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May is when both locals and visitors can’t wait to get outside — and when festival season ramps up.
The outdoor calendar is filled with music fairs like the Sing Us Home Festival and The Roots Picnic, foodie gatherings like the South 9th Street Italian Market Festival, and one of the nation’s first Pride events, New Hope Celebrates PrideFest.
Joining them are a plethora of neighborhood street festivals across the region, including the Girard Avenue Street Fest, Maifest on South Street and the Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival.
The May merriment doesn’t stop there, with more annual events including Fan Expo at the Pennsylvania Convention Center and the 40,000 athlete-strong Independence Blue Cross Broad Street Run.
Check out our guide to the biggest events and most awesome things to do in Greater Philadelphia in May 2026.
Through Sunday, May 3, 2026
A few more days remain to take in a show during Philly Theatre Week’s ninth year, celebrating the city’s vibrant theater scene through interactive events, live productions, readings and more.
Think of it like a wine tasting, but for theater — encouraging audiences to sample these productions and venues to find new-to-you places (or old faves!) with a wide variety of offerings, from family-friendly to improv to the classics.
About two dozen shows, events and workshops remain during the promotional event at theaters across the region, with pay-what-you-can tickets while they last. (Note: Check the venue for regular-price tickets if the pay-what-you-can tickets sell out.)
Where: Various locations including Philadelphia Theatre Company, 480 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
Through Sunday, May 10, 2026
Shakespeare’s tale of two star-crossed lovers comes to life in this ballet version of the famed tragedy set to Sergei Prokofiev’s score, featuring the world premiere of new choreography by Juliano Nunes, the Philadelphia Ballet’s resident choreographer.
The plot remains the same: Romeo and Juliet’s chance meeting at a dance sends the two on a whirlwind romance that ends, well, as most Shakespeare tragedies do — with the added bonus of ballerinas and orchestral fanfare at the iconic Academy of Music.
The show runs for two hours with an additional 20-minute intermission.
Where: Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
Through Sunday, May 17, 2026 (Sundays only)
Roam the streets and shop till you drop for three more Sundays this May (including Mother’s Day!), as one of Philadelphia’s top shopping and dining destinations transforms into a car-free oasis.
During Open Streets: West Walnut, pedestrians can shop, dine and mosey along seven car-free blocks while enjoying acoustic music, strolling performers and family-friendly activities.
The Open-Streets zone runs on Walnut Street between Broad Street and 19th Street, and on 18th Street between Locust Street and Chestnut Street. Check out the official website for an entertainment schedule and a list of retailer and restaurant happenings.
Where: 18th Street between Locust Street and Chestnut Street; Walnut Street from 15th Street to 19th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Nearly a half-century before Hamilton, Broadway debuted another iconic show focused on the Revolution. And in 2026, Walnut Street Theatre hosts a new production of the 1969 classic — 1776: The Musical.
The award-winning retelling recounts the story — set right here in Philadelphia — of Adams, Franklin and Jefferson as they fight for independence against a deadlocked Continental Congress, with humor, romance and nail-biting tension.
Need more historical significance? Walnut Street Theatre remains the oldest continuously operating theater in the entire English-speaking world, opened just 30 years after the events depicted.
Where: Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
Through Sunday, August 2, 2026
Inspired by one of the most recognizable landmarks in all of Philadelphia — the Rocky Statue — this brand-new exhibition explores the concept of monuments: Why we make them. Who gets one. And the role they play in society.
Curated by Paul Farber, co-founder of Monument Lab and the host of NPR and WHYY’s acclaimed podcast The Statue (TL:DR: He knows his stuff), the expansive exhibit covers 2,000 years of history and features over 150 artifacts and works of art by 50-plus artists, including Keith Haring, Carrie Mae Weems and Andy Warhol.
Where: Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
Through Sunday, August 9, 2026
Film, video and immersive art installations tell the stories of how Americans of color have helped shape our shared identity throughout the past 250 years at this Barnes Foundation exhibition, timed to coincide with the Semiquincentennial.
Moving-image artists Arthur Jafa, David Hartt, Garrett Bradley, Ja’Tovia Gary and Tourmaline create a contemporary meditation on the past, present and future, and ask viewers to contemplate how Americans of color have carved out spaces of joy and resistance despite systems that seek to oppress.
Access to the special exhibition comes with regular museum admission, good for two days.
Where: Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
Through August 2026
Over the past several years, Mural Arts Philadelphia conducted more than 35 artist-led workshops across the city, tasking more than 1000 participants with creating art to answer the question: “What does freedom require today?”
