What to do in Madison this weekend: Sept. 3-6, 2026

Max Weinberg's Jukebox, Taste of Madison and more Isthmus Picks

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Arts

  • Wisconsin at Work, Thursday, Sept. 3, History Maker Space, 5 p.m.: Wisconsin has a long history of working people organizing, and occasionally raising a little hell, for better working conditions. With “Wisconsin at Work,” the Wisconsin Historical Society presents a walking tour of downtown Madison tracing the people, places and movements that shaped labor rights from the mid-1800s through the 1970s. Comfortable shoes recommended; comfort with the status quo optional. The tour starts at the History Maker Space in the US Bank building on the Square; tickets at historicalmuseum.wisconsinhistory.org. (The tour repeats at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sept. 12.)
  • This Time, Thursday, Sept. 3, Crucible, 7 p.m.: Rockford punk band This Time seems to be having fun with putting together shows, judging by other recent bills on their Facebook page. This Madison event is described as “Who’s a Witch Idol,” with audience reaction (and a livestream to Salem, Massachusetts) determining which band earns a “fiery finale.” To learn how much of this is really happening, float to the Crucible, and also enjoy sets by Eldersea and Rad Skulls.
  • Big Ten/SEC Challenge Week, hrough Sept. 3, UW Field House: Somewhere along the way, college volleyball became incredibly cool…which may have snuck up on some of us. The Badgers team has certainly helped make that happen, and the UW Field House is one of the great places to watch the sport. The inaugural Big Ten/SEC Challenge Week tournament brings Minnesota, Florida and Auburn to Madison for three straight nights of volleyball; you can catch the Badgers at 7 p.m. on Sept. 2 (vs. Florida) and Sept. 3 (vs. Auburn). If you haven’t figured out why everyone suddenly seems to be talking about volleyball, this might be the week to find out. Check for tickets at uwbadgers.evenue.net.
  • Recollection: Exhibiting the Collection, through Dec. 23, Chazen Museum of Art: The Chazen has been closed over the summer to reconceive the way it presents its art — creating galleries that are thematically based around various related objects and less around the art’s country and century of origin. It’s a welcome shake-up. The temporary exhibition “Recollection: Exhibiting the Collection” foregrounds the thought behind the overall reorganization. The permanent collection will reopen this fall although no date has been announced. Read Kat Hans' preview here.
  • Comedy at the Cabaret, Thursday, Sept. 3, North Street Cabaret, 7:30 p.m.: The September Comedy at the Cabaret showcase is headlined by Craig Smith, runner-up in the 2026 Madison’s Funniest Comic competition with a witty storytelling style (see recent bits on losing a friend and ex-weed dealers for a sample). Smith is joined by Breanne Wilhite (also a MFC finalist this summer) and Shawn Vasquez, along with host Allie Lindsay. Find tickets at eventbrite.com.
  • Daikaiju, Thursday, Sept. 3, High Noon Saloon, 8 p.m.: A Daikaiju concert is an experience that is not soon forgotten (the band fittingly refers to them as “attacks”). Their surf-adjacent rock is played with punk abandon and the heavy aggression of metal, and the mysterious band has remained anonymous for more than 25 years, hidden behind kabuki masks and never speaking on stage. Madison’s own one-man surf-punk-garage frenzy ROBOMAN is an appropriate opener. Tickets at ticketmaster.com.
  • Gigi Mosconi, through Oct. 3, Textile Arts Center; reception Sept. 12, 5:30-7:30 p.m.: The Textile Arts Center is a worthy venue centering the fiber arts. Its latest gallery exhibit, “Moving the Needle,” showcases the quilts of Gigi Mosconi, in this retrospective of four decades of making. Mosconi started with more traditional quilts, moving to embrace geometrics, bold colors and improvisation to create exhilarating, invigorating, thoughtful and contemporary works of graphic and textile art. A reception will be held 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Sept. 12. Gallery hours are noon-4 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
  • Paoli Art in the Park, Sept. 5-6, Paoli Park, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.: Paoli Art in the Park takes over this tiny village with all sorts of things you won’t know you need until you see them. The juried show brings together more than 80 local and regional artists from A (wearable art by Gerri Ager) to Z (paintings and sculpture by Ray Zovar). Wander through the art, poke around the shops, grab something to eat, and stick around for music at The Mill. Paoli knows how to make an afternoon of it.
  • Commercial Ave. Bazaar, Saturday, Sept. 5, Commercial Avenue, noon-7 p.m.: You know Monroe Street and Willy Street for their charming, walkable shopping blocks. The time has come to celebrate the underappreciated but aptly named Commercial Avenue! It’s undergoing a renaissance, and this day of specials highlights its most walkable blocks. Participating are Lost Lakes Tattoo and Treasure Chest, It’s Good For You Pizza and Patricia’s Market (which includes a taqueria/deli), the artist’s spaces Communication and Roundhouse Studios, and a couple of businesses right around the corner on Pennsylvania Avenue — LeafLife, a cannabis shop that will feature live music, and The Kiln Shed, with a ceramics sale featuring wares made by its members. And yes. The Museum of Raccoons (at Roundhouse) will have activities and a self-guided tour option. Chitter chitter. More info at facebook.com/events/1568397795012305.
  • Taste of Madison, Sept. 5-6, Capitol Square: Not only does the Square become a massive food court for this yearly event, it becomes a music festival. Whether you’re here for the nosh, the mosh, or both, there’s plenty to choose from. Music centers on local faves like Madison County, SuperTuesday and The Mascot Theory, among others; an exception is national country artist Graham Barham (5:45 p.m. Sunday). While you’re listening, try out various cuisines from restos, carts and caterers. Don’t miss the coxinha (meat pies) from Zelinda’s Brazilian Bakery, the Chinese “burger” from Uyghur Grill, masala parm from Zafferano, and for anyone looking for the archetypal Wisconsin experience, a red brat from State Street Brats and fried curds from Curd Girl. Hours are 2-9 p.m. Sept. 5 and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sept. 6. More info at tasteofmadison.com.
  • The Dig In, Saturday, Sept. 5, East Side Club, 2-8:30 p.m.: The Dig In, a concert highlighting regional bands and hosted by Madison trio Free Dirt, has become a Labor Day weekend tradition over the last five years. The setting, along the shore of Lake Monona in the backyard of the East Side Club, can’t be beat, and the music can’t be either, with this year’s lineup also including country-rockin' This is Gary, power pop heroes Heavy Looks, eclectic fuzzsters Lunar Moth, and categorize-at-your-own-risk Earthlings.

