The 11 best things to do in Greater Boston this weekend

September 18–20, 2026 · handpicked from everything on across Greater Boston.

This weekend leans into live music and one-off happenings, from a Taiwanese film showcase kicking off Friday at the MFA to a Sunday overflowing with shows spanning folk, jazz-inflected collaborations, and comedy. Open studios in the South End and an immersive courtroom drama round out a weekend that rewards wandering between Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville.

Taiwan Film Festival of Boston (Friday, September 18–Sunday, September 20, 2026)Friday · 12:00 AM · Museum of Fine Arts, Boston · BostonA three-day showcase of Taiwanese cinema at the MFA running Friday through Sunday, a good anchor for kicking off the weekend with something outside the usual rotation.SOUTH END OPEN STUDIOSSaturday · 11:00 AM · Artist Studios Building · BostonA dozen-plus artists throw open their studio doors in the South End, a low-key Saturday way to see working art spaces and talk to the people making the work.Sam Barber - The American Route TourSunday · 7:00 PM · Leader Bank Pavilion · BostonSam Barber brings his American Route Tour to the outdoor Leader Bank Pavilion, a rain-or-shine headline show with the kind of big-room energy that closes out a weekend well.Nick HakimSunday · 8:00 PM · The Sinclair Music Hall · CambridgeNick Hakim's soulful R&B lands at the Sinclair, an intimate Cambridge room that suits his moody, textured sound.Esther RoseSunday · 8:00 PM · Somerville Theatre · SomervilleEsther Rose brings her indie folk songwriting to the Somerville Theatre for a general-admission, standing-room show.Horse FeathersSunday · 7:00 PM · Club Passim · CambridgeHorse Feathers plays the small, listening-room confines of Club Passim, a fitting home for their quiet, folk-leaning sound.Colin Stetson & Brìghde ChaimbeulSunday · 8:00 PM · Institute of Contemporary Art · BostonSaxophonist Colin Stetson and piper Brìghde Chaimbeul bring their collaborative album 'All the Light in the World' to the ICA, a rare pairing of deep improvisation and ancient instrumentation.The Jury Experience — Diamonds, Lies, and a Dead Man in Boston!Sunday · 4:30 PM · Regent Theatre · ArlingtonStep into jury duty at the Regent Theatre, where the audience hears testimony and evidence in a staged courtroom mystery and votes on the verdict.Bassem Youssef: The Belly of the Beast TourSunday · 7:00 PM · The Wilbur · BostonBassem Youssef brings his Belly of the Beast tour to the Wilbur, a chance to catch a sharp, internationally known comedic voice in a classic Boston theater.Commonwealth Pen ShowSunday · 8:00 AM · SomervilleThousands of vintage and modern pens fill this weekend-long show, with inks, paper, and pen repairs for anyone who appreciates the tactile side of writing.Rhinoceros (Sun Sep 20, 2:00 PM)Sunday · 2:00 PM · Loeb Drama Center · CambridgeIonesco's absurdist classic Rhinoceros plays at the Loeb Drama Center, following one man's resistance as everyone around him literally transforms into the herd.

Looking for the current weekend? See what’s on in Greater Boston this weekend →