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Met Live Arts 2026–27 Season: Lykke Li Opens, Sarah Jones Programs Site-Specific Performances

institutional · 2026-07-31

The 2026–2027 Met Live Arts season has been unveiled by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, showcasing a blend of music, dance, and site-specific performances. Kicking off the season on September 16 at the Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium will be Lykke Li, with tickets rapidly selling out. Curated by Sarah Jones, who began her role in August 2025, the lineup features works that engage with the museum's collection, exhibition-related performances, and collaborative projects. Venues such as the Fuentidueña Chapel and the Temple of Dendur will host artists including Jonny Greenwood, Rebirth Brass Band, and St. Vincent. Additionally, a new gallery opening will coincide with the 'Guitar Icons' series. The Met's tradition of live performances dates back to the early 1900s.

Key facts

  • Lykke Li performs at the Met on September 16, 2026, opening the Met Live Arts season with her album The Afterparty.
  • The concert sold out within days of its announcement.
  • Sarah Jones is the Lulu C. and Anthony W. Wang Head of Live Arts, joining the Met in August 2025.
  • Jones previously served as Chief of Staff and Director of Public Programs at Gagosian.
  • Met Live Arts is part of the museum's audience engagement department, not a curatorial department.
  • The season includes performances by Jonny Greenwood, Rebirth Brass Band, New York Polyphony, Kingfish, St. Vincent, and Jason Isbell.
  • A 'Guitar Icons' series coincides with a new gallery displaying 100 of 500 donated guitars.
  • Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah will perform at the Temple of Dendur in February 2026 for Black History Month.
  • Rashaun Mitchell and Silas Riener are creating a dance work for the upcoming Krasner and Pollock exhibition.
  • David Mannes started free Great Hall concerts in 1917, drawing roughly two million visitors by 1947.
  • Met Live Arts has introduced a new visual identity for the 2026–2027 season.

Entities

Artists

  • Lykke Li
  • Jonny Greenwood
  • Rebirth Brass Band
  • New York Polyphony
  • Kingfish
  • St. Vincent
  • Jason Isbell
  • Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah
  • Rashaun Mitchell
  • Silas Riener
  • David Mannes
  • Sarah Jones
  • Ayodele Casel

Institutions

  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  • Met Live Arts
  • Gagosian
  • The Met Cloisters
  • Musical Instruments department
  • Surface
  • The Met Fifth Avenue
  • Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium

Locations

  • New York City
  • United States
  • Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium
  • The Met Cloisters
  • Temple of Dendur
  • Gallery 371
  • Great Hall
  • Fuentidueña Chapel

Sources