January Curated: Austin’s Top 12 Events This Month
Make plans to enjoy these top cultural events -- from live music to theatre, film, art and more!
Step into the new year with plans to experience Austin’s vibrant arts and culture opportunities. From live music to comedy, theatre, art openings, charity fundraisers, and more — we’re sharing some top events to add to your calendar this January.
Free Week
Red River Cultural Arts District
January 3 & 4
Music fans are in for a treat each January when hundreds of local bands participate in Free Week, playing concerts in venues around Austin completely free of charge. It’s a great chance to get out and get to know some the city’s newest talent.
Come From Away
Bass Concert Hall
January 4 & 5
Tony Award-winning Come From Away tells the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night, and gratitude grew into enduring friendships.
Salvador Dalí: Masterpieces from the Argillet Collection Archives
West Chelsea Contemporary
January 11 – February 2
This exhibition showcases rare works by one of the most iconic artists of the 20th century. Featuring over 100 hand-colored etchings and debuting never-before-exhibited originals, this exhibition offers an opportunity to explore Dali’s surrealist imagination. Accompanying Dalí’s masterpieces, this exhibition features works by the artist’s avant-garde contemporaries—Hans Bellmer, Giorgio de Chirico, Leonor Fini, Man Ray, and Wassily Kandinsky. Book a private complimentary appointment via the WCC website.
Clue
Bass Concert Hall
January 14 – 19
Texas Performing Arts Broadway in Austin presents Clue, the hilarious murder mystery comedy inspired by the Hasbro board game and adapted from the fan-favorite film, at Bass Concert Hall. Six mysterious guests assemble at Boddy Manor for a night they’ll never forget. Clue is the ultimate whodunit that will keep you guessing until the final twist.
MoonLAUF
The UMLAUF Sculpture Garden and Museum
January 15 & 29
Make plans to visit the UMLAUF during one of two evenings where the museum will be open late with extended hours until 8 p.m. During MoonLAUF, you can enjoy the garden after dark and view the current lit outdoor exhibit: Design Shine. Admission can be purchased at the door.
ISHIDA Dance presents: as long as there is in me
Long Center
January 13 & 14
ISHIDA Dance’s as long as there is in me features exceptional dancers from across Europe and North America. The program includes the haunting world premiere “soul-writer’ by ISHIDA which follows a woman in a dreamscape where she briefly inhabits the past lives of a beloved wife, a sister, and a mother.
11th Annual Sonic Guild Ball
Long Center
January 18
Join hundreds of fellow music lovers in Dell Hall at the Long Center for the Performing Arts for the Sonic Guild Ball — described as a “real life mix tape”. Get dressed up in your best “Austin chic” to experience ten local acts and see $150,000 in grants awarded to some of the best up and coming acts in Austin. Past recipients include Wild Child, Black Pumas, Shakey Graves, Nané, Superfonicos, Tameca Jones and over 180 more bands.
MLK Day Festival
MLK Statue & Huston-Tillotson University
January 20
Enjoy a walk from the Martin Luther King Jr. statue on the UT Austin campus to the south steps of the Capitol for a rally, then continue to the historic Huston-Tillotson University for activities and events in celebration of MLK Day.
Hi, How Are You Day Concert
Paramount Theatre
January 24
Join a fundraising concert featuring both Andrew Bird and Madison Cunningham performing solo sets before joining on stage to present CUNNINGHAM BIRD. This 7th annual celebration of the life and legacy of the late great Daniel Johnston is both a tribute and a call to action to remove the stigma around mental health, and to encourage open conversations about well-being.
10th Annual TRIBEZA Interiors Tour
Select homes across Austin
January 25 & 26
Don’t miss the 10th Annual Tribeza Interiors Tour, presented by SWBC Mortgage – The Breed Team and Heritage Title. The event offers an exciting glimpse into 10 of the area’s most gorgeous homes. Join hundreds of design fans on a self-guided, self-paced tour showcasing stunning styles across the city. Learn more about this year’s selected design teams.
Jersey Boys
ZACH Theatre
January 29 – March 2
2025 at ZACH will kick off with Jersey Boys, the Grammy, Olivier, and four-time Tony Award winner, including Best Musical. This international musical phenomenon tells the story of the 1960s rock ’n’ roll band Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons through each group member’s eyes, with dramatized stories covering the band’s climb to success with a high-energy evening that will have everyone singing the night away.
Opening Reception of The Contemporary Austin’s Spring 2025 Exhibitions
The Jones Center
January 31
Celebrate the opening of Jiab Prachakul: Sweet Solitude, Raven Halfmoon: Flags of Our Mothers, and HOST: Tenant of Culture. Visit the Jones Center and be among the first to see The Contemporary Austin’s spring 2025 exhibitions. Mingle with friends and artists on the rooftop for live music and enjoy complimentary cocktails.
More Events
Of course there are plenty more exciting events in Austin this month. As always, check out our curated calendar of events for more suggestions, including: