Raleigh arts, November 2026: Ancient Nubia at the NCMA to Jan. 10, Carolina Ballet's Jewels Nov. 19-22, Messiah Dec. 4-5 and the Nutcracker from Dec. 10.

The North Carolina Museum of Art’s Ancient Nubia runs through Jan. 10, Carolina Ballet’s Jewels plays Raleigh Memorial Auditorium Nov. 19-22, and the NC Symphony’s Handel’s Messiah is Dec. 4-5. Carolina Ballet’s Nutcracker opens Dec. 10, and Raleigh Little Theatre’s Cinderella runs Dec. 4-20.

Last checked Nov. 3, 2026. This page covers the next six weeks and is retitled each month. Every listing links to the organizer or venue; confirm times with them before you go. For everything else, see things to do this month and this weekend.

Where the venues are

  • North Carolina Museum of Art: 2110 Blue Ridge Road
  • Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts: 2 E. South St. (Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, Fletcher Opera Theater, Meymandi Concert Hall); box office 919-996-8700, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays
  • Raleigh Little Theatre: 301 Pogue St.
  • Artspace: 201 E. Davie St., 919-821-2787
  • Downtown parking: our parking guide

Exhibitions now showing

  • Ancient Nubia: Excavating Treasures of the Nile, North Carolina Museum of Art, East Building, through Sunday, Jan. 10, 2027. The museum’s ticketed fall show of treasures from ancient Nubia’s tombs and royal courts on the Nile. Tickets $20 for adults, $17 for seniors, $12 for students ages 7 to 22, free for children 6 and under and members. Exhibition page.
  • Nancy Baker Cahill: Ecologies of Scale, North Carolina Museum of Art, East Building and the Museum Park Ellipse, through Sunday, Jan. 31, 2027. Video installations, sculpture, works on paper and augmented reality pieces about the natural world. Free. On Thursday, Nov. 5, the museum projects her large videos onto the West Building during After Hours. Exhibition page.
  • Common Ground: Art, Nature, and People, college students’ work on nature and environmental justice, NCMA East Building Education Gallery, through May 30, 2027. Free opening from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7. Opening event.
  • FRESH 2026: Juried Exhibition, Artspace Gallery 2, 201 E. Davie St., through Thursday, Dec. 31. Also at Artspace: the Live Art Bid Preview in Gallery 1 through Saturday, Nov. 14, and the 12x12 Member Showcase in the corridors from Friday, Nov. 6, to Jan. 17. Artspace exhibitions.
  • Behind the Studio: A Pullen Community Exhibition, Pullen Arts Center, 105 Pullen Road, Monday, Nov. 9, to Jan. 9, 2027. Free. City arts page.

CAM Raleigh, the contemporary art museum in the Warehouse District, has paused exhibitions and programs while it plans its future, its exhibitions page says.

Theater and dance

  • Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Raleigh Little Theatre, closing weekend: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, and Saturday, Nov. 7, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8. Adults $33; seniors, students and military $30. Show page.
  • The Nutcracker, Carolina Youth Ballet, Fletcher Opera Theater, 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, and noon and 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14. Martin Marietta Center.
  • Knock Knock, Raleigh Little Theatre, Wednesday, Nov. 18, to Friday, Dec. 4. A 30-minute show for ages 5 and under, capped at 50 people. Shows at 10 a.m., 11:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., except Saturday, Nov. 21 (3 and 4:15 p.m.), and no shows Nov. 25-26. Adults $10, children under 12 $5; babies under 1 free with a reserved ticket. Show page.
  • Jewels, Carolina Ballet, Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, Thursday, Nov. 19, to Sunday, Nov. 22: 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, plus 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Martin Marietta Center.
  • The Seafarer, Conor McPherson’s play, Burning Coal Theatre Company, Murphey School Auditorium, 224 Polk St., Dec. 3-20: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays to Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Show page.
  • Cinderella, Raleigh Little Theatre, Cantey V. Sutton Theatre, Friday, Dec. 4, to Sunday, Dec. 20: 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 5:30 p.m. Saturdays, and 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sundays. Adults $38 to $42, children 12 and under $35 to $39, before taxes and fees. Show page.
  • Cary Ballet Company’s “The Nutcracker,” Fletcher Opera Theater, 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. Event page.
  • The Nutcracker, Carolina Ballet, Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, Thursday, Dec. 10, to Thursday, Dec. 24, with Tchaikovsky’s score played live. Every show time is on our Nutcracker page. Carolina Ballet.

