The lights are about to come on again at one of the Washington region’s most charming concert venues. The Barns at Wolf Trap have announced the first shows of their 2026–2027 season, and the lineup is pure joy: bluegrass, chamber music, international sounds, rock, pop, comedy nights and plenty of holiday magic — all inside cozy historic barns in Vienna, Virginia.
The season opens on November 1 with a treat for classical music lovers: violinist Daniel Hope, artistic advisor of the Chamber Music at The Barns series, joins pianist Maxim Lando for the first of a two-part Gilded Age recital exploring how European refinement met American reinvention around the turn of the 20th century.
November brings even more to smile about: Jim Messina joins Orleans for a Farewell Tour stop on November 4, the Punjabi fusion party band Red Baraat turns up the energy on November 7, and Mark O’Connor’s An Appalachian Christmas returns on November 18 and 19. Fans can also enjoy a tribute to Joni Mitchell on November 20 and a holiday show with DC’s beloved Anthem Singers on November 22.
December sparkles with the New York Arabic Orchestra on December 4, a family-friendly Hanukkah celebration on December 5, and world-renowned mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe on December 6. In 2027, the calendar keeps shining with the Del McCoury Band, Matthew Morrison and the Buena Vista Orchestra.
This season also celebrates something new: the historic Virginian Barn, built in the early 1900s and donated by supporters Karen and Fred Schaufeld, now joins the Scottish Barn (1791–92) and the German Barn (1725), adding 2,500 square feet of space for pre-show dining and gathering. Operated by the nonprofit Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts in partnership with the National Park Service, The Barns offer an intimate way to experience great music this fall and beyond. Tickets and the full schedule are at wolftrap.org.
Photo: Ser Amantio di Nicolao, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)
