Every year Aspen’s arts and culture community delivers an action-packed summer of events. Local organizations present enriching arts and culture experiences, including music festivals, art exhibitions, theatre performances, and more. The arts and culture community hosts artists ranging from internationally recognized talent to emerging stars, making Aspen an experience like no other!
History & Literature
Aspen Historical Society provides a variety of opportunities to learn about Aspen's intriguing past. From Ute hunting grounds to a silver mining town to a world-renowned ski resort, Aspen has a compelling history. AHS offers historical tours, museum exhibits, and events that will entertain and immerse you in Aspen's history.
- .Aspen Words - Summer Words returns to Aspen/Snowmass June 22-27. Recognized as one of the nation’s top literary gatherings, Summer Words is a six-day celebration of words, stories, and ideas in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. One on one sessions, panel discussions, and advanced workshops with renowned authors and teachers challenge and inspire writers.
Music
- JAS June Experience, from June 26-29, features four days of performances from talented musicians. Shows are hosted at 12 different venues around downtown Aspen, giving concert goers the chance to explore the town and enjoy live music in a range of settings.
- Aspen Music Festival and School - From July 2 - August 24 the summer festival will feature renowned guest artists and top music students from around the world. Concerts venues include the Michael Klein Music Tent, Joan and Irving Harris Concert Hall, and the Wheeler Opera House. Enjoy music after dining or while perusing the streets as many students hold impromptu concerts around downtown Aspen.
- Up in the Sky, from August 8-9, is a new music festival hosted at the base of Buttermilk Mountain. Headliners include Rüfüs Du Sol, Kacey Musgraves, and Glass Animals, among other big names, giving concert goers the chance to enjoy some of the world’s most talented artists in a scenic outdoor venue.
- Belly Up Aspen, an intimate 450-person music club, and the Wheeler Opera House, Aspen’s historic theater and stage, host impressive lineups. Belly Up’s summer calendar includes performances from Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Stephen Marley, Mon Rovîa, Lyle Lovett and His Large Band, Wallflowers and many more. The Wheeler Opera House presents its own festivals, live music, and stand-up comedy performances, among others.
- JAS Labor Day Experience is an open-air music festival from August 29-31. Held in Snowmass Town Park, the festival offers a variety of local food and beverage vendors, VIP experiences, and a stunning backdrop of the Elk Mountain Range. The 2025 Experience features major headliners: Image Dragons, Lenny Kravitz, and Luke Combs.
Performing Arts
- Theatre Aspen has received national acclaim and performs a rotating schedule of productions for both adults and families. The Hurst Theatre, located adjacent to the serene John Denver Sanctuary, is a short stroll from downtown Aspen. From June 12 - August 23, Theatre Aspen will perform classics, including Driving Miss Daisy, Mamma Mia!, and Million Dollar Quartet.
Visual Arts
Anderson Ranch Arts Center will host their annual summer series starting on July 9. The series kicks off with Ranch Week to honor the recipient of the 2025 International Artist Award, Titus Kaphar. Kaphar is known for addressing social and cultural issues through his contemporary art. The Summer Series features a lineup of artists, including some of the most influential of our time, and hosts insightful conversations.
The Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies is a center for the study of art and culture located near downtown Aspen. The Bayer Center is operated by the Aspen Institute and preserves the art and legacy of Herbert Bayer (1900–1985), an influential modern artist and designer who studied and taught at the Bauhaus. The Bayer Center is introducing a new exhibition on June 10, titled Sculpting the Environment: The Three-Dimensional Art of Herbert Bayer. The exhibition showcases over 100 works by Bayer, focusing on his outdoor sculptures and land art.
Aspen Art Museum, located in the heart of downtown Aspen, features contemporary art and drives cultural change through exhibitions, critical dialogues, and community engagement. AIR 2025, a closed-door retreat for artists, concludes with the AIR Festival from July 29-31, inviting the public to experience performances, new artworks, and interdisciplinary dialogues. Stay tuned for new summer exhibitions.
The Red Brick Center for the Arts is an art gallery and art center, showcasing unique artworks and acting as a local hub for creativity. The center will continue to display the Aspen City Hall Exhibition, featuring the works of talented local and regional artists, in addition to introducing two new exhibitions: Wendi Schneider: Reverent Alchemy and 2025 Colorado Juried.
Intellectual
Aspen Ideas: Health is an annual program that hosts conversations with over 150 innovators, exploring the future of health, medicine, and science. Attendees can choose from over 60 sessions with 6 themes guiding the programming. The four day event considers medical advances, politics, and natural and manmade disasters, gathering some of the sharpest thinkers to spark ideas.
Aspen Ideas Festival - The annual festival returns to the Aspen Institute campus from June 25 – July 1. Attendees will unite for stimulating and thought-provoking conversations with some of the brightest, most interesting thinkers and doers. Leaders from around the globe and across a variety of disciplines will engage in deep and inquisitive discussions about the ideas and issues that shape our lives and challenge our times.
Bonus! There are plenty of other local events to explore this summer. Check out our events calendar to stay up to date on all of the happenings.
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