Albuquerque Music Under the Stars 2026 — The Complete Guide to the 35th Annual Season

Note to publisher: verify updated lineup details at nmjazz.org or outpostspace.org before publishing. This guide is current as of June 9, 2026.

 

Music Under the Stars is the Albuquerque summer concert series that has outlasted trends, economic cycles, and the pandemic — returning every June through August for 35 consecutive years to the Albuquerque Museum Amphitheater with the specific combination of salsa, jazz, blues, and Latin music that has made it the most reliably attended free-and-low-cost summer concert series in the city. This guide covers the complete 2026 season.

The Essential Facts — 2026 Season at a Glance

"For 35 years, Music Under the Stars has brought live music, dancing and community gatherings to the Albuquerque Museum Amphitheater. This summer, the long-running concert series returns with a lineup featuring salsa, jazz, blues and Latin music, continuing a tradition that organizers say has endured by responding to what audiences want. Presented by Outpost Performance Space and the New Mexico Jazz Workshop, the series runs June 12 through Aug. 28. Friday evenings feature the popular Salsa y Más concerts, while Saturdays focus on jazz and blues performances," confirmed The Paper's June 9, 2026 preview of Music Under the Stars 2026.

• Anniversary: 35th annual season — the series began in 1991 at the Albuquerque Museum Amphitheater
• Dates: June 12 through August 28, 2026
• Venue: Albuquerque Museum Amphitheater, 2000 Mountain Road NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104 (Old Town adjacent)
• Schedule: Friday evenings: Salsa y Más; Saturday evenings: Jazz and Blues. Shows run 7:00-10:00 pm; doors open at 6:30 pm.
• Weather policy: Rain or shine — the series holds regardless of weather conditions
• Food and drink: Available on-site from Slate at the Museum
• Tickets and passes: Full season and half season passes available. Individual show tickets also available. Check nmjazz.org or outpostspace.org for current pricing and purchase.
• Presenters: Outpost Performance Space and the New Mexico Jazz Workshop (NMJW) — which formally merged in January 2026 to create a combined organization serving Albuquerque's jazz and Latin music community.

The 35th Anniversary — Why This Series Has Lasted

"The Outpost Performance Space, which merged with the New Mexico Jazz Workshop (NMJW) in January 2026, is pleased to announce its 2026 Summer Season, anchored by the Jazz Workshop's long-running series, Music Under the Stars at the Albuquerque Museum, now in its 35th year! The full series runs through August 28 and Full and Half Season Passes are available for purchase," confirmed Outpost Performance Space's 2026 summer season announcement (April 15, 2026).

The series that began in 1991 with the New Mexico Jazz Workshop has survived because it has always responded to what Albuquerque audiences specifically want from a summer concert experience:

• A specific venue: The Albuquerque Museum Amphitheater in Old Town is among the most beautiful outdoor concert settings in the city — adobe architecture, museum garden, the Sandia Mountains to the east, and the summer evening sky overhead. The physical setting is as much a part of the event as the music.
• A specific format: Fridays for salsa dancing. Saturdays for jazz listening and blues storytelling. The two-format structure serves two distinct audiences without compromising either. The Friday salsa dancer who would not attend a Saturday jazz set, and the Saturday jazz devotee who is not there to dance — both have their evening.
• Specifically Albuquerque programming: The series consistently features New Mexico-based artists alongside national acts — the local salsa ensembles that have been performing in Albuquerque for decades alongside Grammy-winning artists from New York. The programming roots the series in the local music community rather than importing entertainment from elsewhere.
• The organizational continuity: The 2026 merger of the Outpost Performance Space and the New Mexico Jazz Workshop creates a more unified organization to sustain and grow the series into its next decade. The merger specifically combines the Outpost's venue and programming infrastructure with the NMJW's community education mission.

