Key Takeaways
- Acute Inflections, a New York-based jazzy R&B and comedy duo, will perform in Macon on January 25, bringing a Harlem Renaissance revival scene to the Anderson Conference Center.
- The Macon City Auditorium, Atrium Health Amphitheater, and Macon Coliseum have a packed schedule for 2026, with performances by Bob Dylan, Larry the Cable Guy, Kamala Harris, and more.
- The Middle Georgia Lit Festival will be held on February 7 in Warner Robins, featuring over 80 writers and booksellers.
- The Macon arts community is thriving, with new artists, entrepreneurs, and events emerging, including the work of collage artist Maura Luccesse and artist Colin Penndorf.
- The community is built on three entwined threads: the art itself, the people who create it, and the resulting community that benefits from it aesthetically, economically, and spiritually.
Introduction to Macon’s Arts Scene
Macon’s first-ever Fashion Week, the Nutcracker of Middle Georgia’s 40th anniversary, and Joy Harjo’s Indigenous creativity were just a few of the arts and entertainment highlights of 2025. As we step into 2026, there are many exciting events and performances to look forward to. From music and comedy to literature and visual arts, Macon and Middle Georgia are poised to have a vibrant and creative year. In this article, we will explore some of the upcoming events and reflect on the highlights of 2025.
Upcoming Events in Macon
The Macon City Auditorium will host a range of performances, including Bob Dylan on April 22, Larry the Cable Guy on January 20, and Kamala Harris on February 11. The Atrium Health Amphitheater will feature The Masters of Funk on February 28, bluesman-guitar great Joe Bonamassa on March 20, Babyface on May 16, and the Goo Goo Dolls on August 27. Katt Williams will bring his Golden Age Tour to the Macon Coliseum on February 21, and the venue will also host Macon Mayhem hockey games and Monster Jam events. For fans of Irish music and dance, the Piedmont Grand Opera House will present "A Taste of Ireland" on January 15. The Bored Teachers’ comedy show, "Is It Friday Yet?," will be performed on January 22, and the Macon-Mercer Symphony Orchestra will continue its season on February 23.
Acute Inflections and the Harlem Renaissance Revival
Acute Inflections, a New York-based jazzy R&B and comedy duo, will transform the Anderson Conference Center into an elegant Harlem Renaissance revival scene on January 25. The duo has been featured on HBO, Amazon, and NPR, and their performance promises to be a unique and exciting event. With their blend of music and comedy, Acute Inflections will bring a touch of the Roaring Twenties to Macon, and their show is not to be missed.
The Middle Georgia Lit Festival and Other Literary Events
The Middle Georgia Lit Festival will be held on February 7 in Warner Robins, featuring over 80 writers and booksellers. This event promises to be a highlight of the literary calendar, with a range of authors and industry professionals in attendance. In addition to the festival, the Macon Film Guild will program a range of interesting films at the Douglass Theatre throughout the year. The guild will screen the Norwegian film "Sentimental Value" on January 11 and the documentary "Immediate Family" on January 20, which tracks the careers of legendary studio musicians Danny Kortchmar, Waddy Wachtel, Russ Kunkel, Leland Sklar, and Steve Postell.
Reflections on 2025 and the Macon Arts Community
Looking back on 2025, there were many highlights in the Macon arts community. The work of collage artist Maura Luccesse was a standout, with her painstakingly created collages made from cut magazine pieces. Artist Colin Penndorf also surprised with his talented work, from illustrating fantasy fiction to creative drawings and printmaking. Other elevated moments included celebrating Macon musical icon Newton Collier’s 80th birthday, attending the sold-out premiere of young local filmmaker Phillip Serafin Weaver’s "Midknight," and touring the newly relaunched childhood home of Little Richard as a museum honoring his career and the Pleasant Hill neighborhood he grew up in.
The Thread that Runs Through the Macon Arts Community
Throughout the Macon arts community, there is a thread that runs through all the events, performances, and exhibitions. This thread is composed of three entwined strands: the art itself, the people who create it, and the resulting community that benefits from it aesthetically, economically, and spiritually. As we look to the future, it is exciting to think about the new artists, entrepreneurs, and events that will emerge, and how they will contribute to the vibrant and creative community that is Macon. Whether it is a microblading and permanent makeup services studio, a community theater, or a top Macon tattoo artist, there are many talented individuals and organizations that make up the fabric of the Macon arts scene.