The vibrant answers make their debut in a new exhibition — Printmaking by the People: Posters for a Reimagined Declaration of Independence — at the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Parkway Central Library. The exhibit, timed to coincide with the year-long Semiquincentennial celebration, stays on view free and open to the public through August.
Where: Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA
Through Monday, September 7, 2026
No need to leave the city to enjoy a Universal theme-park experience. This world-premiere exhibition, brought to you by The Franklin Institute and Universal Destinations & Experiences, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the innovation and world-building that goes into each Universal amusement park.
Spanning 18,000 square feet and eight immersive galleries, the experience showcases more than 100 vehicles, props and other original artifacts from world-famous rides, attractions and live shows. And, in true Franklin Institute form, the display has an educational focus, playing up all the technology, engineering and artistry involved in theme park design.
Where: The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Through Monday, September 28, 2026
The twice-consecutive National League East champion Philadelphia Phillies’ 2026 baseball season continues to ramp up as Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and the rest of the Fightin’s continue racking up wins and homers at Citizens Bank Park.
The month’s schedule starts with four away games before the Phils head home to face the Athletics (May 5-7, 2026) followed by three more series at home against: the Colorado Rockies (May 8-10, 2026) with a special Mother’s Appreciation Day on Mother’s Day; the Cincinnati Reds (May 18-20, 2026); and the Cleveland Guardians (May 22-24, 2026).
Where: Citizens Bank Park, 1 Citizens Bank Way, Philadelphia, PA
Through October 2026 (weekends only)
Head to South Philadelphia’s FDR Park to partake in what Food & Wine calls “one of the best food markets” in the country. The seasonal Southeast Asian Market brings the tastes of the region to the park each weekend through October.
The massive culinary treasure includes more than 70 vendors offering traditional dishes, street food, native produce, plants, jewelry, apparel and more, set up in the (appropriately) southeast corner of the park. Pack a picnic blanket and don’t forget to bring cash — some vendors are cash-only and there’s no ATM on site.
Where: FDR Park located near Picnic Area #17 and S. Broad Street ramp, South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
Through Saturday, November 7, 2026
DOOP! On the heels of a stellar season with a hard-fought loss in the playoffs in 2025, Andre Blake, Alejandro Bedoya and 16-year-old record-breaking midfielder Cavan Sullivan join the rest of the Philadelphia Union to keep scoring goals in the team’s 17th season.
May brings two opportunities to see the team play at their Delaware County home, Subaru Park, when they battle Nashville SC on Saturday, May 2, 2026 and Columbus Crew on Saturday, May 16, 2026 where they will surely be donning their snazzy new home kits honoring Philly’s rich history and iconic landmarks.
Where: Subaru Park, 2501 Seaport Drive, Chester, PA
Through Saturday, December 26, 2026 (Saturdays only)
52 Weeks of Firsts honors 250 years of Philly’s historic achievements — every Saturday, all throughout 2026. The free Firstivals take place at the original location of each first (or in spaces that represent where these significant milestones occurred) and include guest speakers, a sculpture, monthly marquee events and historic deep dives by Once Upon a Nation.
This May celebrates the first American-made piano and sousaphone (May 2, 2026); Mother’s Day (May 9, 2026); the first hospital in America (May 16, 2026); the first world’s fair hosted in America (May 23, 2026); and the first steamboat for passengers and freight (May 30, 2026).
Where: Various locations including Pennsylvania Hospital, 800 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA
Through Sunday, January 3, 2027
A document that needs no introduction, the Declaration of Independence has shaped not only America’s history but also the trajectory of nations across the globe, too.
For America’s 250th birthday, the Museum of the American Revolution presents a special exhibition dedicated to the near and far-reaching impacts of the Declaration, which, of course, was written and signed right here in Philadelphia. The exhibit showcases other rare documents, works of art and artifacts to tell the document’s complex history.
Where: Museum of the American Revolution, 101 S. 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA
Through Sunday, February 14, 2027
In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson tasked Meriwether Lewis and William Clark with exploring the nation’s western territories following the Louisiana Purchase. But did you know that Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences holds nearly all the explorers’ original journals and preserved specimens related to their botanical research in its Lewis & Clark Herbarium?
The museum’s new Botany of Nations exhibition reexamines that rich collection through an Indigenous lens, blending botany (the study of plants) with ethnobotany (the study of how people use plants) to reshape the way we interpret the colonial journey.
