Come Be Here: Krannert Center's Opening Night Party is September 3!
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will kick off their 2026-27 season with an Opening Night Party Thursday, September 3. The evening’s theme, “Celebrate Community!” will include free live performances by musical artists from several different cultures, plus food, interactive displays, family-friendly activities, and an opportunity to get free tickets to an upcoming Fighting Illini football game.
“Our community is home to people from many cultures around the world, thanks in large part to the University of Illinois,” Sean Kutzko, Krannert Center’s Assistant Communications Director, said. “One of the best ways to celebrate and learn about our amazingly diverse community is through music, and our Opening Night Party is where everyone can come together to dance and celebrate this diversity.”
The Opening Night Party begins on the Quad, as the Chicago-based eccentric, genre-bending marching band Mucca Pazza, accompanied by large-scale puppets created by the Chicago International Puppet Festival, will lead a procession to the Krannert Center outdoor amphitheatre at 4:30pm to open the party. As part of the Celebrate Community! theme, everyone in the community is welcome to join the procession! Mucca Pazza will then take the amphitheatre stage at 5pm to get the party started!
The rest of the evening’s music moves inside the Krannert Center lobby: legendary ensemble Antibalas will bring their Afrobeat energy in the style of Nigerian master musician and activist Fela Kuti at 6pm, followed by Cumbia-inspired rhythms from Guatemala’s Doctor Nativo at 7pm. Bollywood and Bhangra-inspired music from South Asia from Funkadesi fills the lobby at 8pm, and Champaign-Urbana’s own DJ Siklee will close out Opening Night with her set beginning at 9pm.
In addition to free music, food and beverages for purchase will be available from local vendors, including Stango Cuisine and Krannert Center’s own Intermezzo Cafe and Stage 5 Bar. There will also be a photo booth from Liv & Joy, plus crafts and activities the entire family can enjoy.
Thanks to the University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics, the first 500 attendees of the Opening Night Party can pick up a voucher for two free tickets to the Fighting Illini football game against the Southern Illinois University Salukis on Saturday, September 19 at 1pm at Gies Memorial Stadium. These vouchers are first come, first served and will be available at the Krannert Center information table in the lobby.
“Opening Night is always a celebration of everything Krannert Center offers our community,” Kutzko said. “We invite all to Come Be Here and help us launch our 57th season of world-class music, theatre and dance performances by some of the greatest artists from around the globe.”
Complete information on Krannert Center’s Opening Night Party, as well as their entire season calendar of events, can be found online at KrannertCenter.com.