"Philadelphia has an incredible bunch of talented artists and they're doing super thoughtful work," says Bill Adair, Creative and Executive Director of ArtPhilly. "As part of the 250th, we wanted to make sure everyone knew."
The organization started just over three years ago to give artists the opportunity to shine.
"We looked around, we saw there were a lot of things being planned, sports stuff, history stuff," says Adair. "If you don't see it, you've got to make it."
ArtPhilly's website is a hub to find out who's performing where and there are links to register for events or purchase tickets.
"We've raised millions of dollars," he says. "And we have 34 commissions of original works that we're presenting in five weeks."
Participating artists received a prompt.
"We're here 250 years later," he says. "What now?"
"And artists continue to be the best interpreters of history and the best interpreters of this moment in time," he says.
The festival features a variety of disciplines, including dance, theater, music, visual arts and film, with projects spanning the city.
There are five festival districts where work can be seen. Those areas are West Philadelphia, Kensington, Germantown, Old City and Avenue of the Arts.
BalletX is performing "The Four Seasons Reimagined" at the Highmark Mann Center June 4 - 5.
"Recreating Vivaldi's, 'The Four Seasons,' through the lens of contemporary climate change and its effect on the weather and the seasons with four different choreographers," says Adair.
Colette Fu reveals "Iron and Paper: Unfolding Philadelphia's Chinatown" on multiple dates throughout the festival. It will be on view in the lobby of the Crane Community Center in Chinatown.
"She's creating a giant room-size pop-up book," he says. "You have to crank the pages to open it, and each page will represent a different stage of Chinatown history."
The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society is presenting the vocal band Roomful of Teeth at Bartram's Garden from May 29 - 31. They are performing a new work called, "Root Song: Listening to the Wisdom of Trees."
"Which is about the life of trees, and the communication mechanisms of trees, through the lens of an Indigenous storyteller," says Adair.
"In Case of Fire, Speak," was inspired by Martha Graham's original work from 1938 called "American Document." Tommie-Waheed Evans, co-artistic director of Philadanco, has reimagined it for this festival.
"And he has worked with dancers from Martha Graham Dance Company and from Philadanco to create a completely new piece," says Adair.
Co-commissioned by Penn Live Arts, "In Case of Fire, Speak," will be performed May 29 at the Zellerbach Theatre at the Annenberg Center.
"The Bearded Ladies are doing a sing-along for us, a patriotic sing-along," he says. "This sing-along will be an opportunity for us to all inspire each other to continue as we try to make our way through these really complicated times."
The Bearded Ladies Cabaret performance is one-night only on June 13 at the Wilma Theater.
Organizers recommend getting your tickets early. Some events, like "Dinner with Dinah" at Stenton, are already sold out.
"We are presenting a dinner in celebration of this new memorial to the enslaved woman, Dinah," says Adair.
A memorial was created in her honor at Stenton because she helped to save the mansion during the Battle of Germantown.
ArtPhilly organizers hope to make the festival a tradition.
"We're gonna do this project again, every two years, and create a Philadelphia Biennial," says Adair. "We think Philly deserves to be known for the amazing talent that we have here in arts and culture."
"What Now: 2026" runs May 27 to July 2 at various venues across the city.
For more information:
ArtPhilly "What Now: 2026" | "What Now: 2026" Festival Calendar & Booklet