Where: The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
Through April 2027
The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History marks the Semiquincentennial by overhauling its space to include two new permanent exhibit spaces and a 4,500-square-foot special exhibition space.
Now open, The First Salute exhibit takes a look at never-before-told stories of the Jewish community’s connections to the American Revolution. The exhibit features rare artifacts, original films and immersive videos, all weaving together a story about religious freedom, antisemitism in the Colonial world, trade and life on the high seas.
Where: Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, 101 S. Independence Ml East, Philadelphia, PA
Through Sunday, September 5, 2027
With storied histories of their own, the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts delve into the richness and diversity of American art history for this blockbuster exhibition, timed to coincide with the Semiquincentennial.
Threading together 300 years of American art, the collection features over 1,000 portraits, sculptures, furniture, photographs and more across both museums. Viewers find some of art’s biggest names exhibited side-by-side with oft-overlooked Black, Indigenous, immigrant and historically underrepresented artists.
This month, PMA offers hour-long exhibit tours on select days at 1 p.m., free with museum admission and limited to 20 people.
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Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 118-128 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
Through Monday, January 3, 2027
We all know how the American Revolutionary War ended. Now, a brand-new exhibition — timed to coincide with the year-long Semiquincentennial celebration — at the Independence Seaport Museum explores how our new nation built its economy back up in the aftermath.
Featuring roughly 150 rarely seen objects and artifacts, Seeking Profit and Power: Philadelphia, China Trade and the Making of America examines how the dream of America survived (and thrived) through new economic relationships and international trade alliances — and how China helped build America into the global superpower it is today.
Where: Independence Seaport Museum, 211 S. Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA
Ongoing
Two-time Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter’s work takes center stage at the African American Museum in Philadelphia’s latest exhibition, Afrofuturism in Costume Design.
Carter won Oscars for her costume designs for the Black Panther films and was a nominee in 2026 for her work on Sinners. She is the first Black woman to win two Academy Awards in any category.
The modular exhibition — with interactive elements — showcases costumes and artifacts from Carter’s esteemed career, including a rare glimpse of the artist’s personal sketches and costumes from Carter’s private collection.
Where: African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
Be one of the first to visit Ministry of Awe (MoA) — the highly anticipated art space that has transformed an abandoned 19th-century bank in Old City into an immersive, 6-story work of art. The building-wide exhibition celebrates “human-ness” with installations, interactive sculptures, immersive soundscapes, live performances and murals.
Global artist and creative mind behind the transformative art experience, Meg Saligman, collaborated with more than 100 artists to create the massive work. Grab your tickets ahead of time or check in-person availability.
Where: Ministry of Awe, 27 N. 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA
Visitors to the National Constitution Center have a new gallery to explore.
Now open, the America’s Founding gallery tells the story of how early Americans fought for independence and ultimately laid the legal groundwork for our democracy. Visitors to the new space can see an original copy of the U.S. Constitution — one of only 14 surviving — on display throughout 2026, along with rare first printings of 17 constitutional amendments.
The forthcoming Separation of Powers Gallery focuses on the three branches of government.
Where: National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
Philly singer-songwriter extraordinaire Dave Hause has assembled the annual rock homecoming weekend he’s always wanted — and you’re invited.
Held on the grounds of Manayunk’s Venice Island Performing Arts Center, the three-day Sing Us Home Festival fest returns for its fourth year with a robust lineup including: Philly punk-rockers The Mezingers; indie-folk band The Mountain Goats; and Dave-times-three — performing with his band The Mermaid, as a member of his brother’s Tim Hause & The Pre-Existing Conditions and as part of the Hause Family Campfire.
Enjoy pay-as-you-go food and drink at the family-friendly music festival. Tickets are required.
Where: Venice Island Performing Arts Center, 7 Lock Street, Philadelphia, PA
What started as a week-long event has now blossomed into a month-long celebration of Philadelphia’s designation as a World Heritage City. World Heritage Month offers programs across the city celebrating our diverse cultural heritage, including:
Where: Various locations including Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center, Horticultural Drive, Philadelphia, PA
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FDR Park, S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
Clark Park, 4300-4398 Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
The 13th annual Maifest promises the grandest block party along “the hippest street in town,” ushering in the height of springtime with alfresco family fun taking over the entire 700 block of South Street. The event has historically included musical performances, eating contests, food trucks, a kids’ zone, street vendors and more.