Concerts and classical

NC Symphony concerts are at Meymandi Concert Hall, 2 E. South St.

  • Indigo Girls, Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5. Event page.
  • A Celebration of Diwali, NCMA SECU Auditorium, 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6. NCMA.
  • Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5, NC Symphony, 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, and Saturday, Nov. 7. Concert page.
  • North Carolina Master Chorale: America 250, Meymandi Concert Hall, 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8. Event page.
  • Isidore String Quartet, NCMA SECU Auditorium, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, $31. NCMA.
  • How to Train Your Dragon, NC Symphony plays the film score live, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, and 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14. Concert page.
  • Pianist Elia Cecino, NCMA SECU Auditorium, 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14. NCMA.
  • Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1, NC Symphony, 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, and Saturday, Nov. 21. Concert page.
  • Cirque Holiday Pops, NC Symphony, 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25; 3 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27; and 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28. Concert page.
  • A Motown Christmas, Fletcher Opera Theater, 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29. Event page.
  • Handel’s Messiah, NC Symphony, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, and 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. Concert page.
  • Salix Piano Trio, NCMA, 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6. NCMA.
  • North Carolina Master Chorale: Joy of the Season, Meymandi Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8. Event page.
  • Holiday Pops, NC Symphony, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, and 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, with a Friday Favorites performance at noon Friday, Dec. 11. Concert page; Friday Favorites.

Film

  • Set It Off, 30th anniversary screening, NCMA SECU Auditorium, 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7. NCMA.

Classes and workshops

  • Lasting Impressions: Clay Relief with Isys Hennigar, NCMA, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7. NCMA.
  • Foam Stamp Printing Workshop, city arts program, 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, Brentwood Park. City arts page.
  • Winter Lantern Walk, NCMA, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12. NCMA.

Regular events

  • NCMA After Hours, the museum’s free monthly evening, next 5:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5. NCMA.
  • Art on the Dot, short docent talks at the NCMA at 2:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, and free public tours at 1 p.m. on weekends. NCMA events.
  • The city’s Fall Arts Fair, free, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, Fred Fletcher Park; see our fall festivals page.

Send us your event

Running an exhibition, a show or a concert in Raleigh? Email hello@raleighnewsdaily.com with the date, time, venue, price and a photo. Listings are free, and they go on this page and in our diary.

Frequently asked questions

What art exhibitions are on in Raleigh right now?

Ancient Nubia runs at the North Carolina Museum of Art through Jan. 10, 2027, alongside the free Nancy Baker Cahill show through Jan. 31 and Common Ground through May 30. Artspace shows FRESH 2026 through Dec. 31, and the Pullen Arts Center community show opens Nov. 9.

How much are tickets to Ancient Nubia at the NCMA?

The museum lists $20 for adults, $17 for seniors 65 and older, $12 for students ages 7 to 22, and free entry for children 6 and under and for members.

When is Handel’s Messiah in Raleigh this year?

The NC Symphony plays Handel’s Messiah at Meymandi Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, and 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, according to the Martin Marietta Center.

When is the Nutcracker in Raleigh in 2026?

Carolina Ballet’s Nutcracker runs Dec. 10-24 at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium. Carolina Youth Ballet’s version is Nov. 13-14 and Cary Ballet Company’s is Saturday, Dec. 5, both at Fletcher Opera Theater.

Are there free arts events in Raleigh in November?

Yes. NCMA After Hours on Nov. 5, the Common Ground opening on Nov. 7, the city’s Fall Arts Fair on Nov. 7 and the Pullen Arts Center exhibition from Nov. 9 are free.