special weekend programming, and more. 

“From amazing music to luminous fountains and fireworks to awe-inspiring displays, summer at Longwood Gardens unfolds as a celebration of creativity in one of the most breathtaking settings anywhere,” said Chief Experience and Brand Officer Marnie Conley. “It’s an immersive experience where nature and artistry come together to create unforgettable moments, day and night. We’re especially excited to partner this year with Rising Sun Presents to bring an exceptional lineup of concerts to our guests this season.”

Tickets for the Summer Performance Series go on sale April 24, with presales beginning April 16 for Longwood Innovators, and April 22 for Gardens Preferred and Gardens Premium Members. Performance tickets include all-day Gardens Admission. 

Fireworks and Fountains 

Longwood’s popular Fireworks & Fountains Shows return for six remarkable evenings that showcase music, color, and water, in a brilliant display. Each show pairs dazzling fireworks choreographed with themed music and Longwood’s 1,719-jet Main Fountain Garden. Special Fireworks & Fountains tickets are required; prices range from $64-$84, with reduced pricing for Members and Innovators. This year’s lineup includes: 

•    Thursday, July 2 at 9:15 pm | Great American Composers
•    Saturday, July 18 at 9:15 pm | Journey to Oz
•    Saturday, August 8 at 9:15 pm | Everlasting Love
•    Saturday, August 22 at 8:15 pm | Blue Tango—The Magic of Leroy Anderson
•    Sunday, September 6 at 8:15 pm | The Final Frontier
•    Saturday, September 26 at 8:15 pm | Electric 80s

To purchase tickets, visit longwoodgardens.org. Tickets for Fireworks and Fountains go on-sale on June 3, with presales beginning May 28–31 for innovators and June 1-2 for Gardens Preferred and Premium Members. 

Summer Performance Series 

Featuring an eclectic lineup of performers, the summer season highlights jazz, blues, world music, pop, classical, theater, and dance artistry.  For the complete lineup and to purchase tickets, visit longwoodgardens.org. 

Musiq Soulchild
Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Reserved Seating: $84–$124
Pioneer of the neo-soul movement of the early millennium, multiple Grammy Award-nominee Musiq Soulchild is one of the most influential R&B singers of his generation. A Philadelphia native, Soulchild has received 13 Grammy Award nominations and additional award nominations from MTV, the American Music Awards, and the NAACP. 

The Music of The Beach Boys featuring Pet Sounds LIVE!
Friday, June 12, 2026 at 7:00 pm
Saturday, June 13, 2026 at 7:00 pm
Sunday, June 14, 2026 at 7:00 pm
Reserved Seating: $59
Just in time for Longwood’s Beach Bash Fountain Fest Weekend, experience the energy of the album Pet Sounds Live with the premier Beach Boys album experience celebrating Brian Wilson’s iconic masterpiece that altered the course of rock and roll.

BalletX
Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Reserved Seating: $44–$84
BalletX, Philadelphia’s premier contemporary ballet, presents an evening of extraordinary dance with a dynamic program of three works never before performed together. Exploring themes of identity, self-expression, and community, Heroes, Macaroni, and Big Wig push the boundaries of movement and emotion in bold, breathtaking ways.
With a versatile and diverse ensemble of 16 dancers, BalletX pushes the boundaries of classical ballet to tell today’s stories with passion, creativity, and exuberance. 

Philadanco
Friday, June 19, 2026 at 7:00 pm
Reserved Seating: $31–$40
Presented in partnership with Voices Underground as part of their Chester County-wide commemoration of Juneteenth, enjoy an evening with the internationally award-winning modern dance company Philadelphia Dance Company (PHILADANCO!), celebrated for its innovation, creativity, and preservation of predominantly African-American traditions in dance.  

Kermit Ruffins & The BBQ Swingers
Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at 7:30 pm    
Reserved Seating: $50–$100
The face of New Orleans jazz for more than 30 years, trumpeter Kermit Ruffins has earned countless “Best of the Beat” awards for his vibrant blend of Louis Armstrong’s swing and the street-level funk of the brass band movement. The undisputed “Ambassador of Good Times,” Ruffins is co-founder of the Grammy Award-winning Rebirth Brass Band, a recurring star of HBO’s Treme, and a celebrated personality and pitmaster famous for his “Barbecue Swingers” shows.

Matthew Morrison
Wednesday, July 8, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Reserved Seating: $54–$104
Known for his celebrated Broadway career and his standout role as Will Schuester on Glee, multi-talented artist Matthew Morrison has earned nominations for Tony, Emmy, and Golden Globe Awards. In his new show, SHOW UP, Morrison journeys into the heart of what makes us human, sharing his charisma and versatility that have captivated audiences for years.

Arooj Aftab
Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Reserved Seating: $44–$94
Arooj Aftab is a Grammy Award-winning artist whose work occupies a singular space in contemporary music, blending jazz, minimalism, South Asian musical traditions, and avant-pop. A highly acclaimed artist, she is one of the most distinctive voices of our time.