Get VIP access tickets via Brauhaus Schmitz, where ticketholders can get six complimentary bier tokens, enjoy a buffet lunch from noon to 6 p.m., use the venue’s private bathrooms and more.
Where: 700 block of South Street, Philadelphia, PA
Brauhaus Schmitz, 718 South Street, Philadelphia, PA
One of Philly’s premier street festivals, the annual Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival highlights the Center City neighborhood’s reputation as a cultural hotspot.
In previous years, dozens of booths have lined Walnut Street and the area around Rittenhouse Square park, offering art, beauty, fashion, family fun, food vendors and beer and cocktail samplings, plus live music, culinary demonstrations and local artist showcases.
The upscale festival promotes “accessible luxury,” and traditionally brings more than 50,000 people to the district, a free-to-attend (with pay-as-you-go food, drink and merchandise) party stretching across multiple blocks, each with its own vibe.
Where: Near Rittenhouse Square Park, 18th Street and Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
The Fishtown neighborhood under the El at Front and Palmer streets turns into a family-friendly street party, as the annual Fishtown Music & Arts Festival returns for its fourth year. In addition to the day-long lineup of live bands and DJs, visitors can enjoy pay-as-you-go food and beverages from local restaurants and vendors.
Festivalgoers need tickets ($25 early bird) to access the live music sections, while the food, craft and children’s play area remain free. Participating venues include LMNO, Percy, The International Bar and more.
Where: Under the El at Front and Palmer Streets, Philadelphia, PA
A sweet tradition since 1978, the Strawberry Festival at suburban food-and-shopping hotspot Peddler’s Village in Lahaska features two days of events centered on fresh, locally grown strawberries. Treats take the form of “berry-yummy” pastries, jams and chocolate-dipped bites along with, of course, actual strawberries available for purchase by the pint.
The popular annual event also includes a craft show, live music and entertainment, food trucks, kids’ activities, and shop specials. Bonus: Strawberry-themed food and drink specials are available across the village’s restaurants and eateries throughout May.
Where: Peddler's Village, 100 Peddlers Village, Lahaska, PA
Each year, about 40,000 runners come to Philadelphia from across the country and the world to partake in the largest and most popular 10-mile race in the nation — the annual Independence Blue Cross Broad Street Run.
As all those athletes run, thousands of spectators form a street party of support as they gather along the route to cheer on friends, family and strangers with music, noisemakers and witty signs.
Everything kicks off at 7 a.m. at Broad and Fisher streets in North Philadelphia, with the race finishing at The Navy Yard.
Where: Broad Street from Fisher Avenue to the Navy Yard, Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
DIY’ers rejoice! The Chestnut Hill Home + Garden Festival returns with more than 300 home, garden, vintage/collectible and artisanal vendors lining Germantown Avenue (from 8100 to 8600), between Rex and Willow Grove avenues.
Shop for your spring and summer project needs or gather inspo from experts and artisans during live demonstrations in the festival’s Makers Village. The family-friendly streetfest also has live music, food and beverages (including decadent sweet treats!), dedicated activities for the kiddos, and plenty of Chestnut Hill shops and eateries to explore as you stroll.
Where: Germantown Avenue between Rex Avenue and Willow Grove Avenue, Rex Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
One of the region’s most unusual beer events returns to Sly Fox Brewing Company‘s Tastin’ Room in Pottstown.
The annual Bock Fest & Goat Race benefit starts with live music, a goat parade and a stein hoist competition before 50-or-so speedy goats hit the track for a 90-minute race to determine which gets the honor of having its name adorn the day’s special Maibock, tapped after the race.
Note: You’ll need cash to buy Bock Fest tickets, the currency for food, beverages and merchandise. BYO as ATMS on site can get crowded. Advanced tickets required.
Where: Sly Fox Brewery & Tastin' Room, 331 Circle of Progress Drive, Pottstown, PA
Escape to a magical, Mexican dreamscape as contemporary acrobatic circus group Cirque du Soleil brings Luzia to the Big Top at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks.
Enjoy dazzling costumes and colors as circus stars seemingly defy gravity with aerial acrobatics, juggling and freestyle street dancing set to the sounds of Mexico with cumbia, norteño and marimba providing the soundtrack. Bonus: See the troupe’s new water features, brought on tour for the first time.
Tickets are required, with VIP features like drinks, food, backstage tours and meet-the-artist options available with upgrades.
