The Dark, a new annual festival from PS21 Center for Contemporary Performance in Chatham, will celebrate and elevate the depths of winter from February 16 to 22, 2026.
The festival will unfold at PS21 and across Columbia County, including theatres, restaurants, libraries, saunas, and outdoor public spaces, featuring more than 60 international artists and 80 performances overall. The Dark offers a packed week of world-class contemporary performance, installation, music, dance, and theater, all exploring winter as a time of community and solitude, fire and ice cold, 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.
Venues taking part in The Dark include:
PS21 : Center for Contemporary Performance “The Dark”
Pavillion • Pond • Tent Site • Animal Haven • Black Box Theater • Grounds
Chatham – Chatham Public Library • Chatham Bookstore • Crandell Theatre • Masonic Hall • St. James Church • Stonykill Coffee & Records
Ghent – Art OMI
Hudson – Basilica • Creative Legion • Hudson Hall • Pocketbook • Time Space Limited
Kinderhook – Kinderhook Knitting Mill
Spencertown – Spencertown Academy
While the full festival lineup drops in early January, the earliest announced performances include the following:
Andrew Schneider • NOWISWHENWEARE (the stars) • PS21 Black Box Theater • Chatham
Okwui Okpokwasili & Peter Born: sweat variant • my tongue is a blade • US premiere • Hudson Hall • Hudson
Tim Etchells/Bert & Nasi • L’Addition • US premiere • Time & Space Limited • Hudson
Lee Ranaldo & Leah Singer • ContreJour • Basilica Hudson • Hudson
Trisha Brown Dance Company • In Plain Site • Masonic Hall • Chatham
Purchasing tickets individually for all events would total $875, but The Dark Festival Pass saves you 60%. An Early Bird Festival Pass runs $350 and is available until January 10 – tickets here.
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