SPAC Lawn SeatingFor the New York City Ballet & The Philadelphia Orchestra, Co-sponsored by the Times Union and Skidmore College

Honoring SPAC’s Opening in 1966 - Celebrating 60 Years of Art, Nature & Community

Saratoga Springs, NY (April 23, 2026) – As part of its 60th anniversary celebrations, Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) today announced a special $19.66 Anniversary Lawn Ticket promotion for most performances by New York City Ballet and The Philadelphia Orchestra this summer. Co-sponsored by the Times Union and Skidmore College, this initiative honors SPAC’s founding year—1966—while advancing its mission to make world-class performing arts accessible to all, inviting new audiences and longtime supporters alike to experience performances in its iconic outdoor setting.

“Since opening our gates in 1966, SPAC has been a place where the transformative power of the arts meets the beauty of the natural world—bringing people together in shared experiences of connection and inspiration,” said Elizabeth Sobol, Chief Executive Officer of Saratoga Performing Arts Center. “As we celebrate our 60th anniversary, the $19.66 ticket initiative honors that legacy while reaffirming our commitment to accessibility—ensuring that performances by New York City Ballet and The Philadelphia Orchestra remain within reach for as many members of our community as possible. We are deeply grateful to the Times Union and Skidmore College for their partnership in helping us expand access and welcome even more people to SPAC for this season.”

“As SPAC marks its 60th Anniversary Season, the Times Union is proud to co-sponsor the $19.66 Anniversary Lawn Ticket promotion—helping more Capital Region residents experience world-class performances while advancing our mission to inform, inspire, and engage our community. It’s especially meaningful to support an institution whose origins trace back to Knickerbocker News editorial writer Duane La Fleche, who helped spark the idea that became the Saratoga Performing Arts Center,” said George Hearst III, Publisher and CEO of the Times Union.

“Skidmore College is proud to continue our long-standing partnership with Saratoga Performing Arts Center as it celebrates 60 years of bringing exceptional artists and audiences together in our region, while fostering a strong sense of community through the arts. At Skidmore, we believe that Creative Thought Matters, and our collaboration with SPAC reflects the values we share—a commitment to creativity, connection, and community. We are especially pleased to support the $19.66 Lawn Ticket promotion to expand access to performances, creating more opportunities for people across our community to engage with the arts in meaningful and lasting ways,” said Marc C. Conner, President of Skidmore College.

The $19.66 Anniversary Lawn Ticket offer is valid for performances by New York City Ballet, returning to SPAC from July 8–11, with a season featuring A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the first ballet performed on the SPAC stage in 1966, in addition to works by Balanchine, Robbins, and a new ballet by Tiler Peck. The Philadelphia Orchestra follows with its three-week summer residency from August 5–22, led by Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, with a season spanning classical masterworks, including Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony; an opening “Tchaikovsky Spectacular” featuring the 1812 Overture, and an “American Dreams” program with two-time Tony® Award–winning Broadway star Brian Stokes Mitchell that honors the nation’s 250th anniversary.  

Tickets for the promotion are available now at spac.org (online purchases are subject to service fees). Beginning May 16, the SPAC Box Office will officially open for the season, offering community members the opportunity to purchase tickets with no additional fees in person.

The $19.66 Anniversary Lawn Ticket offer excludes Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ – Part 1 in Concert, Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert, Josh Groban with The Philadelphia Orchestra: Stage, Screen & Symphony and Gregory Alan Isakov with The Philadelphia Orchestra. Additional restrictions may apply, visit spac.org for details.   

SPAC’s 60th anniversary is being celebrated throughout 2026 with a series of special performances, events, and initiatives that honor its legacy as a home for world-class artists while highlighting its continued evolution as a year-round cultural destination. Additional announcements tied to SPAC’s 60th anniversary season will be revealed in the months ahead.

To follow along and be the first to receive updates, visit spac.org and follow Saratoga Performing Arts Center on social media.

Saratoga Performing Arts Center

Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), located in the historic resort town of Saratoga Springs in upstate New York, is one of America’s most prestigious outdoor amphitheaters. Its exquisite setting in a 2,400-acre park preserve surrounded by hiking trails, geysers, and natural mineral springs draws lovers of arts, culture and nature for performances by resident companies New York City Ballet, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Saratoga Jazz Festival, and concerts by Live Nation. SPAC also hosts imaginative programming such as Caffè Lena @ SPAC and initiatives in culinary, literary, healing and visual arts.  

SPAC is a 501c3 charitable organization. Donations and proceeds from fundraising events benefit the Center’s thriving education program, community outreach efforts, and the vibrancy of its programming. For more information visit spac.org.

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