April 17-19, 2026

Find out what’s happening this weekend in Phoenix, where art walks, major concerts, cultural celebrations, and can’t-miss sporting events are taking over the Valley. From VIVA PHX and the Forbes Under 30 Summit to ASU Pow Wow, the Maricopa County Fair, live music, and family-friendly events, there’s no shortage of fun things to do. Explore the latest art exhibitions, cheer on your favorite teams, or plan a night out with top concerts and performances. For even more ideas, browse our full event calendar and check out our major annual events happening in 2026 here. 

We've also rounded up things to do in Phoenix this spring. Discover all the top events happening in April 2026 here. 

 

VIVA PHX

Friday through Sunday

VIVA PHX 2026 takes over downtown Phoenix with (mostly) free concerts, art, talks, culinary experiences, and community. Whether you’re local or visiting from beyond, this is your chance to experience everything that makes Phoenix special.

Downtown Phoenix

 

Forbes Under 30 Summit

Sunday

Forbes is excited to bring the 2026 Under 30 Summit to the city of Phoenix, Arizona. This spring, the organization will convene the world’s top young leaders, founders, creators, and innovators for four days filled with A-list speakers, exclusive networking opportunities, private performances, industry-focused meetups, local culinary experiences, a legendary city crawl, fulfilling community service activities, and much more.

Phoenix Convention Center

 

ASU Pow Wow

Sunday

The ASU Pow Wow honors Native American heritage as a spiritual legacy rooted in tradition, family, and respect, while featuring arts, food trucks, live music, and cultural performances. It is a meaningful time to honor the past, celebrate the future, and strengthen community as Native American families travel from across the U.S. and Canada to gather together.

Desert Financial Arena

 

Reggae Rise Up Arizona

Friday through Sunday

With multiple stages, world-class production, immersive art installations, and interactive activities, Reggae Rise Up Arizona is set to be an unforgettable experience. Festivalgoers will enjoy an array of local craft and food vendors, beverage stations, and plenty of space to relax under the desert sun while soaking in the sounds of top-tier artists. 2026 lineup includes: Dirty Heads, Rebelution, Soja, Slightly Stoopid, Stephen Marley, and many more.

Tempe Beach Park

 

Maricopa County Fair

Friday through Sunday

Head down to the Arizona State Fair Grounds & Coliseum for the 2026 Maricopa County Fair!

Arizona Exposition State Fair

 

"Harmony Balancing Past and Present" An Indigenous Sonoran Desert Experience

Saturday

Harmony is an immersive Indigenous Sonoran Desert experience where guests taste, learn, and connect to the heritage of the Ancestral Sonoran Desert people. This fundraiser supports a permanent gallery exhibition at S’edav Va’aki Museum.

The event features Sonoran Desert foods, Arizona wine, exclusive cocktails, auctions, and entertainment by a local Indigenous artist.

S'edav Va'aki Museum (formerly Pueblo Grande Museum)

 

Polish Festival

Saturday and Sunday

The Polish Festival will feature delicious Polish cuisine and refreshing imported Polish beer, alongside traditional folk dances, Polish music, and fun activities for the whole family. Attendees can also explore a souvenir boutique offering a wide variety of traditional Polish jewelry, crafts, national ornaments, T-shirts, hats, and more.

Our Lady of Czestochowa

 

Phoenix Film Festival

Friday through Sunday

The Phoenix Film Festival returns for its 26th annual event at Harkins Scottsdale 101, bringing filmmakers and movie lovers together for another year of standout storytelling, special events, and community celebration. Originally founded in 2001 by local filmmakers, the Phoenix Film Festival has grown into a celebration featuring 250+ films, plus filmmaking seminars, parties, and student workshops for more than 15,000 attendees.

Harkins Theatres Scottsdale 101

 

ASUPROX

Friday through Sunday

ASUPROX is Arizona State University’s flagship music industry conference, a convergence of music, technology, innovation and business designed to bring people closer to what’s next in the industry and their careers.

Hosted by the Popular Music program at ASU’s state-of-the-art facilities in Downtown Phoenix, ASUPROX brings together artists, creative leaders, entrepreneurs, technologists and industry decision-makers to explore how music is created, distributed, experienced and scaled in today’s rapidly evolving landscape.

Fusion on First

 

 

 

Free Things to Do

Friday through Sunday

Many of the events featured on our blog are free, but if you're looking for more options, check out our Free and Cheap in Phoenix Guide.

Greater Phoenix

 

 

Family-Friendly Activities This Weekend

Discover the best family-friendly things to do in Phoenix—from interactive museums to outdoor adventures and kid-friendly eats. 

 

Earth Day Story Time & Seed Planting at The Farm

Sunday

The Farm’s favorite holiday, Earth Day, returns with a family-friendly celebration on April 19th from 10:30am–12:30pm on the Botanica patio, featuring storytelling with Cowgirl Jan about the Sonoran Desert’s landscape and wildlife. Following story time, guests can enjoy a hands-on gardening activity with Gather & Grow, planting seeds and decorating planter pots while celebrating and appreciating the desert environment together.

The Farm at South Mountain

 

 

Concerts & Performances This Weekend

Shows are taking place more often now, including theatre performances, comedy shows and concerts. Here's who you can see perform this weekend:

Friday:
Saturday:

Sunday:

 

 

Sports This Weekend

Phoenix is a premier sports destination, and our local and national teams are bringing the heat. Here’s who you can cheer on this weekend:

Friday
Saturday
Sunday
 

Art Exhibits This Weekend

Phoenix is home to the largest art museum in the southwestern United States. Ignite your mind with the creativity and inspiration you will find at our local cultural institutions. Here's the art exhibits you can see this weekend:

 

Desert Pulse

Through May 31, 2026

Thousands of stunning images. Five monumental video installations. One transformative experience. FRAMERATE: Desert Pulse, a multi-sensory art exhibit by ScanLAB Projects, invites visitors into the visual and emotional energy of the Sonoran Desert. Through photography, LiDAR scanning, motion and sound, it reveals new ways of seeing and deepens appreciation for our vibrant ecosystem.

Desert Botanical Garden

 

Parched: The Art of Water in the Southwest

Through June 29, 2026

Parched: The Art of Water in the Southwest utilizes art informed by scientific and cultural inquiry to explore the deep disparities of water use and access throughout the state of Arizona. Coming at a time where conversations about the availability and quality of, and access to, water have never been more important. After three years of public display, the Parched exhibition finds a new home at S’edav Va’aki Museum. Serving as a call-to-action, Parched features nine bodies of work all using different mediums evoking themes of survivance, sovereignty, and spirituality. Ultimately reflecting diverse perspectives and provocative insights into our complex relationship with water in natural, cultural, and political landscapes.

S’edav Va’aki Museum (Formerly Pueblo Grande Museum)

 

Su:dagi/Shu:thag: Rekindling Our Connections

Through June 29, 2026

Su:dagi/Shu:thag: Rekindling Our Connections examines the Akimel O’odham’s (River People) longstanding relationship with water and focuses on the intersection between the politics of water rights and the celebration of traditional agricultural knowledge.

S’edav Va’aki Museum (Formerly Pueblo Grande Museum)

 

The Magical Flute: Beauty, Enchantment, and Power.

Through September 13, 2026

Experience the enduring impact of the world’s first wind instrument in The Magical Flute: Beauty, Enchantment, and Power. Explore more than 100 remarkable flutes from the dawn of music to the present day and celebrate the resounding influence of the flute on cultures from around the world. Discover how people across history have used flutes of all forms, shapes, sizes, and materials to express the rich human experience.

Musical Instrument Museum (MIM)

 

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