Rialto Center for the Arts Revitalization Takes Shape in Downtown Atlanta, Adding Visual Arts, Renovations

The Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University today announced a shift to a season membership model and a diverse array of arts events and experiences through spring 2027.

The change from a subscriber to member-based model and the expansion of arts programming, announced by Executive Director Amy Reid, are instituted to further align the venue with its namesake Rialto, the historic term for an exchange, theater or popular gathering spot.

Moving toward the commemorative season, the Rialto Center for the Arts team will continue several well-established programs while adding new initiatives and expanding others, including:

• Announcement of the 2026-2027 season of core ticketed events centered on jazz, world music and dance, including Béla Fleck, Arturo Sandoval, Take 6, and Atlanta’s own Arrested Development, collectively with 34 Grammy Awards from 103 nominations
• Conversion to a membership model for the benefit of patrons
• Creating the return of movie screenings with a family and student-friendly film series launching in October
• Presentation of the popular monthly Feed Your Senses free weekday lunchtime performances
• Installing quarterly art exhibitions as a visual arts initiative, with rotating works on view in the Rialto’s lobby and mezzanine through a new partnership with The Sun ATL Gallery
• Hosting Georgia State Office of Educational Outreach initiatives and workshops including the Rialto Jazz for Kids and Rialto Youth Jazz Orchestra, the Music for All Southeastern Regional Concert Festival and annual SingFest!, among others
• Completing a $150,000 remodel to the venue’s lobby and mezzanine, including a new contemporary look that also offers a more versatile special event space, plus other recent and planned stage, sound and facility upgrades totaling an additional $140,000

“This combination of updates further rounds out Rialto’s role as an historic arts hub and destination in downtown Atlanta,” said Reid, director of Educational Outreach and the Rialto Center for the Arts. “Our 30th season lineup presents numerous internationally acclaimed artists, the film series featuring cult classics and favorite movies, and our updated lobby enables more flexibility for event planners to create meaningful and memorable experiences.”

“We also take pride in hosting thousands of youth musicians through several education programs,” added Reid.

The 30th season opens with the world’s premiere banjo player Béla Fleck on Sept. 17, marking his sixth performance at Rialto since 1996. Rialto next presents the Gospel Music Hall of Fame a cappella sextet Take 6, back by popular demand from the group’s 2024 Rialto show, on Oct. 2. Acclaimed jazz saxophonist Joshua Redman performs Oct. 16, rebooked after a winter weather postponement.

The Rialto rounds out the season with:

• America’s official national ballet company presenting the American Ballet Theatre Studio Companyon Nov. 14
• 29th Annual Holiday Gala Presented by Georgia State University School of Music on Dec. 6
• Kennedy Center Honoree, Recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and 10-time Grammy Award Winner Arturo Sandoval on Jan. 22
• The world’s most famous brass group, Canadian Brass on Feb. 12
• Grammy-winning pianist Bill Charlap Trio on Feb. 27
• Atlanta’s celebrated Hip-hop maestros Arrested Development on March 11
• Georgia State University Jazz Band with special guest Sean Jones on April 9
• TheLegendary Count Basie Orchestra with Nnenna Freelon on April 23

Reid said the venue’s conversion to memberships—with three available levels from free to $175 or $295 annually with each level providing tiered lists of benefits—gives patrons more flexibility to select events of most interest.

“Since the pandemic we’ve seen declines in subscriber engagement as subscriptions are less flexible in the financial and time commitments the subscriber has to make,” said Reid. “Evolving to offer memberships at three levels enables members to be more selective about the shows they wish to attend and at once mindful of a range of budgets.”

The venue’s re-establishment of a Rialto Film Series comes three years after the venue installed a new Digital Cinema Projection (DCP) projector and larger Stewart cinema screen, enabling the venue to exponentially increase film-centric capabilities such as hosting additional film premieres and film festival events.

Through the emerging Rialto Film Series honoring the venue’s cinematic origins of 1916, Rialto will present a mix of cult classics with student and family-friendly films starting in October with details for the premiere and series films to be announced during the summer.