Where: The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center & Fairgrounds, 100 Station Avenue, Oaks, PA
Opens Friday, May 8, 2026
In 1751, Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond founded Pennsylvania Hospital to treat Philadelphia’s poorest residents, free of charge. Their legacy lives on at the nation’s oldest hospital, now planning to open a museum on the historic campus.
The Pennsylvania Hospital Museum transforms the historic Pine Building into a series of galleries showcasing the evolution of modern medicine and the hospital’s long legacy of care, having treated patients from the American Revolution through today.
Where: Pennsylvania Hospital Museum, 800 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA
All late spring and summer, Longwood Gardens’ glorious fountains jet to life across its Kennett Square campus during the attraction’s annual Festival of Fountains.
Daily Main Fountain Garden Performances start at 11:15 a.m. and run every two hours throughout the day, featuring fountains with 1,719 jets soaring as high as 175 feet. Over in the Open Air Theatre, catch a bonus 5-minute show starting at 10:15, running every two hours.
Weekend evenings bring dazzling displays of color at the spectacular Illuminated Fountain Performances set to a rotating list of musical selections.
Need a last-minute gift for mom? Head right on over to the annual rain-or-shine Spring Art Star Craft Bazaar for the one-weekend-only market at Cherry Street Pier featuring handcrafted wares from dozens of vendors. Expect crowds at this popular free event, which saw about 10,000 shoppers last year.
Visitors can also enjoy free event totes — 75 are given out at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day — make-and-take activities, a full cash bar, and food from Philly Taco, Tokio Sushi Truck and Irv’s Ice Cream. Pets on leashes are welcome.
Where: Cherry Street Pier, 121 N. Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA
Drawing more than 15,000 spectators annually for over 20 years, New Hope Celebrates PrideFest welcomes visitors from both sides of the Delaware for one of the nation’s earliest Pride events of the year.
The celebration’s feature event — the annual Pride Parade (Saturday, May 16, 2026) — begins in Lambertville, New Jersey and then traverses the bridge into New Hope, Pennsylvania. Spectators can expect to see a one-hundred-foot Rainbow Equality Flag, marching bands and floats. The afternoon continues with Pride Fair featuring vendors, games and food, outdoor PrideFest Live concert, and Best Cocktail Contest.
Where: Various locations including Delaware Canal State Park, 39 New Street, New Hope, PA
Honor the women in your life with the annual Mother’s Day Gospel Celebration concert at Temple University’s Liacouras Center, featuring some of gospel music’s biggest names.
Celebrate and praise those special moms, daughters, matriarchs and mother figures with gospel acts including Anthony Brown & Group Therapy, Maurette Brown Clark, Jokia, Kierra Sheard-Kelly, The Group Fire, John P. Kee, and Eddie Levert.
Where: The Liacouras Center, 1776 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
The 2026 PGA Championship, one of professional golf’s four major tournaments that make up the Grand Slam, crowns its new champion at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Delaware County, on its par-70, 7,237-yard course.
2026 marks the first time a Philadelphia-area club has hosted the championship since Gary Player captured the 1962 event, also held at Aronimink. Past PGA Championship winners have included Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Vijay Singh and Phil Mickelson.
Where: Aronimink Golf Club, 3600 Saint Davids Road, Newtown Square, PA
This May, Broadway’s longest-running musical brings the razzle-dazzle of Chicago’s Jazz Age to Philly, complete with murder, mayhem and all that jazz, part of Ensemble Arts’ 2025-26 Broadway Philadelphia series. Celebrating its 28th anniversary this year, Chicago has racked up numerous accolades, including six Tony Awards, a Grammy and two Olivier Awards.
One of just two Shubert Organization venues outside of New York City, the Forrest Theatre bears the name of Edwin Forrest, a 19th-century Shakespearean actor and Philadelphia native.
Where: Forrest Theatre, 1114 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
The Brewerytown, Francisville, Spring Garden and Fairmount communities come together once again to host the annual Girard Avenue Street Fest outdoor festival. Serving the Park to Broad Arts & Business District, the free-to-attend family event takes place along West Girard Avenue between College Avenue and 29th Street.
The fete features over 100 retail vendors and service providers, food vendors serving the best bites from Brewerytown restaurants, games, live local bands, and a dedicated kids zone.
Where: West Girard Avenue between College Avenue and 29th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Hosted annually by Philly’s famous century-old curb market, the South 9th Street Italian Market Festival offers a boisterous weekend of food, art and music, and a celebration of the diverse cultures in the neighborhood.
