A new week in Seattle promises a packed cultural program: from big concerts and musicals downtown to street festivals and family celebrations in surrounding venues. In the city and suburbs, check out live shows — Kettama and Yungblud in clubs, John Butler and American Football on theater stages, as well as indie‑folk The Paper Kites and the jazz series Blood, Sweat & Tears in intimate venues; opera and musical fans can see Carmen, The Phantom of the Opera, and Jesus Christ Superstar. For those who prefer festivals and street entertainment, options include the Seattle International Film Festival, U District Street Fair, Spirit of Africa, and large family events like Viking Fest and Rig‑A‑Palooza; active types can join the Super Saunter or catch rugby matches; food lovers have tastings and wine festivals around Lake Chelan and at Chateau Ste. Michelle. Details and listings compiled from events12.com.
Notable events in Seattle and nearby (May 15–21, 2026)
| Date(s) | Venue | Description | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 15 | Showbox SoDo, Seattle | Kettama concert – electronic dance music at the large SoDo club. | |
| May 15 | WAMU Theater, Seattle | Yungblud concert – high‑energy pop‑punk and alt‑rock. | |
| May 16 | Moore Theatre, Seattle | John Butler concert – virtuoso guitarist and songwriter. | |
| May 19 | Moore Theatre, Seattle | American Football – atmospheric guitar‑driven emo/rock. | |
| May 21 | Moore Theatre, Seattle | The Paper Kites – indie‑folk band with a lyrical, melodic set. | |
| May 21–24 | Jazz Alley, Seattle | Blood, Sweat & Tears jazz series in an intimate club. | |
| May 24 | Chateau Ste. Michelle, Woodinville | Yellowcard concert on the winery’s summer stage. | |
| May 15 | Downtown, Benaroya Hall (0.3 miles SW) | National Geographic Live: talks by scientists, photographers, and travelers with unique photos and video. | National Geographic Live, map |
| May 15–17 | The 5th Avenue Theatre, Downtown (0.2 miles SE) | Jesus Christ Superstar – Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock opera with powerful choreography. | Info & tickets, map, video |
| May 15–17 | Meany Center, University District (4.6 miles NE) | MFA Dance Concert – new works by dance department graduates, performed by 60 students. | MFA Dance Concert, map, video |
| May 15–17 | Liberty Bay Waterfront Park, Poulsbo (22 miles NW, ferry) | Viking Fest – Scandinavian festival with a carnival, music, food, and a Saturday parade. | Viking Fest, map, photo |
| May 15–17 | Various venues, Chelan (180 miles E) | Lake Chelan Wine and Jazz Festival – dozens of jazz performances at lakeside wineries. | Festival, map, video |
| May 15–17 | Seattle (multiple venues) | Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) – screenings of independent films from around the world, opening and closing parties. | SIFF, closing night, video |
| May 15–16 | Cornish Playhouse, Seattle Center (1.3 miles NW) | Whim W’Him “Spring ’26” – contemporary dance program from three notable choreographers. | Spring ‘26, map, video |
| May 15–16 | Tacoma Armory, Tacoma (35 miles S) | GeekCraft Expo – handmade market with a geek and pop‑culture aesthetic. | GeekCraft Expo, map |
| May 15 | Seattle Center, MoPOP (0.9 miles NW) | Rebels + Icons Opening Party – opening party for the photo exhibition at the Museum of Pop Culture (21+). | Party, map |
| May 15–24 | Paramount Theatre, Downtown (0.3 miles NE) | The Phantom of the Opera – the classic tale of love and mystery staged in the opera house. | Info, map, tickets |
| May 15–June 6 | Egan’s Ballard Jam House, Ballard (5 miles NW) | Seattle Cabaret Festival – a series of cabaret shows: rock, blues, opera, chanson, and singer‑songwriter sets. | Festival, tickets, map |
| May 15–June 7 | Everett Performing Arts Center, Everett (29 miles N) | Grease – nostalgic musical set in the 1950s about love and high school life. | Grease, map |
| May 15–June 20 | Various theaters (Seattle, Issaquah, Edmonds, Federal Way) | A series of productions: Barefoot in the Park, We Ain’t Ever Gonna Break Up, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, She Loves Me. | |
| May 15–Sept. 27 | T‑Mobile Park, SoDo (1.6 miles S) | Seattle Mariners home baseball season. This week – series with the San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox. | Schedule & tickets, map, resale tickets |
| May 15–Oct. 31 | Seattle’s Tall Ship, Waterfront (0.7 miles W) | Sailing trips on the Bay Lady schooner around Elliott Bay: daytime and sunset sails. | Info, video |
| May 15–Nov. 1 | Lumen Field, Pioneer Square (1.3 miles S) | Seattle Reign home season (NWSL). This week – match vs. NJ/NY Gotham (May 15). | Schedule, map, tickets |
| May 15–Dec. 26 | Seattle (various locations) | Walking food tours: Pike Place Market, downtown chocolate, Capitol Hill coffee, “Wine, Bread, Cheese & Chocolate” tour. | |
| May 15–Dec. 31 | Seattle and Eastside | Ongoing roundup of free activities: gardens, museums, classical music, walking tours, and more. | |
| May 16 | W Seattle, Downtown (0.4 miles S) | Bourbon tasting The Ambrosia Sessions with cocktails, bites, and local maker pop‑ups (21+). | Event, map |
| May 16 | Seattle Center Armory (1 mile NW) | Spirit of Africa – African festival with music, dance, fashion show, artisan market, and food. | Festival, details, map |
| May 16 | Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle Center (1.4 miles NW) | Revelry After Hours – cocktails, snacks, DJ and photo zones in support of the theater. | Revelry After Hours, map |
