See the latest performing arts productions and theater happenings opening across Houston in January 2026.
As I was putting this list together, I was delighted to see that the month starts and ends with fairy tales on Houston stages.
This month, Houston audiences can catch Houstonian Darrell T. Joe on stage in Beauty and the Beast, when the national tour rolls through the Hobby Center. It’s always fun to see home town talent succeeding nationally.
I’ve lost count of how often I’ve seen the opera Hansel & Gretel. And I can’t wait to see it again at the end of this month. It’s got a stellar cast and a glorious score. I’m equally excited for Silent Night, which has a backstory I’ve always loved.
In between, catch a performance that takes audiences into the mind of the creative process, see a sensory-friendly performance of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, hear new works that center on the African-American experience, and a whole lot more.
Go see live performing arts, Houston!
Top Performing Arts & Theater Shows in Houston: January 2026
Disney’s Beauty & the Beast: The Musical at The Hobby Center | Tuesday, January 6 to Sunday, January 18 – The 30th anniversary production of the beloved musical brings new grandeur and romance to the story of Belle, who trades her freedom for her father’s, only to be imprisoned in a beast’s magical castle. Songs you know by heart, like “Be Our Guest” and “Beauty and the Beast,” make for an enchanting experience of theater. Bonus: Houston’s Darrell T. Joe is in the ensemble. $48+. Times vary. Get tickets.
ROCO Connections: Beer & Brass at Saint Arnold Brewing Company | Wednesday, January 7 – Enjoy cold brews, tasty bites and spirited music as the orchestra’s much-loved tradition returns to the beer hall. It’s a chance to hear great brass arrangements, engage with the players and meet new folks. $50; $15 for ages 12 and under; $75 VIP. Taps at 6:30pm; show at 7pm. Get tickets.
Houston Symphony: Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert at Jones Hall | Friday, January 9 & Saturday, January 10 – The final episode of the original Star Wars trilogy plays live on the big screen as the orchestra plays John Williams epic score. $41+. Times vary. Get tickets.
Mr. Symphonic: Shaggy in Concert with the Houston Symphony at Jones Hall | Sunday, January 11 – The unique concert is a journey through the evolution of reggae, from its roots in mento, ska and rock steady, all the way to contemporary dance hall, enhanced by Shaggy’s dynamic performance and rich storytelling, backed by the Symphony. $82+. 6:30pm. Get tickets.
Ishida Dance Company: Rara avis at Asia Society Texas Center | Thursday, January 15 to Sunday, January 18 – Nationally recognized in Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch”, Ishida Dance presents a highly physical, visually stunning, and emotionally resonant program. The story follows a singer who struggles with imposter syndrome as she returns to stage after taking a hiatus. $25. Times vary. Get tickets.
Performing Arts Houston: Ballet Hispánico New York at Wortham Center | Friday, January 16 & Saturday, January 17 – Experience a performance of choreographer Gustavo Ramírez Sansano’s Carmen.maquia, inspired by Bizet’s legendary opera. Expect expressive movement and unrelenting energy. $39+. 7:30pm. Get tickets.
3rd Annual Mix-Match: A Mixed Arts Festival at MATCH | Saturday – Proving popular in its debut year, Mix-MATCH showcases 20+ local performances by small and mid-sized arts companies, groups, and musicians, plus interactive exhibitions and food trucks throughout. $40 for an all festival pass with 2 drink tickets; $15 for a single performance. 2:30pm to 10pm. Performance times vary. Get tickets.
DaCamera: D’est en musique (From the East) at The Hobby Center | Saturday, January 17 & Sunday, January 18 – French-American cellist Sonia Wieder-Atherton and DaCamwera artistic director and pianist Sarah Rothenberg bring Wieder-Atherton and filmmaker Chantal Akerman’s D’est En Musique to the U.S, in conjunction with a retrospective of Akerman’s films at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The performance features works by Ravel, Rachmaninoff, Boris Tchaikovsky, Chopin and more. $48.50+. Times vary. Get tickets.
