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Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade
What to do in Madison this week: June 15-18, 2026
This week's picks also include an album release for Paul Otteson; a candidate forum for candidates in the 76th Assembly District
What's New
Linda Falkenstein
Save a shed? Hail, yes!
Cheryl Balazs’ detached garage happens to be a 100-year-old Trachte shed. Can a dream team bring it back?
Jun 15, 2026
Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade
What to do in Madison this week: June 15-18, 2026
This week's picks also include an album release for Paul Otteson; a candidate forum for candidates in the 76th Assembly District
Jun 15, 2026
Anna Nikolay
Kidney night
The action of Joyce’s famous modernist novel 'Ulysses' all takes place on June 16, 1904. The day has grown into an annual celebration of the author’s life and work, named after Leopold Bloom, 'Ulysses'’s Homeric hero.
Jun 12, 2026
Michael Brosilow
Isthmus' 2026 Madison area summer theater and dance calendar
Botanical gardens, state parks, children's museums, churches, historic schools — all the world's a stage during summer, and here's a roundup for the Madison/Dane County area.
Jun 12, 2026
Molly Leimontas
Isthmus' 2026 Madison summer outdoor music calendar
Dust off the lawn chairs and locate the sunscreen…it's summer. Here’s our 2026 roundup of outdoor concert series and music festival schedules in Madison, Dane County and further afield.
Jun 12, 2026
A Madison birth story
Having a baby was all very “first comes love, then comes marriage” of us, especially during a time when many folks in our generation are choosing not to have kids because of (gestures broadly at everything).
Jun 12, 2026
Tommy Washbush
Lake City Books is not moving far
Since opening its doors in April 2023, Lake City Books has become a vibrant part of the city’s literary community, and now has hit a space ceiling at its current location.
Jun 11, 2026
Linda Falkenstein
Wednesday 'pop-ups' launch at Madison Public Market
The inaugural June Wednesday pop-up included a variety of small businesses.
Jun 11, 2026
Tom Kobinsky
What to do in Madison this weekend: June 11-14, 2026
Weekend picks include the return of the Marquette Waterfront Festival; pianist Marilyn Crispell renews her collaboration with the trio of Jason Stein, Damon Smith and Adam Shead.
Jun 11, 2026
Courtesy MMoCA
Tall Grass will focus on farm-to-table cuisine on State Street
The restaurant, from the museum and executive chef Elena Terry, will be in the first-floor space that was formerly its gift shop.
Jun 9, 2026
Courtesy Boys & Girls Club of Dane County
Madison mourns Michael Johnson after his abrupt passing
Michael Johnson worked to support kids and close opportunity gaps as head of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County. A candlelight vigil to honor him is scheduled for Tuesday.
Jun 9, 2026
Community Shares of Wisconsin Backyard Hero: Margaret Brauer
Each month Community Shares of Wisconsin presents the Backyard Hero Award to organizations and people making change happen in our community. This month’s hero is Margaret Brauer.
Jun 8, 2026
Helping journalists find their power
Journalists are starting to advocate for solutions to the challenges facing local news. It can be a bit uncomfortable.
Jun 8, 2026
9:00 AM
Tommy Washbush
Wisconsin elections panel chair wary of pre-election judicial rulings
There have been attempts to make major election changes prior to the 2026 partisan election but ‘not much of substance’ has passed, says the new chair of the Wisconsin Elections Commission.
Jun 8, 2026
9:00 AM
Carsten Herwig
What to do in Madison this week: June 8-11 2026
This week's picks also include two jazz concerts by the Edgar Knecht Trio, visiting from sister county Kassel, Germany; Madison Reading Project's paper fashions runway show Read(y) to Wear.
Jun 8, 2026
5:07 AM
Ryan Wisniewski
Isthmus threw some killer parties
Over its 50-year history Isthmus has hosted some great parties. Many engaged our readers and some made money.
Jun 7, 2026
9:00 AM
Magnific
See you in September
Citizen Dave will be taking the summer off from his blog to find a publisher for his next book project.
Jun 6, 2026
9:00 AM
Ethan Krause
SummerTimes 2026: Carpe diem!
Madison, Dane County and Wisconsin in general have plenty of warm weather activities. We take a closer look into some new, and some tried-and-true.
Jun 6, 2026
8:00 AM
Courtesy Concerts on the Square
Madison packs symphonies, sonatas, concertos and more into three short months
As summer begins, Madison’s music groups put the final touches on shows they have prepared for months.
Jun 6, 2026
8:00 AM
Ray Erickson
Isthmus' 2026 summer festival calendar
Locate those lawn chairs, picnic baskets and sunscreen…it's summer. Here’s our 2026 calendar covering festivals and annual special events in Madison, Dane County and around the state.
Jun 5, 2026
2:02 PM
Chali Pittman
Dane County Board approves data center moratorium
The Dane County Board got to some big issues in four hours: a data center moratorium, resolution on gender-affirming care, a replacement for Flock cameras, and restart of a contract for jail communications.
Jun 5, 2026
2:00 PM
Susan Kaye
Marigold Kitchen brings waterside dining to Brittingham Boats
Grab a coffee, go for a paddle, and end with breakfast or lunch from Marigold Kitchen’s new food truck at Brittingham Park, Thursdays through Sundays.
Jun 5, 2026
12:15 PM
Tommy Washbush / Magnific
Abortion by mail
While the nation's courts continue to litigate the idea of abortion access through the mail, a UW-Madison research center finds that most Americans are fine with it.
Jun 5, 2026
10:00 AM
Lizzy Larson
Did Ismael Ozanne drop the ball on Ridglan Farms?
Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne turned down repeated calls to prosecute the Madison-area dog breeding and research facility.
Jun 5, 2026
10:00 AM
In the June issue
SummerTimes 2026: Carpe diem!
Madison, Dane County and Wisconsin in general have plenty of warm weather activities. We take a closer look into some new, and some tried-and-true.
Did Ismael Ozanne drop the ball on Ridglan Farms?
Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne turned down repeated calls to prosecute the Madison-area dog breeding and research facility.
The final piece of Judge Doyle Square
A “green spine” or a parking lot? Apartments or a future city hall? The city is mulling the temporary and permanent future of the last vacant lot in Judge Doyle Square.
Child marriage with parental consent is still legal in Wisconsin
Nearly 300 16- and 17-year-olds were married in Wisconsin over the past decade.
Mineral Point combines history, art and…pasties
Some locals describe Mineral Point as a Brigadoon — a remote and magical place, where anything is possible and diversity is welcome.
Water for Elephants
Touring Broadway production, 6/16-21, Overture Center-Overture Hall, at 7:30 pm Tuesdays-Fridays, 2 & 7:30 pm Saturdays and 1 & 6:30 pm Sundays.
Jun 16, 2026
7:30 PM
Home Grown
Exhibit (in conjunction with Midwest Linen Revival's Field to Frock events series) focusing s on the use of materials sourced from the Midwest, 6/17-8/8 (reception 5:30-7:30 pm, 6/26). Gallery hours: Noon-4 pm Wed.-Fri., 10 am-4 pm Sat.
Jun 17, 2026Aug 8, 2026
76th Assemby District Candidates Forum
SASY Neighborhood Association, Williamson Marquette Business Alliance and Indivisible Madison East event, with Isaia Ben-Ami, Juliana Bennett, Tony Castañeda, Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford, Zoe Sullivan, moderator Chali Pittman (Isthmus).
Jun 17, 2026
5:00 PM8:00 PM
