Birmingham arts: Roll Call at the art museum to Jan. 17, Historically Black at BCRI to Dec. 12, the symphony's Halloween show Oct. 30 and Figaro Nov. 19-22.

Two big exhibitions anchor the fall: Roll Call: Two Hundred Years of Black American Art at the Birmingham Museum of Art and Historically Black, on Alabama’s 14 HBCUs, at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. The Alabama Symphony plays Halloween, Brahms and Elgar programs before its holiday pops night on Dec. 1.

Last checked Oct. 25, 2026. This page covers the next six weeks and is retitled each month. Every listing links to the organizer or venue; confirm times there before you go. For everything else, see things to do this month and this weekend.

Exhibitions now showing

  • Roll Call: Two Hundred Years of Black American Art, Birmingham Museum of Art, 2000 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd., through Sunday, Jan. 17, 2027. A ticketed survey of Black American artists across two centuries; tickets are $19.71, with 50% off for members. Museum exhibitions.
  • Also at the art museum: Wall to Wall: Christopher Myers in the main lobby (to July 11, 2027), Disruption! in the Richard F. Howard Gallery (to May 2027), and two collection shows opening this month and running to April 2027: Seventy-Five Years of Collecting European Prints and Drawings, with works by Rembrandt, Dali and Kollwitz, and Reading the Room in the American Gallery. The museum closes early, at 3 p.m., on Wednesday, Oct. 28. Museum exhibitions.
  • Historically Black, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, through Saturday, Dec. 12. An exhibition on all 14 of Alabama’s historically Black colleges and universities, co-curated with the schools. See our story on the exhibition. BCRI.
  • John Douglas Powers and Ty Smith, Space One Eleven, 2407 2nd Ave. N., through Sunday, Nov. 8. Kinetic sculpture by Powers and drawings by Smith, a Birmingham artist. Free; open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and by appointment. Space One Eleven.
  • Photography from La Finca, Samford University Art Gallery, Homewood, about five miles south, Tuesday, Nov. 10, to Thursday, Nov. 19. A student exhibition of photographs from Costa Rica. Samford arts calendar.
  • Art and Design Senior Exhibition, Samford University Art Gallery, Thursday, Dec. 3, to Saturday, Dec. 12. Samford arts calendar.

Theater and dance

  • Alice by Heart, Samford University Theatre, Bolding Studio, Homewood: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, through Saturday, Oct. 31, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. Samford arts calendar.
  • Little Red’s Most Unusual Day, 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, UAB Alys Stephens Center. Opera Birmingham’s family opera on the Little Red Riding Hood story, set to scenes from Offenbach and Rossini. Pay what you choose. Alys Stephens Center.
  • Flora Meets a Bee, Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Wee Folks Theatre, 10 a.m. Saturdays, Nov. 7, 14 and 21. A 40-minute show for ages 4 to 8, with Spanish woven in. The theater has changed these dates from its earlier advertising. BCT.
  • The Marriage of Figaro, Samford Opera, Harrison Theatre, Homewood: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, through Saturday, Nov. 21, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22. Samford arts calendar.
  • Santa’s Boots, Birmingham Children’s Theatre MainStage, opens at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, with more shows Dec. 12, 18 and 19. The world premiere of Gloria Bond Clunie’s holiday play, 75 minutes, for all ages. BCT.
  • Coming next: Alabama Ballet’s George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, BJCC Concert Hall, Dec. 12-22. Alabama Ballet.

Concerts and classical

  • After Dark: A Symphony of Shivers, 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, Jemison Concert Hall, UAB Alys Stephens Center. The Alabama Symphony’s Halloween program, with music from Harry Potter, Psycho, Wicked and The Rocky Horror Picture Show; costumes welcome. $36.50 to $95.50. ASO.
  • Festival of Choirs, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, Reid Chapel, Samford University. Samford arts calendar.
  • Brahms Symphony No. 2 with Tessa Lark, 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, and Saturday, Nov. 7, Jemison Concert Hall. $36 to $90. ASO.
  • Alabama Symphony Youth Orchestra fall concert, 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, Jemison Concert Hall. Free. ASO.
  • ClassicalMasters: Bach, Bartok and Barber, 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, Avon Theater. $42.50. ASO.
  • Elgar’s Enigma Variations and Vaughan Williams, 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, and Saturday, Nov. 21, Jemison Concert Hall. $36 to $90. ASO.
  • Sleigh Bells and Symphony: A Holiday Classic, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, Jemison Concert Hall. $25, general admission. ASO.
  • Jazz Band Christmas Concert, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, Brock Recital Hall, Samford University. Samford arts calendar.

Classes and workshops

  • Drawing to Know, 9 a.m. to noon Friday, Nov. 13, Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Road. A class on drawing as a way of seeing and recording the natural world. Botanical Gardens.

Regular events

  • Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts (AEIVA), UAB, 1221 10th Ave. S.: open noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with free drop-in tours every Saturday. AEIVA.
  • Space One Eleven galleries: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, free. Space One Eleven.

Send us your event

Running a gallery opening, concert or show in Birmingham? Send us the details with the date, time, venue, price and a link, and a photo if you have one.

Related: Halloween events, holiday lights and Christmas events and live music and nightlife.

Frequently asked questions

What exhibitions are on in Birmingham in fall 2026?

Roll Call: Two Hundred Years of Black American Art is at the Birmingham Museum of Art through Jan. 17, 2027. Historically Black, on Alabama’s 14 HBCUs, is at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute through Dec. 12. Space One Eleven shows John Douglas Powers and Ty Smith through Nov. 8, with free admission.

How much is Roll Call at the Birmingham Museum of Art?

The museum lists exhibition tickets at $19.71, and members get 50% off exhibition tickets.

When is the Alabama Symphony’s Halloween concert?

After Dark: A Symphony of Shivers is at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, in Jemison Concert Hall at UAB’s Alys Stephens Center. Tickets are $36.50 to $95.50, and the orchestra invites the audience to come in costume.

What children’s theater is on in Birmingham this fall?

Birmingham Children’s Theatre stages Flora Meets a Bee, for ages 4 to 8, at 10 a.m. on Saturdays Nov. 7, 14 and 21, and opens the holiday play Santa’s Boots at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5.