Rialto continues its popular free lunchtime performing arts series, Feed Your Senses, which takes place in the Rialto’s lobby at noon on the third Wednesday of most months. Programming features a different artist or speaker each month, providing a casual and fun insider’s look at their craft. Feed Your Senses is sponsored by 100 Peachtree and is supported in part by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, Georgia Council for the Arts and through appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly (a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts) and the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. Upcoming Feed Your Senses events include Katherine Taylor on May 20 and Alex Gordon on June 10 with advance registration requested via https://rialto.gsu.edu/feed-your-senses-registration.

Through a new partnership with VINSON Art and its The Sun ATL Gallery, an Edgewood Ave. downtown arts organization created by Shawn Vinson, Rialto is expanding the venue’s visual arts offerings. Currently on view, guests experience works by Congolese painter Raphael Bahindwa through July. The public is invited to enjoy the art during performance dates including Feed Your Senses, Rialto Film Series and Rialto Performance Series events.

“Through this new partnership with The Sun ATL Gallery, Rialto guests will enjoy an additional, visual facet of our city’s thriving arts community,” said Reid. “The visual arts combined with our lobby and mezzanine refresh will give guests a multisensory experience with high energy and create anticipation for their show.”

Rialto’s summer remodel to update the lobby and mezzanine is scheduled for July and August 2026 to minimize disruptions before GSU’s fall semester begins. The updates, including new carpet, fresh paint, and updated patron flow, are the venue’s first major update since the space opened in 1996 with an estimated investment of $150,000. The renovations are designed to enhance the Rialto experience for patrons and rental clients.

With additional funding from Georgia State University, the Rialto is also investing $40,000 for an installation of new curtains for the stage, and the venue recently purchased nearly $100,000 of new sound equipment, including a state-of-the-art wireless microphone system, a substantial upgrade benefiting audiences and performers. In total, these Rialto revitalization investments of 2026 are over $290,000.

Following the 2024 consolidation of Georgia State’s College of the Arts Office of Educational Outreach and the Rialto, the Rialto has become the home for arts educational initiatives and workshops including the Rialto Youth Jazz Orchestra, Rialto Jazz for Kids, the Music for All Southeastern Regional Concert Festival and annual SingFest!

“Through these and other music education initiatives, Rialto Center for the Arts and GSU’s College of Arts Office of Education Outreach have engaged tens of thousands of youth performers over the years,” said Reid. “Many young performers have been transformed by their experiences at the Rialto and gone on to become GSU students and life-long supporters of the arts.”

A complete list of 2026-27 showtimes, performer descriptions/bios and ticket prices are at the base of this release. Film series, art exhibition, Feed Your Senses and education initiative details are available at Rialto.GSU.edu.

Memberships are available now and single tickets for most shows go on sale July 14 at Rialto.GSU.edu, the Rialto Box Office or phone via (404) 413-9TIX (9849). Free validated parking is provided for all Rialto Series shows at the 100 Peachtree Parking Garage (formerly the Equitable deck; GPS: 123 Fairlie Street NW, Atlanta, Ga. 30303). Follow the Rialto @RialtoCenter on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

The Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University is the cultural centerpiece of downtown, located in the heart of Atlanta’s historic Fairlie-Poplar district. Thanks to Georgia State University acquiring and refurbishing the building in 1993, and revitalizing the district, the Rialto has stood at the corner of Forsyth and Luckie Streets for over 100 years. Today, the intimate, 833-seat performing arts venue is home to the Rialto Series, featuring the best of Indigenous and international jazz, world music and contemporary dance, as well as Georgia State’s School of Music performances. In spring 2023, the venue marked a return to its cinema roots with the installation of a new state-of-the-art screen and digital projector.

The Rialto is the go-to venue in downtown Atlanta for other arts organizations’ performances, visiting production companies and independent film screenings. In addition to the highly acclaimed Rialto Series, the Rialto is committed to serving the community through its extensive education and outreach programs, furthering its mission to be a place where all can find entertainment, education and community connections through meaningful experiences. The Rialto earned its reputation as Atlanta’s seat for the arts through its one-of-a-kind international programming, bringing together diverse communities and creating conversations about culture, art and history. In 2022, the Rialto Center was nominated for a Southeast Emmy® for a long-form online performance broadcast. Visit Rialto.GSU.edu to learn more.

