Key Takeaways
DPAC enters the 2026–2027 season as the top U.S. venue in its capacity class for ticket revenue and a top-five venue for attendance, pointing to a high-demand year for live events.
The Good Moon Festival (Oct 8–10) brings Sylvan Esso, Tyler Childers, and other indie and Americana artists to Durham, creating DPAC’s most ambitious music-focused weekend to date.
Jacob Collier’s The Light For Days Tour stops at DPAC on October 21 for a one-night performance built around harmonic experimentation and audience interaction.
Broadway titles such as Wicked, Hadestown, and The Phantom of the Opera anchor the season, while Maybe Happy Ending and Death Becomes Her introduce newer works to local audiences.
OnesToWatch Live highlights the emerging artists and key shows that position DPAC as a regional hub for music discovery this season.
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Ticket Links for OnesToWatch Featured Artists
OnesToWatch has spotlighted several artists performing at DPAC this season. Below are the featured shows with direct ticket links so readers can secure seats before these dates sell through.
Good Moon Festival 2026 – Thu, Oct 8, 2026 at DPAC, Durham, NC (Tyler Childers as festival artist)
Sylvan Esso Live 2026 – Thu, Oct 8, 2026 at DPAC, Durham, NC
Tyler Childers: Snipe Hunt – Fri, Oct 9, 2026 at DPAC, Durham, NC
Sylvan Esso Live 2026 – Sat, Oct 10, 2026 at DPAC, Durham, NC
Jacob Collier: The Light For Days Tour – Wed, Oct 21, 2026 at DPAC, Durham, NC
Now, explore how these dates fit into the broader season and why they stand out in DPAC’s 2026–2027 calendar.
The Season’s Must-See Music Moments
1. Good Moon Festival 2026 – Oct 8–10, 2026
The Good Moon Festival runs Thursday, October 8 through Saturday, October 10, 2026 at DPAC. The lineup includes Sylvan Esso, Tyler Childers, Meshell Ndegeocello, Silvana Estrada, and aja monet. This cross-genre bill frames DPAC as a music-discovery destination alongside its Broadway identity.
Sylvan Esso is the Durham, North Carolina-rooted electropop duo of Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn, formed in 2013. They perform on October 8 and again on October 10. Their appearances at a nearby venue resonate strongly with Triangle audiences.
Sylvan Esso – Oct 8, 2026 at DPAC
Get Tickets for Sylvan Esso on Oct 8
Tyler Childers appears as a festival artist on October 8 and headlines his own show, Snipe Hunt, on October 9. Childers has become a leading voice in contemporary Appalachian and country music, drawing listeners from both roots traditions and the indie world.
Tyler Childers: Good Moon Festival – Oct 8, 2026 at DPAC
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Tyler Childers: Snipe Hunt – Oct 9, 2026 at DPAC
Get Tickets for Tyler Childers: Snipe Hunt
Sylvan Esso – Oct 10, 2026 at DPAC
Get Tickets for Sylvan Esso on Oct 10
2. Jacob Collier – The Light For Days Tour – Oct 21, 2026
Jacob Collier brings The Light For Days Tour to DPAC on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. Collier’s live performances feature dense harmony, call-and-response with the crowd, and a wide stylistic range. At DPAC’s intimate 2,700-seat theater, those elements create the scale of a much larger event.
For listeners who follow OnesToWatch-level artistry, this stands out as the season’s most conceptually ambitious concert booking.
Get Tickets for Jacob Collier at DPAC
Beyond Music: The Full 2026–2027 DPAC Slate
The 2026–2027 DPAC season combines multi-artist festivals, one-night concerts, Broadway runs, and comedy headliners. The overview below follows the calendar and draws Broadway dates from DPAC’s official season announcements and reporting by The News & Observer.
Good Moon Festival 2026 (feat. Sylvan Esso, Tyler Childers, Meshell Ndegeocello, Silvana Estrada, aja monet) – Oct 8–10, 2026. Three-night multi-artist festival that defines the music side of the season and highlights DPAC’s programming beyond Broadway.
Get Good Moon Festival Tickets
Jacob Collier: The Light For Days Tour – Oct 21, 2026. One-night concert built around Collier’s harmonic virtuosity and interactive format.
Get Tickets for Jacob Collier at DPAC
Together, these music bookings show DPAC’s interest in forward-looking artists alongside its Broadway commitments.
Maybe Happy Ending – Oct 13–18, 2026. Six-day Broadway run. Set in a one-room apartment in Helperbot Yards, a living facility for retired Helperbots in Seoul, this musical centers on Oliver, a retired Helperbot-3 model, and has drawn strong critical attention on its national tour.
