Where the World’s Artists Come to Create & Perform

Each season, Sarasota County's artist population heightens with renowned names arriving from across the globe to take the stage here. Whether it’s a concert by a virtuoso, a performance by an esteemed actor or an intimate talk by a creator-in-residence, Sarasota offers visitors rare access to talent typically reserved for major cultural capitals.

Here’s a look at some of the standout organizations bringing touring artists to Florida's Cultural Coast® this season—and why timing your visit around an exhibition or show might just mean the best seat in the house.

Sarasota Concert Association: Global Virtuosos, Local Stage

For more than 70 years, the Sarasota Concert Association has been quietly curating one of the most impressive classical music series in the Southeast. Each season brings world-renowned orchestras, chamber ensembles and soloists to Sarasota—often as part of limited U.S. tours.

This year’s 2025-26 Great Performers Series lineup includes performances by major symphonies and celebrated musicians between international engagements, including Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell, whose March 15th appearance draws classical music lovers from far beyond Florida. Having performed with virtually ever major orchestra in the world, Bell will now make his mark at Sarasota's iconic Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall by leading the legendary Academy of St Martin in the Fields. 

La Musica Festival: Chamber Music, Reimagined

Artistic Directors David Finckel and Wu-Han, courtesy of La Musica

Known for pairing masterful musicianship with unexpected venues, La Musica Chamber Music Festival brings chamber music out of the concert hall and into spaces that spark curiosity and conversation. Touring artists from Europe, South America and across the U.S. gather for performances that feel both elevated and refreshingly informal.

The 2025-26 Season marks La Musica's 40th anniversary, running December through April. Under the artistic direction of Wu Han, the world-renowned pianist and co-artistic director of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the six-concert series returns to the Sarasota Opera House and Riverview Performing Arts Center with performances from some of the most acclaimed chamber musicians in the world. 

One of the most buzzworthy events culminates the season on April 9th with a special world premiere at Mote SEA's new aquarium, where music and marine science intersect in a truly Sarasota-only experience. Whether you're a classical music fan or animal lover, you won't want to miss A Carnival of Endangered Wonders: A Zoological Fantasy, a whimsical new work by prolific pianist composer Michael Stephen Brown, inspired by 14 endangered species. Before the premiere, catch a Conversation with Michael Stephen Brown on February 23rd, when the composer will discuss his composition and co-commissioned work as part of the Music Mondays Series. 

Art of Performance at the Historic Asolo Theatre

Inside the Historic Asolo Theatre

The Art of Performance series at The Ringling's Historic Asolo Theatre brings a globally inspired arts season to Sarasota, showcasing multidisciplinary talent from around the world. Touring performers—often experimental and internationally recognized—take over the Gulf Coast’s most historic performance venue.

Highlights of the 2025-26 Season, running now through May, include the critically-acclaimed jazz music of Kavita Shah Quintet, innovative collaborations with pianist/composer Conrad Tao and tap dancer Caleb Teicher, the award-winning musician and scholar Jake Blount, Argentine sensation and social media star Luciano Rosso, and immersive works from interdisciplinary talents like Ahamefule J. Oluo. 

The season also includes workshops, masterclasses and opportunities to engage with artists in residency with pre-show meet-and-greets—making it a standout destination for visitors who want to experience a radical performance inside one of Sarasota’s renowned arts institutions.

Hermitage Artist Retreat: Where Art Is Still Being Written

Tucked along a quiet stretch of Manasota Key, the Hermitage Artist Retreat hosts some of today’s most compelling playwrights, visual artists, choreographers, literary greats and multidisciplinary artists—many of whom are developing new work during their Gulf Coast residency.

Visitors can attend Hermitage public programs and events, which include readings, concerts, panel discussions and site-specific performances featuring these artists before their work premieres on major stages around the world. It’s a rare behind-the-scenes look at the creative process—often with the artist just feet away.

Broadway-caliber Talent at Asolo Repertory Theatre 

Grodner and Willa Carpenter in Asolo's Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, photo by Cliff Roles

Suzanne Grodner is one of the most respected American actors gracing the Asolo Repertory Theatre stage this season, bringing national and Broadway-level talent to Sarasota audiences. A veteran of more than 80 regional productions across 45+ theaters, Grodner’s resumé includes Broadway works like Beautiful, Bye Bye Birdie and The Rose Tattoo, as well as appearances in the television series Law & Order. 

This season, she stars as the iconic sleuth Miss Jane Marple in the regional premiere of Agatha Christie’s The Mirror Crack’d, running January 21st to March 14th, 2026​. Her performance is sure to delight theatre lovers with her signature blend of heart, humor and nuanced character work. Local audiences are fortunate to witness the entire cast of this thrilling mystery—an example of the world-class talent drawn to the County’s dynamic arts scene. 

Global Icons Adorn the Walls of Sarasota Art Museum

Janet Echelman's Enfold, 2022, courtesy of the artist. Photo: Joe Fletcher 

Headlining the 2025–2026 season of Sarasota Art Museum is a legendary visual artist, nationally and internationally recognized for her merge of ancient craft and cutting-edge technology. The Janet Echelman: Radical Softness exhibition runs now through April 2026, and showcases four decades of Echelman’s ethereal sculptures and soaring abstractions—a rare retrospective tracing the acclaimed artist’s evolution from early drawings and textile work to the monumental netted sculptures that have transformed public spaces around the world. 

This year's exciting exhibition underscores the institution’s growing international influence and dialogue—making Sarasota an always-compelling stop on the global art circuit. 

A Cultural Season Worth Traveling For

Sierra Abelardo in The Lorenz Butterfly, photo by Christopher Duggan

Beyond these highlights, nearly every major arts organization in Sarasota County—from opera and ballet to jazz, theater and contemporary dance performance—welcomes touring artists throughout the season. For visitors, that means an ever-changing cultural calendar filled with moments you won’t find anywhere else in Florida.

Plan a weekend getaway around a headline performance or discover a new artist by chance—you can check out the Arts Alliance of Sarasota County's performing and visual arts calendar here for upcoming events.