Peter Rowan with Sam Grisman Project Playing Old & In The Way and more
Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Reserved Seating: $64–$114
Americana icon Peter Rowan—founding member of the legendary bluegrass group Old & In The Way with Vassar Clements, David “Dawg” Grisman, and Jerry Garcia—joins Sam Grisman and his Sam Grisman Project for this special performance. Together, they capture audiences with the music of Dawg and Jerry, their own originals, and timeless roots selections that reach the heart of American music. 

A.J. Croce Presents CROCE PLAYS CROCE
Thursday, August 6, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Reserved Seating: $64–$114
Acclaimed singer-songwriter, piano virtuoso, multi-instrumentalist, and son of legendary singer-songwriter Jim Croce, A.J. Croce presents his celebrated Croce Plays Croce, bringing audiences an unforgettable evening of music that bridges generations and celebrates the enduring power of song.

Stanley Clarke N•4EVER
Wednesday, August 12, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Reserved Seating: $64–$114
Four-time Grammy Award-winning virtuoso and pioneering force in jazz fusion, Stanley Clarke leads his electric, genre-bending band 4EVER with their big jazz band sound. True to the evolution of jazz fusion, expect a powerful combination of jazz harmony and improvisation with rock, funk, R&B, hip-hop, and electronic music influences.

Silvana Estrada
Thursday, August 13, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Reserved Seating: $54–$104
Winner of the Latin Grammy for Best New Artist, Silvana Estrada is one of the most compelling voices in contemporary Latin music, blending indie-folk, jazz, and traditional Mexican influences into a deeply intimate and poetic sound.

GIPSY KINGS featuring Tonino Baliardo—Historia Tour
Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Reserved Seating: $64–$114
Led by guitar virtuoso and composer Tonino Baliardo, Grammy-Award winning group Gipsy Kings stands as the undisputed master of gypsy music. 

Melissa Etheridge: RISE
Wednesday, September 2, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Reserved Seating: $90–$154
Join Grammy and Academy Award-winning rock icon Melissa Etheridge for an unforgettable evening as the legendary singer-songwriter performs and shares songs from her new studio album, Rise.

The String Queens
Thursday, September 3, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Reserved Seating: $45–$95
Praised for their authentic, soulful, and orchestral sound, dynamic trio The String Queens takes listeners on an exhilarating journey through time and genres, their versatile repertoire spanning the Baroque era to the Jazz Age to today’s Billboard Hot 100. 

DJ Jazzy Jeff: Fountain Party
Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 8:00 pm
Reserved Seating: $65
Get ready for an unforgettable experience in the Main Fountain Garden as Philadelphia’s own legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff takes to the turntable for an exciting evening featuring Longwood’s illuminated fountains. Bring your own chair and soak up the atmosphere as Jeff spins an expertly mixed 90-minute set. 

Guster
Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Reserved Seating: $64–$110
Celebrating more than three decades together as a band, alt-rock group Guster has landed a series of hits on the Billboard charts, launched their own music festival, and amassed an ardent fanbase partly on the strength of their relentless touring and deeply communal live show.

Pre-performance Dining
During select performance evenings, guests are invited to begin their experience by dining in 1906. Led by Executive Chef George Murkowicz, 1906 features a multi-course American menu rooted in seasonality and sustainability. Many ingredients are harvested just steps away in Longwood’s Idea Garden, the result of a year-long collaboration between gardener and chef that begins with seed selection. The result is a dining experience that is deeply rooted in place and sets stage for the performance to come. Reservations are available at longwoodgardens.org/dine.

About Longwood Gardens
In 1906, industrialist Pierre S. du Pont (1870-1954) purchased a small farm near Kennett Square, PA, to save a collection of historic trees from being sold for lumber. Today, Longwood Gardens is one of the world’s great horticultural displays, encompassing 1,100 acres of dazzling gardens, woodlands, meadows, fountains, a 10,010-pipe Aeolian organ, and grand conservatory. Expanding on its commitment to conservation, in 2024 Longwood Gardens acquired the 505-acre Longwood at Granogue, a cultural landscape in nearby Wilmington, Delaware. Longwood Gardens is the living legacy of Pierre S. du Pont, bringing joy and inspiration to everyone through the beauty of nature, conservation, and learning. Open daily, Longwood is one of more than 30 gardens in the Philadelphia region known as America’s Garden Capital. For more information, visit longwoodgardens.org.     

 
About Rising Sun Presents 
Rising Sun Presents is an independent, full-service live event production company behind Ardmore Music Hall, Underground Arts, 118 North and MilkBoy Philly, as well as local outdoor events including Wayne Music Festival, Concerts Under the Stars, Bryn Mawr Twilight Series, and more.  Every year, Rising Sun Presents brings more than 1,500 indoor & outdoor events to life throughout the greater Philadelphia area and beyond. The service-oriented team at Rising Sun Presents is comprised of tested and passionate professionals with experience in every facet of the live event industry.