One of the highlights of the New Tampa Performing Arts Center’s Annual Arts Fest is the Florida Orchestra’s petting zoo.
However, unlike animals who make their own brand of music at the zoo, this activity allows children to explore and play musical instruments to see what appeals to them. A beautiful noise of a human kind.
Arts Fest ’26, which runs from Sept. 11-13, kicks off the 2026-27 season at the Performing Arts Center. It blends music, art, dance and culture in one weekend, with 20 groups and organizations participating.
“It shows the diversity of the performing arts in our community, and with the opening of the New Tampa Performing Arts Center (NTPAC) approaching its fourth anniversary, the center provides the perfect venue for area residents to participate in as well as to celebrate the performing arts,” Performing Arts Center General Manager Keith Arsenault said.
Friday night, Sept. 11, features the Hillsborough College Music Program followed by the Meredith Renuart Music Studio. Renuart is a bay area performer, teacher, singer and vocal coach.
Saturday, Sept. 12, the festival offers a day filled with family-friendly performances and activities including a screening of Zootopia 2 at 10 a.m., followed by Hillsborough County Library’s Mobile Literacy Unit and the instrument petting zoo.
Throughout the festival, patrons can also enjoy lobby performances by students and professional artists, along with backstage tours that will highlight how productions come to life on the NTPAC stage.
This year’s season booklet of events that run from September through July 2027 will be available.
Food trucks will also be on hand.
Last year’s event attracted approximately 3,300 attendees.
New Tampa Performing Arts Center Arts Fest ‘26
Schedule
Friday, September 11
• 5:15 p.m. — Hillsborough College Music Program
• 7:45 p.m. — Meredith Renuart Music Studio
Saturday, September 12 — Family Day
• 11:00 a.m. — Florida Orchestra’s Instrument Petting Zoo
• 12:30 p.m. — Power Stories Theatre
• 1:30 p.m. — New Tampa Players — Making of Shoeboxes: A Social Skills Workshop
• 3:15 p.m. — Drama Kids
• 5:15 p.m. — Winold Music Festival
• 6:45 p.m. — Outcast Theatre
Sunday, September 13
• 1:45 p.m. — Countdown Improv Festival
Backstage Tours:
• Friday, Sept. 11, 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 12, 12:15 p.m., 1:45 p.m., and 4:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 13, 12:45 p.m. and 2:45 p.m.
This year’s performances include:
• Tampa City Ballet
• Wattaka
• Jansen Dance Project
• Winold Music Festival
• Wharton High School Band
• Rebecca Penneys Piano Festival
• Entertainment Revue
• Anna Dance Academy
• Rudram Indian Dance
• New Tampa Players
• Kuumba Dancers and Drummers of Africa
• Hillsborough College Music Program
• Meredith Renuart Music Studio
• Power Stories Theatre
• Drama Kids
• Outcast Theatre
• Countdown Improv Festival
• Devine Madness Sketch Comedy
No fee: Some events require tickets to manage attendance. All events are free and first-come, first-served. Tickets for select events such as the backstage tour will be available at the box office.
Address: 8550 Hunters Village Road., in New Tampa
For more information: Visit NewTampaArtsCenter.org and follow New Tampa Performing Arts Center on Facebook and Instagram