The event includes over 100 craft vendors, live music on three stages, the Procession of Saints parade, the John Marzano Half Ball Tournament, the very-Philly greased-pole-climbing contest and, of course, delectable cuisine up and down the Italian Market’s seven full blocks, with great deals on homemade sausages, decadent cannoli, imported cheeses, cappuccino, fresh pasta and more.
Where: South 9th Street Italian Market, Philadelphia, PA
For Jewish American Heritage Month in May, Philly celebrates the sounds of the Jewish diaspora with the first-ever Philly Jewish Music Festival.
Headlined by Grammy Award-winning artist Matisyahu, the day-long fest showcases a diverse slate of international, national and local performers, spanning hip-hop, rock, and Mizrahi, Sephardic and Klezmer musical traditions.
Hosted by comedian Eitan Levine, the day’s festivities also include comedy sets, children’s programming, audience activations and more.
Where: 2300 Arena, 2300 S. Swanson Street, Philadelphia, PA
From Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks comes this poetic drama from The Wilma Theater’s HotHouse ensemble that examines American history through the lens of a Black gravedigger named the “Founding Father,” an Abraham Lincoln impersonator who invites tourists to reenact his assassination.
Lindsay Smiling directs the play, which interrogates the ways we document American history, focusing on themes of identity and race. The show kicks off with pay-what-you-Wilma pricing for previews and offers post-show discussions, a relaxed performance and more.
Where: The Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
An annual equine tradition dating back to 1896, the beloved Devon Horse Show remains the oldest and largest outdoor multi-breed horse competition in the nation. Held at Chester County’s famous Devon Show Grounds, the pageant features equestrian disciplines, open-air exhibitions and events, including a dog show and Memorial Day tribute.
Since 1919, the old-fashioned Devon Country Fair has taken place alongside the competition, traditionally featuring pop-up restaurants and plenty of fair food stands, boutique shopping and souvenir vendors, an art gallery, and a Midway featuring a Ferris wheel and carousel.
Where: Devon Show Grounds, 23 Dorset Road, Devon, PA
Tucked away in Northwest Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood grows the oldest rose garden in America (still in its original layout). Most of the heirloom roses growing in Wyck’s historic garden flower only once a year, with the Celebration of the Roses happening during peak bloom.
The free festival features garden tours that encourage visitors to drink in the amazingly nostalgic smell that old roses exude, along with local vendors, pay-as-you-go food and drink, a plant sale, and tours of the oldest home in Germantown, where notable figures like Marquis de Lafayette once visited.
Where: Wyck, 6026 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Film buffs and fans of Latino culture celebrate cinematic grandeur from established and emerging Latino filmmakers at the annual Philadelphia Latino Film Festival (PLFF). As usual, the lineup includes feature films, shorts, animations, web series and documentaries.
Other events include workshops, discussions and the annual LOLA Awards, which honor filmmaking achievements in the Latino creative community. Keep an eye on the PLFF website for updates on titles, schedules and locations, which include venues throughout the city.
Where: Locations TBA, Philadelphia, PA
The beloved coming-of-age tale, first featured in S.E. Hinton’s classic novel and later a Francis Ford Coppola film, has become Broadway’s hottest new musical. This May and June, The Outsiders comes to the Academy of Music as part of Ensemble Arts’ 2026 Broadway lineup.
Shortly after opening on Broadway in 2024, the musical won four Tony Awards, including Best Musical. See Ponyboy, Johnny and the other outsiders transform the stage into 1967 Tulsa, Oklahoma, as they struggle for acceptance and battle rival gangs.
With the nation’s Semiquincentennial celebration well underway, what better moment to look back at the last two-and-a-half centuries of American life and ask, “What now?”
Enter: ArtPhilly. The goal? A five-week arts and culture festival that answers that question through more than 30 experiences. The multidisciplinary arts and culture festival makes all of Philadelphia a stage, shining the spotlight on the city’s creative community with an impressive slate of thought-provoking performances, exhibitions and other artistic programming.
What Now: 2026 challenges artists and audiences to imagine what the future holds for both our city and country.
Where: Various locations including The Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
Part of Penn Live Arts’ America Unfinished series, Martha Graham Dance Company celebrates 100 years of dance with a jam-packed performance featuring the work Night Journey, along with the Philadelphia premieres of Frontier and En Masse, both invoking 250 years of American Independence.