Georgia State University, an enterprising public research university in the heart of Atlanta, is a national leader in graduating students from diverse backgrounds. The university provides its world-class faculty and over 52,000 students with unsurpassed connections to opportunities available in one of the 21st century’s great global cities.

2026-2027 Rialto Season Show Descriptions/Ticketing Details

Rialto Center of the Arts at Georgia State University presents its 2026-2027 Rialto Series with special member pricing available now and most single tickets on sale July 14 via Rialto.GSU.edu, the Rialto Box Office or by phone (404) 413-9TIX (9849). Single and group ticket prices are subject to change and may increase closer to performance dates. With artists/dates subject to change, as of May 14, 2026, the season includes:

• Béla Fleck – My Bluegrass Heart on Sept. 17 (on sale July 14)
• Take 6 on Oct. 2
• Joshua Redman on Oct. 16 (on sale now)
• American Ballet Studio Company on Nov. 14
• 29th Annual Holiday Gala Presented by Georgia State University School of Music on Dec. 6
• Kennedy Center Honoree, Recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and 10-time Grammy Award Winner Arturo Sandoval on Jan. 22
• Canadian Brass on Feb. 12
• Bill Charlap Trio on Feb. 27
• Arrested Development on March 11
• Georgia State University Jazz Band with special guest Sean Jones on April 9
• The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra with Nnenna Freelon on April 23

BÉLA FLECK on Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. (Tickets: $50,$ 60, $70, $90)

Over the past half-century Béla Fleck has exploded the parameters of the banjo, taking his staggering musicality to inspired blends of bluegrass, fusion, folk, jazz, classical, global music and more. In the process he’s won 18 Grammy Awards from 41 nominations and rightfully earned a reputation as one of the world’s most brilliant instrumentalists. Fleck has also been the banjo’s most thoughtful advocate and ambassador, and his acclaimed 2008 documentary Throw Down Your Heart and its accompanying soundtrack celebrated the instrument’s unsung African roots. From writing three banjo concertos for full symphony orchestra to collaborations with Dave Matthews, Chick Corea, Zakir Hussain and beyond, many tout that Béla Fleck is the world’s premier banjo player. As Jon Pareles wrote for The New York Times, “That’s a lot of territory for five strings.”

TAKE 6 on Oct. 2 at 8 p.m. (Tickets: $65, $75, $85, $105)

With roots in nearby Huntsville, Ala., this American a cappella gospel sextet integrates jazz with spiritual and inspirational lyrics, earning eight Grammy Awards from 19 nominations plus Dove Awards, a Soul Train Award, nominations for the NAACP Image Award and induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. The performances worldwide and collaborations including Ray Charles, Don Henley, Whitney Houston, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder and Randy Travis admirably and adeptly crossed most musical genres, from straight-ahead Jazz to Pop to adult R&B, doo wop to blues. Like a fine-tuned vocal orchestra, the group continues to push the boundaries of creativity and musical genius with every new release, and with their ever-evolving live performances.

JOSHUA REDMAN on Oct. 16 at 8 p.m. (Tickets: $59, $69, $79, $99)

Among the most acclaimed and respected jazz artists with a career spanning three decades, 10-time Grammy nominee Joshua Redman won the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition only months into his professional career. Now with nearly two dozen albums, he helmed creation of the ensemble SFJazz Collective, later writing music for film including Louis Malle’s final work “Vanya on 42nd Street” and in Robert Altman’s “Kansas City.” Redman also collaborated with Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea, The Dave Matthews Band, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, B.B. King, Yo Yo Ma, Stevie Wonder, The Roots and The Rolling Stones.

AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE STUDIO on Nov. 14 at 8 p.m. (Tickets: $45, $55, $65, $85)

From a 2006 act of Congress, American Ballet Theatre is designated America’s National Ballet Company, considered one of the world’s greatest dance companies, revered as a living national treasure since its founding in 1939. Touring and performing nationally for 300,000 each year, The Company also embarked on over 30 international tours to 45 countries to share American ballet with the world.

