5 Pittsburgh events we’re looking forward to in 2026

Welcome to 2026! Before your calendar starts filling up, make sure you save the date for these Pittsburgh exclusive events.

There's always something happening around the city - from popular annual events like Picklesburgh, restaurant week and countless musical events to comic cons and film festivals. And, use the University calendar for the latest campus happenings.

America's birthday bash

Ongoing throughout 2026

July marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and communities across the country will celebrate the nation's semiquincentennial throughout the year. Pennsylvania is no exception: Learn about the critical role the commonwealth played in the founding of the United States' democracy with Pittsburgh's Heinz History Center, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. On display is the exhibition "My America: An Illustrated Experience " and one of Allegheny County's contribution to Bells Across PA, a public art project placing commemorative bells in all of Pennsylvania's 67 counties.

The NFL touches down

April 23-25

The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off in Pittsburgh's North Side neighborhood and downtown, hosting a who's who of the country's top football league. The three-day event, free to attend, is expected to host more than half a million visitors to the city and reach more than 50 million viewers worldwide. Expect more than coaches and prospects - organizers call the NFL Draft Experience the "ultimate fan festival," with three days of musical performances, autograph sessions, immersive exhibits and games.

Art goes global

May 2, 2026-Jan. 3, 2027

Every four years, the Carnegie Museum of Art hosts the Carnegie International, a showcase of 50 world-spanning artists. Now in its 59th iteration, the exhibition - the longest-running international contemporary art exhibition in North America - includes dance performances, sculpture, paintings and immersive installations. And don't forget, a valid Pitt ID gets students free entrance to the museum during the fall and spring semesters.

Maker's mart

June 5-7, 11-14

The Three Rivers Arts Festival is a must-attend cultural celebration featuring U.S. and international musicians and visual artists. The festival also hosts a multi-block artists' marketplace, so don't miss your chance to take your own art piece home. This year, the free event is hosted at Arts Landing, a newly developed public green space overlooking the Allegheny River.

A century of Cathy

Sept. 27

Pitt's Cathedral of Learning, a National Register of Historic Places landmark and the tallest academic building in the Western Hemisphere, celebrates the 100th anniversary of its 1927 groundbreaking this year. Several celebratory events and exhibits are in the works and will be announced in the coming months - stay tuned to Pittwire for the latest, up-to-date information.

Photography courtesy of the Carnegie Museum of Art; An installation view of "untitled" (2021), from Liz Johnson Artur's exhibition "of life of love of sex of movement of hope," on display at Foam in Amsterdam in 2021-2022. Artur is among the artists selected for the 59th Carnegie International.