| May 16 | Polish Cultural Center, Capitol Hill (1.8 miles NE) | Pierogi Fest – Polish food festival with pierogi, hot dogs, beer, desserts, and a choir. | Pierogi Fest, map |
| May 16 | Columbia City Night Market, Seattle (5.5 miles SE) | Columbia City Night Market – food trucks, local makers market, live music, and a beer garden. | Night Market, map |
| May 16 | Shoreline South/148th Station, Shoreline (9.2 miles N) | Seattle Super Saunter walking marathon – up to 24 miles across Seattle from north to south. | Route, start map |
| May 16 | Edmonds College, Lynnwood (16 miles N) | Roller Derby matches – Jet City Roller Derby contact roller races with a food court and beer garden. | Info, tickets, map |
| May 16 | Sammamish Commons Plaza (21 miles E) | Rig‑A‑Palooza family festival – 20+ specialty vehicles, bounce houses, and food trucks. | Rig-A-Palooza, map |
| May 16 | Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, Federal Way (26 miles S) | Blue Poppy Day – blue poppy festival: music, artists, food trucks, and the garden’s blooming collections. | Blue Poppy Day, map |
| May 16 | Wild Waves Theme & Water Park, Federal Way (27 miles S) | Touch‑a‑Truck family event: kids explore specialty vehicles from ambulances to tractors. | Touch-a-Truck, map |
| May 16 | Game Farm Park, Auburn (31 miles S) | Petpalooza – pet festival: races, contests, flying dog shows, and adoptions. | Petpalooza, map |
| May 16 | Thea’s Park, Tacoma (35 miles S) | Rainier Dragon Boat Festival – spectacular team races in long dragon boats. | Festival, map |
| May 16 | Crescent Moon Gifts, Tacoma (38 miles S) | Spring Fairy Festival – fantasy art fair with musicians, dancers, and costumed fairies. | Festival, map |
| May 16 | Uptown Gig Harbor Pavilion, Gig Harbor (43 miles SW) | Gig Harbor Beer and Cider Fest – craft beer and cider tastings with live music (21+). | Festival, tickets, map |
| May 16–17 | McCaw Hall, Seattle Center (1.2 miles NW) | Carmen – Bizet’s opera performed by Seattle Opera – a passionate drama with French supertitles. | Carmen, map |
| May 16–17 | Lake Union Park, Westlake (1.3 miles N) | Classic Workboat Show – exhibition and tours of working vessels: tugs, fishing and rescue boats. | Event, map |
| May 16–17 | U District Street Fair, University District (4.6 miles NE) | U District Street Fair – major street fair with 250 craft booths, music, food, and a kids’ zone. | Fair, map, map of event |
| May 16–17 | Hangar 30, Magnuson Park, Seattle (7.6 miles NE) | Seattle Mineral Market – market for minerals, fossils, gems, and jewelry. | Market, map |
| May 16–17 | Washington State Fair Events Center, Puyallup (37 miles S) | Dozer Day – kids can watch and operate construction equipment under supervision, plus fire and police vehicles. | Dozer Day, map |
| May 16–17 | Saint Martin’s University, Olympia (58 miles S) | Lacey Spring Fun Fair – family festival with free rides, slides, shows, and a fair. | Fun Fair, map |
| May 16–17 | Skagit Valley College, Mount Vernon (64 miles N) | All My Relations Powwow – traditional Native American powwow with dances, regalia, music, and food. | Powwow, map |
| May 16–17 | Camano Island (66 miles N) | Camano Island Studio Tour – self‑guided tour of art studios and a sculpture park. | Tour, tour map, location map |
| May 16–30 | Seattle and surroundings | Seattle Architecture Foundation walking tours of downtown, the waterfront, Queen Anne, and more. | Tours, FAQ, video |
| May 16–Oct. 31 | Skykomish (66 miles NE) | Ride the miniature train Great Northern & Cascade Railway: a 10‑minute trip over a bridge and through a tunnel. | Rail attraction, map |
| May 16–Nov. 7 | Lumen Field, Pioneer Square (1.3 miles S) | Seattle Sounders home season (MLS). This week – match vs. LA Galaxy (May 16). | Schedule, map, tickets |
| May 17 | Ballard, Seattle (5.5 miles NW) | 17th of May Festival – large Norwegian Constitution Day celebration with a parade, music, and beer hall. | Festival, schedule, parade route |
| May 17 | Phinney Center, Phinney Ridge (5.1 miles N) | PhinneyWood Garage Sale Day – day of garage sales (~100 stops) and a flea market at the center. | Event, map |
| May 17 | Bellevue College (11 miles E) | Sawubona Festival – African festival with music, dance, poetry, kids’ zone, and panels. | Sawubona, map |
| May 17–19 | Benaroya Hall, Downtown (0.3 miles SW) | National Geographic Live lecture series about collecting scientific data in challenging environments with vivid visuals. | Program, map |
| May 17–June 7 | Starfire Sports, Tukwila (12 miles S) | Seattle Seawolves rugby matches (MLR); May 17 – match vs. Anthem Rugby Carolina. | Schedule, map, tickets |
| May 20 | Town Hall Seattle, First Hill (0.5 miles SE) | Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino – southern Italian ensemble performing music and dance; free tickets available for under‑22s. | Info, map |
| May 21 | Edmonds, Edmonds | Art Walk Edmonds evening: galleries and shop windows featuring artists’ work (5–8 p.m.). | Seattle Art Walks |
| May 21 | Arctic Club Hotel, Seattle | Candlelight Concert: ABBA & Queen program – string quartet covers performed by candlelight. | Candlelight Concerts |
| May 21–22 | Emerald City Trapeze Arts, SoDo (2.8 miles S) | Protégé Show – advanced students of the aerial school perform trapeze, juggling, and unicycle acts. | Show, map |
