Experience the arts at NIU

Fall 2026 exhibitions, concerts and performances

The NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts offers a world of music, dance, theater and visual arts.

Tickets on sale at go.niu.edu/arts-events

Special rates available for seniors, non-NIU students, and faculty/staff.

NIU students are admitted to all CVPA arts events free of charge with a pre-reserved ticket.

Upcoming Events

The Risk Worth Taking exhibition by Kevin Cole '84

Jack Olson Gallery
August 24-October 15

Learn More

Avalon String Quartet

Thur., Oct. 1
7 p.m.
NIU Recital Hall

Tickets

Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Ensembe

Thursday, October 8
7 p.m.
Boutell Memorial Concert Hall

Tickets

Music Series

niu.edu/music

World Music Series

Sept. 16 All of Us: A Chamber Opera on Anti-Asian Hate
Nov. 15 Music of Mexico
Nov. 18 Music of East Asia
Nov. 19 Music of Thailand
Nov. 20 World Music Fusion

Percussion and Steelpan Series

Nov. 8 NIU Percussion Ensemble
Nov. 22 NIU Steelband
Dec. 1 NIU Percussion Ensemble Winter Concert

Composition and New Music Series

Oct. 26-27 New Music Festival
Nov. 18 Pop Music Ensembles

International Guitar Series

Sept. 16 Rovshan Mamedkuliev (Azerbaijan)
Nov. 9 Sanel Režić (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Theatre and Dance

niu.edu/theatre

Men on Boats

by Jaclyn Backhaus
Sept. 25-27 and Oct. 1-3
Black Box Theatre

Emma

by Kate Hamill
Oct. 16-18, 22-24
O’Connell Theatre

Gross Indecency:
The Trials of Oscar Wilde

by Moises Kaufman
Nov. 6-8, 12-14

Fall Dance Concert

O’Connell Theatre
Nov. 19-22

Visual Arts

School of
Art and Design

niu.edu/art

“The Risk Worth Taking”
exhibition by Kevin Cole, ‘84
Aug. 24 – Oct. 15
Jack Olson Gallery

Also coming this fall:
Annual High School Invitational
B.A./B.S. Showcase

Jack Olson Gallery Hours
Monday – Thursday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. – noon

Closed on university holidays and between exhibitions.

NIU Art Museum

niu.edu/artmuseum

NIU Burma Art Collection Exhibition

The Olmec Heads Experience

August – May
Art Museum Galleries – First Floor, Altgeld Hall

Gallery Hours

Wednesday: noon to 3 p.m.
Thursday: 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday: noon to 6 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Closed on university holidays and between exhibitions.

Experience the
arts at NIU

Fall 2026 concerts, exhibitions and performances

The NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts offers a world of music, dance, theater and visual arts.

Tickets on sale at go.niu.edu/arts-events

Special rates available for seniors, non-NIU students, and faculty/staff.

NIU students are admitted to all CVPA arts events free of charge with a pre-reserved ticket.

Music Series

Vocal Arts Series

Oct. 15 Concert Choir, Chamber Choir and University Chorus
Nov. 11-12 Opera Theatre
Dec. 6 Holiday Choral Concert

Orchestra and Wind Series

Sept. 29 Wind Ensemble
Oct. 9 NIU Philharmonic
Oct. 21 Wind Symphony
Nov. 20 Wind Ensemble and Symphony
Nov. 21 NIU Philharmonic

Jazz Series

Sept. 14 Jazz Combo Fest
Oct. 8 Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble
Nov. 17 Jazz Ensemble
Nov. 19 Jazz Orchestra
Nov. 23 Jazz Combo Fest

Chamber Music Series

Oct. 1 Avalon String Quartet
Nov. 12 Brass Chamber Ensemble
Nov. 17 Brass Chamber Music