Berklee Announces Spring 2026 Signature Series

Berklee Announces Spring 2026 Signature Series This season's highlights include the Gospel Extravaganza, the 40th International Folk Festival, special guests Gretchen Parlato, Richard Bona, and Arooj Aftab, and tributes to P!NK and Prince.

December 18, 2025

By

Lily Chopus

Arooj Aftab performing at Roundhouse in London, November 2024.

Image by Patrick Gunning

Berklee's Signature Series returns in spring 2026 with a diverse lineup of performances by award-winning artists and student ensembles. Running from February through May at the Berklee Performance Center and the Red Room at Cafe 939, the season celebrates global traditions, iconic artists, and the creative excellence of Berklee students, faculty, and alumni.

40th Annual Berklee International Folk Festival Featuring Arooj AftabThursday, February 5, 8:00 p.m. | Berklee Performance Center

This season's Signature Series opens with the Berklee Annual International Folk Festival, directed by Christiane Karam and Vessela Stoyanova. For four decades, the festival has brought together Berklee's vibrant community of students, faculty, and alumni in a celebration of global musical traditions and cross-cultural performances. This milestone 40th anniversary concert will feature a curated retrospective highlighting memorable moments from across four decades, and will feature Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Arooj Aftab BM '10 and her band, as well the acclaimed Pletenitsa Balkan Choir and an array of distinguished guest artists from around the globe. Buy tickets.

Great American Songbook: What About Us-A P!NK CelebrationThursday-Friday, March 5-6, 8:00 p.m. | Berklee Performance Center

More than 100 Berklee students will come together for What About Us-A P!NK Celebration, honoring the bold artistry and trailblazing career of pop icon and rock powerhouse P!NK. Produced by Maureen McMullan PD '09, the concert showcases the full scope of Berklee's talent, featuring innovative arrangements, diverse instrumentation, and a cross-disciplinary roster of performers. From chart-topping hits like Raise Your Glass and Get the Party Started to emotionally charged ballads like Glitter in the Air and Just Give Me a Reason, the production will celebrate an artist who's spent over two decades breaking rules and raising the bar. Buy tickets.

Gretchen Parlato Berklee EnsembleThursday, March 12, 7:00 p.m. | Red Room at Cafe 939

World-renowned jazz vocalist Gretchen Parlato joins a select group of Berklee students for an intimate performance at the Red Room at Cafe 939. Students were chosen and coached by Matthew Stevens, an associate professor in the Ensemble Department, in preparation for this special collaboration. Parlato, known for her distinctive sound and collaborations with luminaries such as Wayne Shorter '99H, Herbie Hancock '86H, esperanza spalding BM '05, '18H, and Lionel Loueke PD '00, brings her signature subtlety, sensitivity, and musical depth to the ensemble. Buy tickets.

Richard Bona Meets BerkleeMonday, March 30, 8:00 p.m. | Berklee Performance Center

Grammy-winning bassist, composer, and vocalist Richard Bona joins top Berklee students and faculty under the direction of Paola Munda for an evening that blends global traditions with modern innovation. The performance will highlight Bona's signature sound-equal parts technical brilliance and heartfelt storytelling-while celebrating the vibrant creativity of Berklee's global community. Bona is one of the most distinctive and globally celebrated musicians of his generation. Blending the rich musical traditions of his native Cameroon with jazz, pop, and world influences, Bona has built a career defined by masterful artistry, innovation, and joy. Buy tickets.

The Prince ProjectThursday-Friday, April 16-17, 8:00 p.m. | Berklee Performance Center

This ensemble pays tribute to one of the most visionary, groundbreaking, and prolific artists in modern music. Conceived by Julian Scott and Brayden Cranford, with production support from Rachael Morrison, the project was inspired by their experience as members of the Michael Jackson Ensemble. This large-scale production is produced and directed by Grammy-nominated professor Tia Fuller, alongside an all-star team of ensemble faculty, including Mimi Jones, production director; Lisa Guyer, lead vocals director; Johny Keys, musical director; and Jerome Kyles, backing vocals director. Additionally, Anthony Burrell joins as choreographer and co-creative director, bringing together a talented cohort of dancers from Boston Conservatory at Berklee. The ensemble strives to embody Prince's tireless work ethic and unwavering commitment to free artistic expression. Buy tickets.

Gospel Extravaganza 2026Friday, May 1, 8:00 p.m. | Berklee Performance Center

Gospel Extravaganza and the Berklee Gospel Music Hall of Fame bring together extraordinary voices, sacred sound, and cultural tradition in a night of praise, artistry, and excellence celebrating the power, legacy, and future of gospel music. Additionally, the fourth cohort of the Berklee Gospel Music Hall of Fame will be honored with an induction ceremony. Produced by the Africana Studies Department, this inspiring performance pays homage to gospel music's deep roots while uplifting the artists who continue to shape its enduring impact. Buy tickets.

Ticket InformationTickets for Signature Series events are on sale now and can be purchased online or in person at the Berklee Box Office, located at 136 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston. The box office will be closed for winter recess from Saturday, December 20 through January 4, and will reopen on Monday, January 5. Winter hours, which run through January 16, are Wednesdays and Fridays from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., two hours prior to ticketed Berklee Performance Center events, and one hour pr

LINK:	https://www.berklee.edu/berklee-now/news/berklee-announces-spring-2026...
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