Sarasota's Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall has announced its 2026-27 season, ranging from longtime favorites to new faces for the venue that turned 55 years old last year.
Four-time Emmy-winning comedian John Mulaney will make his Van Wezel debut, with other stand-up comedy this season including return appearances by Ron White and Jay Leno. Also set to make his Van Wezel debut is Grammy and Tony-winning "Hamilton" star Leslie Odom Jr., visiting the venue on The Christmas Tour, with another holiday concert making our must-see list as well.
Devon Allman and Sarasota native Duane Betts' annual Allman Betts Family Revival concert also makes the list, as well as multiple Grammy-winning musicians, including one who's part of a husband-and-wife couple
alongside an actress and "American Idol" runner-up.
Here are our picks for the top 10 acts to catch this 2026-27 season at Van Wezel. Note: this list focuses specifically on concerts and comedy, so we're not including the many notable musicals visiting the venue for its Broadway season. Tickets go on sale to the general public 10 a.m. Sept. 12, with presales for subscribers and e-club members, though several shows are already on sale. To buy tickets, visit Van Wezel's box office, call 941-263-6799 or go to vanwezel.org.
Ron White (Sept. 13)
Stand-up comedian Ron White first became famous to many as a member of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour alongside Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy and Bill Engvall. Yet he's had a very successful separate stand-up career as well, including the gold-selling comedy album "Drunk in Public," the Best Comedy Album Grammy-nominated "You Can't Fix Stupid" and "A Little Unprofessional," and the Netflix special "If You Quit Listening, I'll Shut Up."
Boz Scaggs (Oct. 11)
After playing with the Steve Miller Band, Boz Scaggs went on to a successful solo career, scoring hit singles with “Lowdown” and “Lido Shuffle” off his five-times-platinum 1976 album “Silk Degrees." "Lowdown" won a Grammy for Best Rhythm & Blues Song, and "Silk Degrees" earned four other Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year. Last year, Scaggs released the new album "Detour," featuring covers including of his own song "I'll Be Long Gone."
David Foster and Katharine McPhee (Nov. 14)
The musical husband-and-wife duo return to Van Wezel. The 16-time Grammy-winning David Foster has produced and/or written hits including Whitney Houston's smash rendition of Dolly Parton's song "I Will Always Love You,"Celine Dion's "Because You Loved Me," and recently composed music for the Tony-nominated "Boop! The Musical." Katharine McPhee came in second place during "American Idol" season five, which led to a musical career as well as acting roles in shows such as "Smash" and "Scorpion" and films such as "Shark Night."
Home for the Holidays (Nov. 27)
This holiday show features four musical acts in one, including R&B group All-4-One, who had a No. 1 hit with their 1994 rendition of "I Swear" (produced by David Foster, speaking of him). Joining them will be Best New Artist Grammy winner and "For Your Eyes Only" James Bond theme singer Sheena Easton, "American Idol" season two winner Ruben Studdard, and Lindsey Webster, the first singer to have a No. 1 Billboard smooth jazz airplay hit since Sade.
John Mulaney (Dec. 10)
A former writer for "Saturday Night Live," earning two of his four Emmys for his work on the show and returning to host it six times, John Mulaney has become one of the biggest stars in stand-up thanks to specials such as 2023's "Baby J" and 2018's "Kid Gorgeous at Radio City." He earned his other two Emmys for those specials released by Netflix, where he also starred in animated series "Big Mouth" and hosted "Everybody's Live with John Mulaney."
Allman Betts Family Revival (Dec. 13)
This annual concert has deep local ties, as Devon Allman and Sarasota native Duane Betts — the respective sons of founding Allman Brothers Band frontman and onetime Sarasota-Manatee resident Gregg Allman and ABB guitarist, cofounder and longtime Sarasota County resident Dickey Betts — play their late fathers' music alongside guest musicians in a style similar to The Band's "The Last Waltz." This year will also mark the concert's own 10th anniversary.
Leslie Odom Jr. (Dec. 14)
Leslie Odom Jr. is best known for originating the role of Aaron Burr in "Hamilton," earning a Tony for the stage show, a Grammy for the album, and an Emmy nomination for the live stage recording. He has also acted in other stage shows, TV series, and movies including "One Night in Miami...," earning Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor and Best Original Song. His albums include 2016's "Simply Christmas" and 2020's "The Christmas Album," and he visits Van Wezel on The Christmas Tour.
Jay Leno (Jan. 14)
Although he remains best known to many for his decades-long tenure hosting "The Tonight Show," Jay Leno first rose to fame through his stand-up comedy, which he still performs today and is what brings him back to Van Wezel. Leno followed his final "Tonight Show" episode on Feb. 6, 2014 with a stand-up show at Van Wezel the next day, and has regularly performed at the venue in the following years.
The Temptations (Feb. 16)
The R&B group inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and named one of the 100 greatest artists of all time by Rolling Stone will return to Van Wezel, bringing along a song catalog featuring some of the best Motown recordings such as "My Girl" and "Papa was a Rollin' Stone," both of which were No. 1 hits and inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. The Temptations also still features an original member in Otis Williams.
The Commodores (Feb. 18)
The R&B group rose to fame in the '70s with hits such as "Easy," "Brick House" and "Three Times a Lady." Even when lead singer Lionel Richie left the group in the '80s to pursue a highly successful solo career, the Commodores still had a big hit with 1985's "Nightshift," which also won their only Grammy to date for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. The group still features an original member, William King.
Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Top 10 concerts and comedy shows coming to Sarasota's Van Wezel