Bonus: Catch the world premiere of in case of fire, speak, part of ArtPhilly’s What Now: 2026 festival (see above) featuring PHILADANCO dancers. In the new work, choreographer Tommie-Waheed Evans crafts a response to Martha Graham’s landmark American Document, with new music infused with archival materials.
Where: Penn Live Arts, 3680 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
Fan Expo returns to the Pennsylvania Convention Center for another year, honoring all things genre, from sci-fi, horror and gaming to comics, anime and cosplay.
Expect plenty of panels, workshops, screening rooms, red carpets, trivia competitions, fan group meetups and a quarter-million square feet of exhibitor space featuring creators, independent artists and game developers.
The event also welcomes a slew of celeb guests this year, including Elijah Wood, Jonathan Frakes, Corey Feldman, Bonnie Wright, Martha Plimpton and more (scheduled to appear), with available photo ops, autographs and Q&As (separate charges).
Where: Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
Esperanza Arts Center presents a world premiere multidisciplinary experience honoring Puerto Rico’s bomba and plena music and dance traditions, modeled after the island’s popular annual street party.
Part of the center’s slate of events celebrating America’s 250th birthday, the Festival de la Calle de San Sebastián en Filadelfia showcases the work of Tony Mendez and Los Bomberos de la Calle with an immersive experience in which the percussion has a musical conversation with vibrantly dressed dancers. The musical folk traditions of bomba and plena have roots in Puerto Rico’s ancient Indigenous culture, but have been experiencing a resurgence.
Where: Esperanza Arts Center, 4261 N. 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA
With the city’s deep history in soul, rap and hip-hop, it’s no wonder Philadelphia hosts one of the nation’s most prestigious hip-hop and R&B festivals. The annual Roots Picnic heads to Belmont Plateau this year for a star-studded weekend of music featuring JAŸ-Z, The Roots, Erykah Badu, Kehlani, Brandy, Black Thought and so many more.
Belmont Plateau offers great skyline views for the outdoor festival, held rain or shine. Tickets start at $250 for the weekend, with options to level up the experience. Food, drink and merch remain pay as you go. Pro tip: BYO blanket, as lawn chairs are a no-no.
Where: Belmont Mansion Drive, Philadelphia, PA
Dates vary by performance
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, 3601 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
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Franklin Music Hall, 421 N. 7th Street, Philadelphia, PA
The Met Philadelphia, 858 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
Miller Theater, 250 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 300 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
Independence Seaport Museum, 211 S. Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA
Mid to late May is the peak northward migration for birds on their way from wintering in the tropics to breeding grounds further north. That makes it the best time for birders and bird enthusiasts to get out and enjoy the show.
Get the best views of warblers, thrushes, flycatchers, tanagers, buntings, grosbeaks, orioles, vireos and other voyaging avians at parks and preserves like John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, Pennypack Park, Fort Washington State Park, Bartram’s Garden, Cobbs Creek and across Fairmount Park.
Where: Various locations including the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, 8601 Lindbergh Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA
Philly brew, beats and bites lovers have waited all year to get outdoors and enjoy the streets and neighborhoods that come alive in May as a plethora of outdoor music festivals, beer fests and food festivals begin the season.
Among the bevy of annual May fests are Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival, South 9th Street Italian Market Festival and New Hope Celebrates PrideFest, plus tons of neighborhood fairs and community fêtes across the region.
Where: Various locations including Washington Square, Philadelphia, PA
April’s showers portend May’s flowers, making the month the perfect time to get out and enjoy colorful mid-spring post-bloom floriferous shows at the region’s myriad gardens and arboreta.
Some fantastic city locations from which to view Mother Nature’s spring display include Morris Arboretum, Bartram’s Garden and Awbury Arboretum. And in the countryside, take in the wonder at Barnes Arboretum at Saint Joseph’s University, Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College, Chanticleer, Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, Tyler Arboretum, Peace Valley Lavender Farm or Longwood Gardens — including the ongoing Spring Blooms festival.
Where: Various locations including Chanticleer, 786 Church Road, Wayne, PA
Philadelphia’s 11,000 acres of parkland — including Fairmount Park, Wissahickon Valley Park and Pennypack Park — make for the perfect spots to enjoy May’s springtime temps. The city proper offers more than 166 miles of hiking and biking trails, with over 500 miles of trails across the countryside at places like Ridley Creek State Park in Delaware County.
For urban hikers, the Delaware River Trail offers four scenic city-side miles from Pier 70 to Penn Treaty Park, and the Schuylkill River Trail stretches from South Philly, through Center City, out to Manayunk and continues into Montgomery County.
