The Arts and Culture Capital

Madison is a city where you’ll find culture around every corner. Here, you can catch Broadway shows and the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art on the same street—both in stunning Cesar Pelli-designed buildings. You can explore the stunning architecture at the Wisconsin State Capitol during free tours offered daily. Find a stellar lineup of fairs and festivals and meet the makers at tiny galleries. And did we mention how many of the museums in Madison are free? (The answer is four, with one more coming back in 2026.)

Accessibility to the arts means offering opportunities to not just view, but to do. Dozens of our makers, creators and doers offer drop-in classes and workshops that allow you to make a custom work of art or a new skill. We like to call these ed-ventures, but you might call them your new favorite travel memory.

Jump around to learn more about your favorite arts and culture topic in Madison:

Frank Lloyd Wright in Madison
Art that's affordable
Live music

Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio, Taliesin, is located in Spring Green, an easy drive from Madison. The Hillside Theater at Taliesin reopened in 2024 and hosts dozens of cultural events each year.

The Home of Frank Lloyd Wright

Madison is the hometown of one of history's most famous architects. Frank Lloyd Wright was an innovator who married creativity, architecture, design and nature to create stunning works of art for people to live in, gather in, worship in and celebrate in. You can tour three Wright-designed buildings in the Greater Madison area and even create your own Wright-inspired piece of art to take home during the Inspired By Wright specialty tour at Monona Terrace.

Beyond Wright's influence, Madison is a hot spot for architectural wonders including the Wisconsin State Capitol, featuring the only granite dome in the world and the largest dome by volume, the University of Wisconsin-Madison featuring several wow-worthy buildings and plenty more you can discover on a historic architecture walking tour.

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A man and a woman climb the steps inside Monona Terrace. The ceiling above them is ovular and opens up into a warm glow of light

Wright in Madison

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Art That's Affordable

Madisonians don't gatekeep when it comes to arts and culture. The capital city is home to four free museums: Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, Chazen Museum of Art, the Wisconsin Veterans Museum and the National Mustard Museum. But that's just the beginning. Around many corners, you'll find art displayed in coffee shops, breweries, shops and more unexpected places. It just makes sense in the hometown of the university that has the #1 printmaking school in the country, #15 fine arts program in the country and the first glass-blowing lab in the U.S.

Olbrich Botanical Gardens is where art comes to life across 16 acres of botanical bliss and is also free to enjoy. And for music lovers, you won't pay a dime for admission to La Fete de Marquette, Concerts on the Square, Make Music Madison, Atwood Fest or Art Fair on the Square.

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Love for Local, Live Music

Wondering why so many people had Madison as their Spotify Sound Town in 2023? It's because Madison has a deep appreciation for live music and especially our local musicians. Our events calendar has something bumpin', jammin' or rockin' nearly every night on big stages like The Sylvee or The Orpheum, intimate jazz clubs or unexpected places like the rooftop of Monona Terrace.

Overture Center for the Arts is a hub for all kinds of live performances. We're talking Broadway shows, cabaret concerts, solo acts, ballets, symphonies and more.

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