Mrs. Doubtfire – Oct 30–Nov 1, 2026. Three-day Broadway run based on the film, which the Chicago Tribune described as “the lovable, big-hearted musical comedy we need right now.”
Death Becomes Her – Nov 10–15, 2026. Six-day Broadway run. Death Becomes Her is a Tony Award-winning musical comedy that earned 10 nominations at the 78th Tony Awards and won Best Costume Design for Paul Tazewell. It features direction and choreography by Christopher Gattelli, a Tony Award winner for Newsies. His work on the production received 2025 Tony nominations for Best Direction of a Musical and Best Choreography. The musical adaptation features an original score by Julia Mattison and Noel Carey, distinct from Alan Silvestri’s score for the 1992 film. The Daily Beast called it “a cheek-aching laughter rollercoaster.”
’Twas the Night Before… by Cirque du Soleil – Nov 25–Dec 6, 2026. Twelve-day holiday engagement. ’Twas the Night Before… is Cirque du Soleil’s first Christmas-themed holiday show, distinct from its earlier winter-season show Wintuk (2007–2011), directed by James Hadley. As of 2025, the touring production features four complete casts of 26 artists each, performing acts such as Straps Duo, Hoop Diving, Hair Suspension, and high-energy dance.
The Bodyguard – Dec 8–13, 2026. Six-day Broadway run based on the 1992 film and featuring songs including “I Will Always Love You” and “I Wanna Dance with Somebody.” The film was directed by Mick Jackson and written by Lawrence Kasdan, while the stage musical was written by Alexander Dinelaris and directed by Thea Sharrock.
Mamma Mia! – Dec 29, 2026–Jan 3, 2027. Six-day Broadway run over the New Year holiday, built around the songs of ABBA. The production has been performed worldwide for over 25 years.
Waitress – Feb 5–7, 2027. Three-day Broadway run. Features original music and lyrics by multiple Grammy Award nominee Sara Bareilles, a book by Jessie Nelson, and original direction by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus.
Hadestown – Mar 5–7, 2027. Three-day Broadway run. Winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, created by Anaïs Mitchell with direction by Rachel Chavkin.
Wicked – Mar 31–Apr 18, 2027. Nineteen-day Broadway run and the longest engagement of the season. As of May 24, 2026, Wicked ranks as the fourth longest-running show in Broadway history, having opened on October 30, 2003, and has been seen by over 72 million people worldwide.
Operation Mincemeat – May 11–16, 2027. Six-day Broadway run telling the true story of a World War II deception operation set in 1943.
The Phantom of the Opera – May 26–Jun 6, 2027. Twelve-day Broadway run. Since 1986, The Phantom of the Opera has played to over 160 million people in 217 cities, 52 territories, and 23 languages.
Just in Time – Jul 13–18, 2027. Six-day Broadway run telling the story of singer Bobby Darin.
Taken together, these Broadway and specialty engagements show DPAC’s focus on recognizable titles, holiday programming, and a few newer works that broaden the repertoire.
Check out OnesToWatch’s 2026 Top 30 Artists To Watch to discover more artists shaping the live music landscape this season.
Additional Notable Events on the DPAC Calendar
Beyond the featured music moments and Broadway slate, DPAC’s fall 2026 schedule includes a range of one-night and limited-run events that round out the season.
Fortune Feimster – Sat, Oct 3, 2026 (second show added due to demand)
Tom Jones: Come Gather Round Tour – Tue, Oct 6, 2026
Adrián Uribe: 50 y Pico Tour – Sun, Oct 11, 2026
Dan and Phil – Tue, Oct 20, 2026
Elmo’s Got The Moves – Thu, Oct 22, 2026
Clint Black & Midland (with special guest Jade Eagleson) – Fri, Oct 23, 2026
Undertale: The Determination Symphony – Sat, Oct 24, 2026
Beck: Ride Lonesome Tour (with special guest Ioanna Gika) – Tue, Oct 27, 2026
Waiting to Exhale in Concert – Thu, Nov 5, 2026
Little Big Town (with special guest Waylon Payne) – Fri, Nov 6, 2026
BEAT (Belew/Vai/Levin/Bozzio performing the music of King Crimson) – Tue, Nov 17, 2026
NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet – Thu, Nov 19, 2026
A Drag Queen Christmas (hosted by Nina West) – Fri, Nov 20, 2026
A Christmas Carol (Theatre in the Park) – Dec 16–20, 2026
Straight No Chaser – Wed, Dec 23, 2026
The Hip Hop Nutcracker – Sun, Dec 27, 2026
Collectively, these dates add comedy, legacy pop, family programming, and holiday traditions to DPAC’s mix.