Where: Various locations including the Schuylkill River Trail, Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphians love outdoor dining spaces and streateries, which makes May a favorite month to kiss those winter chills goodbye and get out to enjoy some sunny alfresco dining.
Across the city, restaurants, bistros, cafés and diners offer open-air seating at patios, street enclosures, rooftop decks and parklets. Check out spots like Suraya’s Garden, LMNO, Cira Green’s Sunset Social, Independence Beer Garden, Liberty Point at Penn’s Landing, and a.kitchen+bar.
Where: Various locations including Suraya, 1528 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Honor Philadelphia’s Asian American, Pacific Islander American and Native Hawaiian community during AAPI Heritage Month in May.
Enjoy Asian-owned restaurants like Nok Suntaranon’s Kalaya, Ellen Yin’s Fork or Jesse Ito’s Royal Izakaya — all James Beard Award winners. Celebrate the arts with the Asian Arts Initiative and Philadelphia Asian Performing Artists. Discover collections at the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Department of East Asian Art and Penn Museum’s Asia Galleries. Or explore Philadelphia’s Chinatown, one of the world’s oldest and largest, and its 40-foot-tall Friendship Gate.
Where: Various locations including Asian Arts Initiative, 1219 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA
May is Jewish American Heritage Month, and Philadelphia has been an important Jewish cultural city since the first Jewish immigrants arrived in 1701, and now as one of the world’s largest Jewish population centers.
Visit Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History for events all month, along with its 30,000-object-strong collection celebrating the Jewish experience in America. This May also marks the debut of the first-ever Philly Jewish Music Festival (see above).
Or tour the region’s important Jewish landmarks, like the circa-1740 Mikveh Israel Cemetery, 115-year-old B’nai Abraham (Philadelphia’s first purpose-built synagogue) or Elkins Park’s Beth Sholom — the only synagogue designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Where: Various locations including Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, 101 S. Independence Mall East, Philadelphia, PA
The weather in May in Philadelphia is, well, springlike. At the start of the month, daytime high temperatures run around 70 degrees Fahrenheit with overnight lows around 50 degrees. But by the end of May, those average highs jump to 78 degrees, bottoming out at night near 60 degrees. The record high for May came in 1991 at 97 degrees.
May offers around eight hours of sunshine per day with moderate rainfall averaging a little over 3 inches. Brief scattered pre-season thunderstorms are relatively common, especially toward the second half of the month.
With reasonable temps and open-air events starting in earnest, May is one of the best times of the year to enjoy Philadelphia’s dining, bar and nightlife scene.
The month sees outdoor, street and rooftop dining spots spring back to life across the region for alfresco dining, along with many bars and breweries opening the gates to their beer gardens for the season and a slew of food and drink festivals on the calendar. And fave (or soon to be fave) eateries both indoors and out introduce new spring menus.
Many locals would target the May sports scene as one of Philly’s best as Phillies fever takes over. Baseball’s boys in red pinstripes have center stage to themselves as the football and arena sport seasons take their breaks, with a full month of games at Citizens Bank Park in perfect baseball weather.
Not to be outdone, Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union fight for early-season dominance at beautiful Subaru Park in Chester, while prestige events like the Independence Blue Cross Broad Street Run and Devon Horse Show make their annual appearance.
Philly’s epic year of sporting events also brings the 108th PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club back to the area for the first time in decades.
Surround yourself with the joy of good eats, good drink, good music and good company outdoors along the blacktops and sidewalks of Philly neighborhoods as street festival season starts in earnest.
The city has been waiting all winter to enjoy the plethora of seasonal community fests that commence in May, celebrating neighborhoods across the region. Check out annual favorites like Girard Avenue Street Fest, Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival and the delicious South 9th Street Italian Market Festival.
Philly is a great destination any month, but May is one of the best — before the summer travel season begins and the end of the school year.
Pre-summer temps are pleasant with low humidity as many city outdoor attractions begin to open for the summer, and outdoor festivals and beer gardens get rolling.
It’s Philly’s biggest year yet!
Make the most of it by booking the Visit Philly Overnight Package, which comes with free hotel parking and complimentary tickets to some of the most popular attractions in each of Greater Philadelphia’s five counties including Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition at The Franklin Institute, the Mercer Museum in Bucks County, Longwood Gardens in Chester County, the Brandywine Museum of Art in Delaware County and Elmwood Park Zoo in Montgomery County.
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