Durham arts to mid-December: the Nasher's free Declaration show, Duke's Witch and Messiah, the Iron Pour Nov. 14, Art Walk market Nov. 21-22 and The Bodyguard.

Last checked Nov. 3, 2026. Rebuilt each month. Listings come from the venues’ own calendars: the Nasher Museum of Art, Duke Arts, DPAC, the Carolina Theatre and the Downtown Durham calendar. Check with the venue before you go; plans change.

Durham’s arts calendar from now to mid-December runs from the Nasher Museum’s free Declaration of Independence show to Duke Theater Studies’ Witch, a night of molten iron in Durham Central Park on Nov. 14, the Art Walk Holiday Market on Nov. 21-22 and Handel’s Messiah at Duke Chapel on Dec. 4.

Exhibitions now showing

  • The Declaration of Independence, through Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027, at the Nasher Museum of Art, 2001 Campus Drive. Free. The museum also lists We the People through Jan. 3 and Turn the volume up! through July 11, 2027.
  • Dia de los Muertos Ofrenda, through Thursday, Nov. 5, at Duke Chapel.
  • Delving Deeper into the Declaration of Independence, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Nasher: historian Thavolia Glymph leads a reading of the document, followed by an iron gall ink demonstration. RSVP required.
  • Jenny Blazing: Carolina, or Thereabouts, 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, and Friday, Nov. 6, and 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at 5 Points Gallery.
  • Second Sunday: Family Day, 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, at the Nasher.
  • Night of Activism and Civic Action, with blackout poetry, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at the Nasher.
  • Third Friday art opening: Mike Benson, 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at Ment Beverage Co.; free.

Theater and dance

  • North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble: Shaping Sounds, Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Carolina Theatre.
  • Death Becomes Her, Tuesday, Nov. 10, to Sunday, Nov. 15, at DPAC.
  • Witch, Jen Silverman’s play, from Duke Theater Studies: 8 p.m. Nov. 13-14, 19-21 and 2 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 15 and 22 (Duke tickets).
  • NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet, 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at DPAC. All four of the season’s Nutcrackers are on our Nutcracker in Durham page.
  • Noises Off, Thursday, Nov. 19, to Sunday, Nov. 22, at NCCU’s University Theatre; tickets $7 to $20. See our story.
  • A Drag Queen Christmas, 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at DPAC.
  • November Dances, the Duke Dance Program’s concert, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, and Saturday, Nov. 21 (Duke Dance).
  • Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Twas the Night Before…, Wednesday, Nov. 25, to Sunday, Dec. 6, at DPAC.
  • The Bodyguard, the musical, Tuesday, Dec. 8, to Sunday, Dec. 13, at DPAC.
  • The Nutcracker, Triangle Youth Ballet with live orchestra, Thursday, Dec. 10, to Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Carolina Theatre.

Concerts and classical

  • One Night on Sugar Hill, celebrating Barry Poss and Sugar Hill Records with Jerry Douglas and friends, 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Carolina Theatre.
  • Schumann Quartett, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at Baldwin Auditorium (Duke Arts).
  • Jake Shimabukuro, ukulele, 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Carolina Theatre.
  • Ciompi Quartet and Robert Sims, baritone: Follow Me, 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, at Baldwin Auditorium (Duke Arts).
  • Spyro Gyra, Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the Carolina Theatre.
  • An Evening from the Queer Songbook, by Taylor Mac and Matt Ray, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, at Baldwin Auditorium (Duke Arts).
  • Opera FM, the Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle, 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, at the Carolina Theatre.
  • BEAT: Belew, Vai, Levin and Bozzio performing the music of King Crimson, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, at DPAC.
  • Messiah Sing-Along, 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at Trinity United Methodist Church downtown; free.
  • Duke Chorale holiday concert with the Durham School of the Arts, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, at Duke Chapel (Duke calendar).
  • Handel’s Messiah, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, at Duke Chapel (Duke calendar).

Classes and workshops

  • Introduction to Fused Glass: trinket tray or suncatcher, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at Fusion Gallery; $45 (listing).
  • Embroidery on Photographs, 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11 (Duke Arts).
  • Collage Club, 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, at The Fruit; $20 (listing).
  • Lino Cut Printmaking, 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3 (Duke Arts).

Art fairs and big nights

  • Golden Belt Artists Winter Market, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Golden Belt, 800 Taylor St. Free (listing).
  • 10th Annual Liberty Arts Iron Pour, 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at Durham Central Park, 501 Foster St. Thousands of pounds of molten iron poured into tiles designed by the public, with performances, food trucks and art vendors. Free; register with Liberty Arts.
  • 3rd Friday After Dark: Alignment, 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at Future Hooman; $5 (listing).
  • Durham Art Walk Holiday Market, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, and Sunday, Nov. 22, at the Durham Arts Council, 120 Morris St., and downtown venues. Free (listing).
  • Jingle Jam fundraiser: Starry Night, 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, at the Durham Arts Council; $50 (listing).

Regular events

  • Third Friday: downtown galleries open new shows and stay open late on the third Friday of each month; the next is Nov. 20 (Downtown Durham calendar).
  • Open studio glass sessions at Fusion Gallery most afternoons and evenings, $20 (Downtown Durham calendar).

Send us your event

Running a show, concert, class or opening in Durham? Email hello@bullcitynow.com with the date, time, venue, price and a photo. Listings are free, and they go on this page and in our events diary.

More: things to do this month, things to do this weekend and live music and nightlife.

Frequently asked questions

What exhibitions are on in Durham right now?

The Nasher Museum of Art at Duke shows The Declaration of Independence through Jan. 3, 2027, with We the People through the same date and Turn the volume up! through July 11, 2027. Admission is free. Duke Chapel’s Dia de los Muertos ofrenda is up through Nov. 5.

Is the Nasher Museum free?

Yes. The Nasher Museum of Art, 2001 Campus Drive, lists free admission for all.

What shows are at DPAC in November 2026?

DPAC lists Death Becomes Her Nov. 10-15, BEAT on Nov. 17, NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet on Nov. 19, A Drag Queen Christmas on Nov. 20, ‘Twas the Night Before… from Nov. 25 to Dec. 6 and The Bodyguard Dec. 8-13.

When is the Liberty Arts Iron Pour?

The 10th annual Iron Pour is 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at Durham Central Park, 501 Foster St. It is free; Liberty Arts asks people to register.