The 2026 Opening Weekend — June 12-13

Friday, June 12 — Son Como Son (Salsa y Más Opening Night)

Son Como Son opens the 35th annual season on Friday, June 12 at 7:30 pm. One of Albuquerque's longest-standing and most popular salsa ensembles, Son Como Son specializes in Cuban salsa — the specific rhythmically complex, improvisational style that originated in Cuba's dance halls and became the foundation of the international salsa movement. For the opening night of Music Under the Stars' 35th season, the organizers chose the ensemble that best represents what Friday nights have meant at the Museum Amphitheater for three and a half decades.

The Friday Salsa y Más format is specifically designed for dancing. The Museum Amphitheater's open floor space in front of the stage becomes a dance floor by the first chorus of the first song. The crowd who comes to Salsa y Más consistently includes accomplished salsa dancers alongside complete beginners who learn from watching. No prior experience required; you are welcome at whatever skill level you arrive with.

Saturday, June 13 — Albuquerque Jazz Orchestra Swing Dance with Hillary Smith

The Saturday opening features the Albuquerque Jazz Orchestra — one of New Mexico's premier big band jazz ensembles — in a Swing Dance format with vocalist Hillary Smith, a native of Albuquerque. The Swing Dance format specifically invites couples and solo dancers onto the floor in the big band tradition that predates salsa's arrival in American dance culture. The combination of a full jazz orchestra in the outdoor amphitheater setting on an early June evening with the Sandia Mountains visible above the stage is one of the most elegant summer concert experiences available in the city.

June 20 — Evolution of the Blues

The June 20 program — "Evolution of the Blues" — is the 2026 season's most specifically educational evening: a performance that explores the history and development of blues music through live performances and storytelling, tracing the music from its roots in the American South through its various evolutions and modern expressions.

"That will be a very interesting show," noted organizer Maes in The Paper's June 2026 preview. "It's really just explaining and expressing how blues has come to be in this country." The storytelling-plus-performance format makes the Evolution of the Blues evening specifically accessible for audience members who are new to blues music as well as compelling for longtime listeners who appreciate the contextual framing.

The Full 2026 Lineup — Confirmed and Upcoming Performers

The full 2026 lineup beyond the opening weekend includes an expanded blues program and a range of nationally and locally recognized artists:

• Son Como Son: Albuquerque's premier Cuban salsa ensemble. Opening night June 12 and likely return appearances throughout the season.
• Albuquerque Jazz Orchestra: New Mexico's big band jazz ensemble, performing the Swing Dance format with vocalist Hillary Smith on June 13.
• Flor de Toloache: A Grammy Award-winning all-female mariachi ensemble from New York City — one of the most nationally recognized mariachi acts in North America. The combination of a Grammy-winning mariachi act in the Albuquerque Museum's Old Town Amphitheater, surrounded by the adobe architecture of the city's founding neighborhood, is specifically resonant.
• Orrin Evans Trio: Orrin Evans is one of the most critically acclaimed jazz pianists of the modern era — a Philly-based pianist whose recordings have been recognized by the New York Times, Rolling Stone, and DownBeat. His trio setting at Music Under the Stars is specifically the kind of intimate encounter with serious jazz talent that ticket prices for major jazz festivals would not make accessible.
• Nosotros: Latin music act from the Music Under the Stars 2026 lineup.
• Son Habana: A Cuban son and salsa ensemble, part of the expanded Latin music programming.
• Treeo: Featured in The Paper's June 2026 preview, performing June 25 with drummer David Bethany.

For the complete 2026 lineup including all Friday Salsa y Más and Saturday Jazz and Blues performers through August 28, visit nmjazz.org or outpostspace.org. The full schedule is updated as additional performers are confirmed.

