Each summer, hundreds of thousands of people are drawn to the splendor of Saratoga Spa State Park. It’s not just Saratoga Springs’ famed natural mineral springs and geysers that beckon them there, however, but the soul-stirring performances at Saratoga Performing Arts Center. With its distinctive wooden amphitheater and sloping lawn that accommodates just over 25,000, SPAC feels at once expansive and intimate—offering a magnetic combo of world-class performing arts under a canopy of soaring pines.

Located just a mile from downtown Saratoga Springs, SPAC stands among the country’s elite concert venues, with a summer lineup to match—but with room to relax, explore, and connect with nature. The 2025 season brings together its renowned residencies from the New York City Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Saratoga Jazz Festival, and more for an unforgettable summer of performances.

“SPAC has become a destination stage for many of the greatest artists in the world and our 2025 season is no exception. From Cynthia Erivo to Renée Fleming, to our incredible New York City Ballet dancers, this year’s programming offers something for everyone,” says Elizabeth Sobol, SPAC’s chief executive officer.

A Season of Excellence and Delight

The 48th Annual Saratoga Jazz Festival kicks off the season June 28–29 with two days of genre-crossing music and 22 acts performing across two stages. Headliners include four-time Grammy winner Gary Clark Jr. and the electrifying Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue. Acclaimed jazz vocalists Gregory Porter and Cassandra Wilson bring emotional depth, while next-generation stars like jazz and funk guitarist Cory Wong; jazz, rock, and funk vocalist Veronica Swift; and Keyon Harold, the “future of trumpet” (Downbeat), push the boundaries of their genres.

Between sets, festivalgoers can also browse a fine arts and crafts fair, grab something tasty from a diversity of food vendors, or just sit back and relax on their own lawn chairs and blankets with homemade snacks. 

July 9–12, the full company of the New York City Ballet arrives for its 59th summer residency at SPAC. This year’s program nods to the past and future with a return of “Coppélia”—a whimsical, large-cast story ballet that had its world premiere at SPAC in 1974—and a SPAC debut of “Mystic Familiar,” a new work by Justin Peck set to music by Dan Deacon. The repertory also includes timeless classics like George Balanchine’s “Stravinsky Violin Concerto” and Jerome Robbins’s “The Four Seasons,” set to Verdi’s vivid score.

The residency offers accessible ticketing options, including “Kids in Free” extended to age 16, $40 amphitheater seats for patrons under 40, and family four-packs ($99)—an invitation to make ballet a summer tradition.

From August 6–23, the Philadelphia Orchestra returns to its summer home at SPAC with a three-week residency that balances canonical masterworks with innovative premieres and appearances from celebrated names. The season opens with three performances led by conductor Marin Alsop, including the ever-popular “Tchaikovsky Spectacular,” Holst’s “The Planets,” and a show of Gershwin and Bernstein standards. 

Renowned vocalists from across the sonic spectrum will also make appearances. Grammy-winning soprano Renée Fleming returns for an evening of arias and works from her Voice of Nature album (August 15); Wicked’s Cynthia Erivo makes her SPAC debut with Broadway hits and soul classics (August 22); and Gen Z darling Laufey brings a genre-defying “Night at the Symphony” (August 9). Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin leads two standout programs: a performance of Verdi’s “Requiem” with stars from the Met (August 14), and an evening of Stravinsky, Rachmaninoff, and William Grant Still’s rarely performed Second Symphony (August 13).

Other highlights include Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, Copland’s Appalachian Spring, and genre-bending trio Time for Three’s new concerto by contemporary composer Mason Bates. Families and friends will also delight in SPAC’s beloved film concerts, which include screenings of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Back to the Future, with the orchestra performing the scores live under the stars.