May 15-17, 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 Spring Arizona Restaurant Week and Ballet in Bloom to Ever After, Create Playdate at PhxArt, 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 May 2026 here.
Spring Arizona Restaurant Week
Friday through Sunday
Arizona Restaurant Week, which occurs each May and September, is when it's time to release your inner foodie.
More than 100 restaurants are offering three-course meals for $33, $44 or $55 per person (not including wine pairings). Understandably, it's tough to choose where to start. So, we've rounded up our top picks to try out in Greater Phoenix during Arizona Restaurant Week.
Greater Phoenix
Ballet in Bloom
Friday and Saturday
allet Arizona’s “Ballet in Bloom: An Evening at Desert Botanical Garden” returns, with an expanded double‑feature program set against the glowing desert sunset, showcasing two compelling ballet experiences.
Shōrō Nagashi Floating Lantern Festival
Sunday
Experience an evening of remembrance and community during our Shōrō Nagashi celebration at the Japanese Friendship Garden. As twilight settles over the Garden, guests may join in Shōrō Nagashi, sending illuminated lanterns across the pond in a serene tribute to loved ones. Traditional Bon Odori dancing, led by the Arizona Buddhist Temple, invites everyone to move together in a circle of gratitude and connection.
Casting Cosanti Workshop
Friday
This unique hands-on opportunity melds artistic expression informed by the desert with an exploration of Cosanti’s innovative and experimental historic site. Instructor Dakota Petersen will guide workshop participants through the process of carving and shaping a mold made from desert earth to create their own cast plaster tile using the same techniques that shaped the construction of Cosanti itself.
Phoenix Monster Truck Wars
Saturday and Sunday
America’s fastest-growing Monster Truck series is bringing action-packed family-friendly entertainment back to Phoenix!
Horseshoe Park & Equestrian Center, Queen Creek
Ever After
Friday through Sunday
Inspired by the beloved film starring Drew Barrymore, Ever After is a bold new musical filled with adventure, romance, and a heroine who against all odds forges her own future. This bold reimagining of a classic fairy tale blends adventure, romance, and resilience as a heroine defies expectations to carve out her own destiny. Inspired by the beloved film Ever After, starring Drew Barrymore, this musical celebrates a timeless story of courage and love.
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.
Create Playdate at PhxArt
Saturday
Want to make art inspired by your favorite Phoenix Art Museum works on view? Create Playdate offers young artists a hands-on maker experience during their visit through our mobile, in-gallery art cart. Each week’s Create Playdate offers a fresh and fun theme featuring an artwork on view, an art making activity to do at the Museum, and kids’ projects to extend the fun at home!
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:
- Narrated Sightseeing Cruise at Lake Pleasant
- Music in the Park at The Park at PV
- Filthy Fridays at Thunderbird Lounge
- Live Music at Litchfield's at The Wigwam
- Live Music at Weft & Warp
- Live Music at Grand Hyatt Scottsdale
- Sip and Spin at Eden Rooftop Bar
Saturday:
- Club 90's Presents: BTS Night at The Van Buren
- Shakira and JLo Drag Brunch at Desert Ridge Improv
- Narrated Sightseeing Cruise at Lake Pleasant
- Sunset Music Series at Scottsdale Quarter
- Sips & Sounds Sunset Music Cruise at Lake Pleasant Cruises
- Murder Mystery Co. Dinner Theater Show at The Old Spaghetti Factory
- A Magic UP-CLOSE Experience at Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel
- Saxophone Nights at Casa de Julia
- Live Music at Grand Hyatt Scottsdale
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
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.
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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