29th ANNUAL HOLIDAY GALA PRESENTED BY GSU SCHOOL OF MUSIC Dec. 6 at 3 p.m. (Tickets: $17, $24, $36)

Enjoy the highly anticipated concert that is now a tradition of nearly 30 years, featuring the GSU School of Music’s talented students and faculty presenting a joyful celebration of the winter holidays.

ARTURO SANDOVAL on Jan. 22 at 8 p.m. (Tickets: $65, $75, $85, $105)

Cuban-born jazz trumpeter, pianist and composer Arturo Sandoval is a virtuoso trumpeter and flügelhorn player whose talent and dedication propelled him to become one of the most celebrated and influential jazz horn players of our time. His extraordinary contributions to jazz earned him international acclaim and an impressive collection of accolades including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Kennedy Center Honors, an Emmy Award and 10 Grammy or Latin Awards. His musical genius has transcended the stage and studio, extending to the realm of film scores enriching numerous movies including the “The Mambo Kings” and soundtracks for Clint Eastwood films.

CANADIAN BRASS on Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. (Tickets: $50, $60, $70, $90)

Earning the distinction of “the world’s most famous brass group” since their 1970 launch as a brass quintet, Canadian Brass are now two-time Grammy nominees and masters of concert presentation with an engaging stage presence. Each concert showcases their full range—from Baroque and Dixieland to newly commissioned works—served up with a mix of formal classical presentation, lively dialogue and theatrical effects. The hallmark of any Canadian Brass performance is entertainment, spontaneity, virtuosity and, most of all, fun, all in celebration of the music. In addition to entertaining millions of television viewers, they were guest artists on Evening at Pops, the Boston Pops and numerous PBS specials. With over five decades under their belts, Canadian Brass continues to thrill audiences around the world, showing no signs of slowing down.

BILL CHARLAP TRIO on Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. (Tickets: $35, $45, $55, $75)

Grammy award winning pianist Bill Charlap has performed with many of the leading artists of our time including Phil Woods, Tony Bennett, Gerry Mulligan, Wynton Marsalis, Freddy Cole and Houston Person. Time magazine wrote, “Bill Charlap approaches a song the way a lover approaches his beloved … no matter how imaginative or surprising his take on a song is, he invariably zeroes in on its essence.” A New York native, he has produced concerts for Jazz at Lincoln Center, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Chicago Symphony Center and the Hollywood Bowl.

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT on March 11 at 8 p.m. (Tickets: $55, $65, $75, $95)

With Atlanta roots since 1988 and Hip-hop trailblazing since 1991, Arrested Development has been cultural champions of consciousness and empowerment worldwide. Their representation of eclectic and vibrant African sounds and clothing has produced a unique clash of rhythms and style that continue to contrast the expected look and sound of Hip-hop culture. With numerous albums and world tours, Arrested Development earned two Grammy awards, two MTV awards, a Soul Train Music Award, and the NAACP Image Award, with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame naming their smash “Tennessee” one of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.

GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY JAZZ BAND with special guest Sean Jones April 9 at 8 p.m. (Tickets: $17, $24, $36)

The Jazz Band at GSU is a renowned ensemble composed of talented and passionate musicians. The band showcases a diverse range of jazz styles including swing, bebop and fusion, garnering a reputation for its electrifying and soulful performances. Directed by Dr. Gordon Vernick with other experienced and skilled faculty members, the jazz band is a testament to Georgia State’s commitment to excellence in the arts.

THE LEGENDARY COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA with NNENNA FREELON April 23 at 8 p.m.

(Tickets: $55, $65, $75, $95)

In the history of Jazz music, there is only one band leader who has the distinction of having his orchestra still perform sold out concerts all over the world, with members personally chosen by him, for over 40 years after his passing. A legacy ensemble formed by pianist and bandleader William James “Count” Basie, this American institution personifies the grandeur and excellence of jazz, earning a recent Grammy Award among three overall nominations for the group that’s today directed by Scotty Barnhart. The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra will share the Rialto stage with seven-time Grammy nominated jazz singer, performer and arranger Nnenna Freelon, whose award-winning podcast “Great Grief” is in its third season.