Practical Guide — How to Have the Best Music Under the Stars Experience

What to Bring

• Lawn chairs or a blanket: The Museum Amphitheater is a lawn venue. Bring low-profile beach chairs or a blanket for the sloped lawn sections. Front floor area is designated for dancing and standing crowds.
• A jacket: Albuquerque summer evenings drop significantly after sunset. The show runs until 10pm, and by 9pm the temperature is often 15-20°F cooler than the 7pm start. The jacket is not optional for comfort through the full show.
• Water: Available on-site from Slate at the Museum, but bringing a water bottle is always practical for the outdoor summer evening.
• Dance shoes (Fridays): For the Salsa y Más Friday evenings, the floor in front of the stage benefits from shoes suitable for dancing — smooth-soled shoes that allow the spinning and sliding footwork of salsa.

Arrival and Parking

• Doors open at 6:30 pm: Arriving at 6:30-7:00 allows the best lawn chair positioning and time to purchase food and drinks before the 7:30 pm music start.
• Parking: The Albuquerque Museum is at 2000 Mountain Road NW in Old Town. On-street parking is available in the Old Town neighborhood. The Old Town area has multiple surface lots. On popular nights (especially Fridays with high salsa attendance), arrive early for the closest parking.
• ART bus access: The ART bus on Central Avenue connects to the Old Town area. The combination of the ART bus to Old Town and a short walk or rideshare to the Museum eliminates parking logistics for residents of the Central Avenue corridor.

Tickets and Passes

• Individual show tickets: Available for single-show attendance. Check nmjazz.org for current pricing.
• Full season pass: Covers all Music Under the Stars performances from June 12 through August 28 — both Friday salsa and Saturday jazz/blues nights. The best value for regular attendees.
• Half season pass: Available for either the Friday or Saturday series. Ideal for the salsa devotee who attends every Friday but not Saturdays, or vice versa.
• Museum member benefits: Albuquerque Museum Foundation members may access reduced rates. Check albuquerquemuseumfoundation.org for current member benefits.

Food and Drink at the Museum

Slate at the Museum — the Albuquerque Museum's on-site restaurant and event caterer — provides food and drink service during Music Under the Stars performances. The combination of quality food service with outdoor seating in the Museum courtyard and amphitheater makes the complete Music Under the Stars evening a food-plus-music experience rather than a concert-only event. The Museum's food and drink service accepts major credit cards; cash may also be accepted.

The Broader 2026 Outpost/NMJW Summer Season

Music Under the Stars is the anchor event of the combined Outpost/NMJW summer season — but it is not the only significant music programming the merged organization is presenting in 2026:

• Summer Thursday Jazz Nights (30th annual), June 25 – August 13: At the Outpost Performance Space, 210 Yale Boulevard SE. Thursday evening jazz performances featuring New Mexico talent across the summer, in the Outpost's intimate indoor venue setting. The 30th annual edition in 2026 represents a concurrent milestone alongside Music Under the Stars' 35th.
• New Mexico Jazz Festival Stage at Route 66 Summerfest, July 18: The Outpost/NMJW presents a dedicated jazz stage at Route 66 Summerfest on Central Avenue — specifically positioned within the Route 66 centennial celebration as a live jazz component.
• 20th Anniversary New Mexico Jazz Festival, August 27 – September 30: The capstone of the 2026 Outpost/NMJW season: a month of world-class jazz performances celebrating the 20th anniversary of the New Mexico Jazz Festival. The confirmed 2026 lineup includes Esperanza Spalding, Chucho Valdes, The Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Mingus Dynasty, Brian Blade, and Fred Hersch — a roster that would headline any major international jazz festival.

The Music Under the Stars Venue — Albuquerque Museum Amphitheater

The Albuquerque Museum at 2000 Mountain Road NW in Old Town is one of the most specifically Albuquerque settings for live music in the city. The outdoor amphitheater sits within the museum's courtyard, surrounded by the adobe architecture of the museum building itself and with the Old Town neighborhood visible beyond the garden perimeter.