What This Season Reveals About DPAC
The 2026–2027 season shows a venue working at the intersection of Broadway presenting and contemporary concert booking. As of its 2023/2024 season, DPAC reported over 17,000 Truist Broadway at DPAC season ticket members, remaining one of the largest one-week Broadway series in the country. The current lineup, however, reaches beyond that subscriber base.
The Good Moon Festival offers the clearest view of that dual identity. Placing Sylvan Esso and Tyler Childers, both with deep roots in independent and Americana scenes, at the center of a three-night festival at a venue of this scale signals that DPAC treats music discovery as a programming priority. OnesToWatch has tracked both artists as examples of live-performance-driven careers that grow steadily over time.
The Broadway slate leans on proven titles with broad audience appeal, including Wicked, Mamma Mia!, Hadestown, and The Phantom of the Opera, while also bringing in newer productions like Maybe Happy Ending and Death Becomes Her. In DPAC’s 2026/2027 season, the three longest engagements are Wicked (March 31 – April 18, 2027, 19 days), ’Twas the Night Before… by Cirque du Soleil (November 25 – December 6, 2026, 12 days), and The Phantom of the Opera (May 26 – June 6, 2027, 12 days). These runs anchor the calendar financially, while shorter engagements and one-night events add variety.
How to Plan Your Season at DPAC
DPAC’s WRAL’s Greatest Hits of Broadway 2026/2027 season ticket package bundles four core Broadway titles, Mrs. Doubtfire, Mamma Mia!, Waitress, and Hadestown. Packages start at $20 per seat per month on a no-interest six-month payment plan, with other options beginning at $40 per seat per month. Package holders can add on ’Twas the Night Before… by Cirque du Soleil, Wicked, and The Phantom of the Opera. Broadway at DPAC season seat members receive priority access to purchase tickets to other Broadway blockbusters and newly announced concert, comedy, or special events before public on-sale dates.
For music-focused attendees, October becomes the key window. The Good Moon Festival (Oct 8–10) and Jacob Collier’s The Light For Days Tour (Oct 21) fall within two weeks of each other, which makes it straightforward to plan travel or local schedules around both. Tickets for all featured Broadway at DPAC 2026/2027 season shows are available now as individual purchases or as part of the Broadway at DPAC Season Package or WRAL’s Greatest Hits of Broadway Ticket Package.
Plan Your October With Good Moon Festival Tickets
Discover More Emerging Artists
OnesToWatch has spent over a decade covering emerging and independent artists, from early coverage of Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish to today’s rising class. The artists featured in this guide reflect the kind of live-performance-driven talent the platform continues to champion.
Discover the 2026 Top 30 Artists To Watch
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Good Moon Festival at DPAC?
The Good Moon Festival is a three-night music event running October 8–10, 2026 at the Durham Performing Arts Center. The 2026 lineup includes Sylvan Esso, Tyler Childers, Meshell Ndegeocello, Silvana Estrada, and aja monet. It stands as one of the most significant independent music bookings at DPAC in recent seasons, drawing artists from folk, electronic, Americana, and spoken-word traditions.
How Do I Buy Tickets to DPAC Shows?
Tickets for DPAC events are available through DPACnc.com, by phone at the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Ticket Center at DPAC (919-680-2787), and through Ticketmaster. For groups of 10 or more, group tickets can be arranged by emailing Groups@DPACnc.com, calling the Group Services Coordinator at (919) 281-0587, or filling out an online request form. Broadway season ticket packages are also available and include priority access to other shows as they go on sale.
What Broadway Shows Are Coming to DPAC in 2026–2027?
The confirmed Broadway at DPAC slate for 2026–2027 features a mix of returning hits and newer titles. The full list of Broadway shows and dates appears in the “Beyond Music: The Full 2026–2027 DPAC Slate” section above.
Is Jacob Collier Performing at DPAC?
Jacob Collier performs at DPAC in Durham, NC on Wednesday, October 21, 2026 as part of The Light For Days Tour. It is a one-night engagement, with tickets available through Ticketmaster.
Where Is DPAC Located?
The Durham Performing Arts Center is located at 123 William V. Bill Bell Way in downtown Durham, North Carolina. Parking is available at nearby decks. DPAC’s Blue Cross NC Ticket Center can be reached by phone at 919.680.2787 for ticket questions and purchases, while the DPAC Business Office is reached at 919.688.3722.