Shabach Enterprise: Fade to Black Reading Series at MATCH | Thursday, January 22 to Sunday, January 25 – The popular series returns, with a vibrant lineup of new short plays that explore the depth, humor, tension, and beauty of the African American experience. This is an opportunity to see new and developing scripts. $30+. Times vary. Get tickets.
Musiqa & NobleMotion Dance: Free Rein at MATCH | Friday, January 23 to Sunday, January 25 – In a performance that blends dance, multimedia design, and cutting-edge neuro-engineering, audiences can witness creativity as it happens, gaining insight into what happens in the mind of an artist. Pay-What-You-Can. Times vary. Get tickets.
Houston Grand Opera: Silent Night at Wortham Center | Friday, January 23 to Sunday, February 8 – Based on the Christmas truce in 1914 at the height of World War I, the opera explores the lives of those at the front and at home. It won the Pulitzer Prize in 2011, and seeing it live has been on my personal bucket list since I saw a televised performance of the work. It offers beautiful music and a powerful message about peace in divisive times. $25+. Times vary.
Real Women Have Curves at Alley Theatre | Friday, January 23 to Sunday, February 15 – The comedy, which inspired the film of the same name starring America Ferrera, is the story of Latina women navigating the pressures of body image, cultural expectations and immigration. As they work to meet an impossible and looming deadline for an order of dresses, they reveal their own hopes and struggles. $53+. Times vary. Get tickets.
The Bluest Eye at The Ensemble Theatre | Friday, January 23 to Sunday, February 22 – This adaptation of Toni Morrison’s debut novel explores the life of Pecola Bredlove, growing up in Ohio in the 1940s. All she wants is to be loved and to have Shirley Temple’s blue eyes. The play contains mature themes and is rated PG-15. $35+. Times vary. Get tickets.
Mercury Chamber Orchestra: Relaxed & Sensory Inclusive Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at The Hobby Center | Sunday, January 25 – The orchestra performs Vivaldi’s dazzling, expressive work, in a performance that provides modified lighting in audience spaces, designated quiet and activity areas in the lobby, encouragement to move and enter/exit as needed and other accommodations to provide a safe and welcoming concert experience. $15+. 1pm. Get tickets.
Water for Elephants at The Hobby Center | Tuesday, January 27 to Sunday, February 1 – The musical, based on the best-selling novel, is the story of a young man who jumps aboard a moving train, only to find himself part of a traveling circus. Expect a feast for the senses in a show critics called “thrilling” and “gorgeously imaginative.” $55+. Times vary. Get tickets.
A.D. Players: Crime & Punishment: 2026 at The George Theater | Wednesday, January 28 to Sunday, February 22 – The modern retelling of Dostoyevsky’s classic novel explores what happens when Rodya kills the pawnbroker he’s deeply indebted to, and the broker’s disabled sister. As he navigates his own guilt, he’s pursued by a detective, determined to bring him to justice. $25+. Times vary. Get tickets.
Live at the Founders Club: Modern Folk, Multicultural Roots at The Hobby Center | Friday, January 30 & Saturday, January 31 – The American Patchwork Quartet stars in this evening that brings new life to beloved American folk songs. $35+. 7:30pm. Get tickets.
Houston Grand Opera: Hansel & Gretel at Wortham Center | Friday, January 30 to Sunday, February 15 – Humperdinck’s lush score sets the tone for this opera, based on the classic fairy tale of two children who get lost in the woods and will need all their cunning and courage to escape from a witch. $31+. Times vary. Get tickets.
Closing This Month: January 2026
There’s still time to catch a few remaining, non-holiday shows that debuted in December before they’re gone.
Friday, January 9, 2026
Ars Lyrica: Ring in the Peace Concert in the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern
Sunday, January 11, 2026
The Garden Theatre: Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical at MATCH
Drunk Christmas Carol: A Boozy Holiday Comedy at the Emerald Theatre
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