• The Old Town context: The museum is immediately adjacent to Old Town Plaza — the 1706 founding location of Albuquerque and the site of San Felipe de Neri Church, the adobe neighborhood streets, and the plaza that has been the center of community life for 320 years. Music Under the Stars happens in this specific cultural context — not a generic amphitheater but a setting that is embedded in the oldest part of the oldest continuously inhabited city in New Mexico.
• The summer evening light: Performances start at 7:30 pm, which in Albuquerque's summer means the first hour of the show occurs during the golden hour — the specific warm, low-angle desert light that photographs beautifully and that makes the adobe museum exterior glow warm amber as the musicians play. By the second set, the Sandia Mountains have silhouetted and the first stars are appearing. By the third set, the stars are the ceiling.

For the complete guide to Albuquerque's biggest annual events — the Balloon Fiesta, the State Fair, the Gathering of Nations' final 2026 edition — our post on the biggest annual events in Albuquerque you should never miss covers the full annual calendar. And for the complete guide to summer events beyond Music Under the Stars — Route 66 Summerfest, The Great Race, the BioPark Twilight Tours — our post on summer events in Albuquerque New Mexico covers the complete summer calendar.

Quick Reference — Music Under the Stars 2026

• Series: 35th Annual Music Under the Stars
• Dates: June 12 – August 28, 2026
• Venue: Albuquerque Museum Amphitheater, 2000 Mountain Road NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
• Times: Doors 6:30 pm; Music 7:00-10:00 pm (show starts 7:30 pm)
• Fridays: Salsa y Más — dancing, salsa, Latin music
• Saturdays: Jazz and Blues — listening, storytelling, performance
• Weather policy: Rain or shine
• Food and drink: Slate at the Museum
• Passes: Full season, half season, individual show — nmjazz.org or outpostspace.org
• Presenters: Outpost Performance Space + New Mexico Jazz Workshop (merged January 2026)
• Opening acts: Son Como Son (June 12), Albuquerque Jazz Orchestra with Hillary Smith (June 13)
• Featured performers: Flor de Toloache, Orrin Evans Trio, Nosotros, Son Habana, Treeo, and more
• Parking: On-street Old Town neighborhood + area surface lots; ART bus accessible

The Bottom Line — This Is What Summer Friday Nights Should Feel Like

There are certain specific combinations that produce experiences particular to a place and time: the outdoor amphitheater of the oldest museum in the city's oldest neighborhood, a salsa ensemble playing Cuban son, the Sandia Mountains turning pink overhead, and the Albuquerque community gathered on blankets and lawn chairs doing what this specific community has done every summer Friday for 35 years. Music Under the Stars is not a unique music festival in the sense of bringing acts that cannot be seen elsewhere. It is a unique Albuquerque institution in the sense that this specific combination — this venue, this music, this community, this sky — cannot be replicated anywhere else.

The 35th anniversary season in 2026 is specifically worth acknowledging: 35 summers of the same event, in the same amphitheater, with the same community orientation, run by organizations that have been serving the Albuquerque music community through recessions, pandemics, and generational change. The continuity is itself the statement. Albuquerque takes its music seriously, and Music Under the Stars has always been the evidence.

Want to Live Where Music Under the Stars Is Your Summer Friday?

Jenn & Vinay from The Rodgers Neighborhood Real Estate Group know which Albuquerque neighborhoods are within a 10-minute drive of the Albuquerque Museum — and which Old Town and adjacent neighborhoods are close enough to walk to Music Under the Stars on Friday evenings. Living in a city where the oldest neighborhood is also the site of the best summer concert series is a specific Albuquerque quality of life advantage. The conversation about finding your home in this city starts with a call.

 

Jenn & Vinay Rodgers are Albuquerque's trusted real estate professionals with The Rodgers Neighborhood Real Estate Group, brokered by Real Broker, LLC, serving buyers and sellers across Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Corrales, Los Lunas, Tijeras, Cedar Crest, Sandia Park, the East Mountains, Bernalillo County, Sandoval County, and surrounding New Mexico communities.

 

The Rodgers Neighborhood Real Estate Group

Jenn & Vinay Rodgers

Real Broker, LLC

Albuquerque, NM

📞 505-417-2733

🏠 Find a home where Music Under the Stars is your summer Friday