Uncle Vanya, through Sept. 5, American Players Theatre, Spring Green: Remember the old SNL game show skit “Meet Your Second Wife”? Well, not that this is the Russian realist version of that, but there is a young second wife involved in Uncle Vanya, and when does that go well? The scene: Vanya and his niece, Sonya, have worked the family land to support her father, who now lives at the estate with said second wife. This new adaptation by APT’s Nate Burger is part of World Premiere Wisconsin, the statewide festival promoting throughout 2026. The final performance is at 7 p.m. Sept. 5; tickets at americanplayers.org.

  • Steal This Story, Please! Saturday, Sept. 5, Barrymore, 7:30 p.m.: The 2025 documentary Steal This Story, Please! tells the tale of journalist Amy Goodman’s tenacious, decades-long work to expose the truth about consequential events around the world, most often as co-host of the independent news program Democracy Now! Goodman will appear along with the film’s directors, Tia Lessin and Carl Deal, at this screening hosted by The Progressive and WORT-FM (which airs Democracy Now! in Madison). Tickets at barrymorelive.com.
  • Max Weinberg's Jukebox, Sunday, Sept. 6, Majestic, 7:30 p.m.: Longtime E Street drummer Max Weinberg has never shied away from other projects; Bruce Springsteen calls him “the hardest working drummer in show business.” He spent decades leading the house bands for Conan O’Brien’s late-night TV shows, and for the past several years he’s taken the interactive Max Weinberg’s Jukebox to clubs all over the place, inviting audiences to create the set list in real time by choosing songs from a video menu with more than 200 options. Beatles! Stones! Zeppelin! Even Springsteen! Weinberg and his band will perform them at your request. This could be the most fun you’ve had on a Sunday night in months. Tickets at ticketmaster.com.

Find the individual Picks collected here, and as part of the full calendar of events.