The Dark: PS21’s fearless winter festival of live performance radiating across Columbia County
The Dark is a new annual festival from PS21 : Center for Contemporary Performance that celebrates and elevates the depths of winter. Taking place February 16–22, 2026, the festival will unfold at PS21 and across Columbia County—in theatres, restaurants, libraries, saunas, and outdoor public spaces. Featuring more than 60 international artists and over 80 performances, The Dark offers a packed week of world-class contemporary performance, installation, music, dance, and theatre—all exploring winter as a time of community and solitude, fire and ice, darkness and light. A major new attraction for the region, the festival positions Columbia County as a year-round cultural destination—not just a summer one.
It is a light in the dark—and The Dark is the light.
With The Dark Festival Pass, you won’t have to wait. Secure your pass now and enjoy guaranteed access to every festival program. Our ticketing concierge will reach out in the first week of January to reserve your spots before tickets open to the public.
Purchasing tickets individually would total $875, but The Dark Festival Pass saves you 60% 55%.
Early Bird Festival Pass: $350 until January 10
First Glow Festival Pass: $400 until January 28
DETAILS
Alex Harvey • The Willows • Stonykill Coffee and Records • Chatham, NY
Andrew Schneider • NOWISWHENWEARE (the stars) • PS21 Black Box Theater • Chatham, NY
Ant Hampton & Time Based Editions • Borderline Visible • Chatham Bookshop • Chatham , NY
Ant Hampton with Tim Etchells • Not to Scale • US premiere • Creative Legion • Hudson , NY
Ant Hampton with Tim Etchells • The Quiet Volume • Chatham Public Library • Chatham , NY
Arone Dyer / Droneschoir • Lode* • Masonic Hall • Chatham, NY
Autumn Knight • Nothing #62: a bluff • Pocketbook Hudson • Hudson, NY
Ben LaMar Gay • Cold was the Ground • Crandell Theatre • Chatham, NY
Bert & Nasi / Tim Etchells • L’Addition • US premiere • Time & Space Limited • Hudson, NY
David Lang & Bill Morrison • darker • Crandell Theatre • Chatham, NY
Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou • Night Prayers, piano by Thomas Feng • PS21 Black Box Theater • Chatham, NY
John Fitzgerald • The Vivid Unknown: Cloudqatsi • US premiere • PS21 Animal Barn • Chatham, NY
Julian Brave NoiseCat • We Survived the Night: A Coyote Story in Four Parts • World premiere • Spencertown Academy • Spencertown, NY
Kara-Lis Coverdale • Music for Organ • St. James Church • Chatham, NY
Kara-Lis Coverdale • A Series of Actions in a Sphere of Forever • PS21 Black Box Theater • Chatham, NY
LaJuné McMillian • Constellations • World premiere • PS21 Ice Skating Rink • Chatham, NY
Lee Ranaldo & Leah Singer • ContreJour • Basilica Hudson • Hudson, NY
Natural Information Society • Perseverance Flow • Crandell Theatre • Chatham, NY
Okwui Okpokwasili & Peter Born: sweat variant • my tongue is a blade • US premiere • Hudson Hall • Hudson, NY
Peni Candra Rini & Garin Nugroho • Setan Jawa • Crandell Theatre • Chatham, NY
Phil Kline • Force of Nature (February) • World premiere • PS21 Grounds • Chatham, NY
Raven Chacon & David Lang • Voiceless Mass and the little match girl passion • St. James Church • Chatham, NY
Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe • Nsenene / Grasshopper Republic • Crandell Theater • Chatham, NY
Sarah Hennies & Tristan Kasten-Krause • Prisoner’s Cinema • Masonic Hall • Chatham, NY
Sister Sylvester • Constantinopoliad • US premiere • Kinderhook Knitting Mill • Kinderhook, NY
Sister Sylvester • Drinking Brecht • Spencertown Academy • Spencertown, NY
Sister Sylvester • Shadowtime • Creative Legion • Hudson, NY
Sophia Brous • Songs for the Dark • World premiere • Art OMI Barn • Ghent, NY
Trisha Brown Dance Company • In Plain Site • Masonic Hall • Chatham, NY
Walid Raad • Artist Talk • Crandell Theatre • Chatham, NY
Everyday of The Dark is packed with activities that invite you to immerse yourself in a day of daring performances, sound, and spectacle. Begin by warming up in the festival’s saunas or gliding across the ice skating rink, both perfect ways to feel the chill of winter and the heat of communal energy.
Scattered around the PS21 Grounds and Columbia County, immersive installations by Andrew Schneider, John Fitzgerald, Ant Hampton, and Sister Sylvester transforming space and experience into moments of unexpected wonder. Easily plan your day at The Dark with these daily schedules.
PS21 : Center for Contemporary Performance
Pavillion • Pond • Tent Site • Animal Haven • Black Box Theater • Grounds
Chatham, NY
Chatham Public Library • Chatham Bookstore • Crandell Theatre • The Masonic • St. James Church • Stonykill Coffee & Records
Ghent, NY
Art OMI
Hudson, NY
Basilica Hudson • Creative Legion • Hudson Hall • Pocketbook • Time Space Limited
Kinderhook, NY
Kinderhook Knitting Mill
Spencertown, NY
Spencertown Academy Arts Center
Performances take place all around Columbia County, and PS21 is festival headquarters—we’ll have ice skating, saunas, bonfires, and drinks going all week.
Ice Skating at the PS21 Ice Skating Rink, everyday various times
Saunas at the PS21 Pond, everyday varies times
Daily Community Bonfire at PS21 Pavilion with food and beverages
Monday, Feb 16 6:00PM-8:00PM
Tuesday-Sunday, Feb 17-22 11:00AM-8:00PM
Kid Flicks × The Dark • Crandell Theatre at 1:00PM
Monday, February 16: Flow
Tuesday, February 17: Labyrinth
Wednesday, February 18: Spirited Away
Thursday, February 19: Where the Wild Things Are
Friday, February 20: Frankenweenie
Download the Bloomberg Connects app for your free festival guide, with the activities, performances, and a map to every locations.
THEATRE
MUSIC
Raven Chacon & David Lang / Williams College ensembles
Voiceless Mass and the little match girl passion
more info
