What’s going on in Pittsburgh this weekend, Jan. 15-18? Find out here. Know of a cool event? Email us.
Thursday, Jan. 15: Karl Ove Knausgaard at Carnegie Library Lecture Hall
7 p.m.
For the next event in its New & Noted series, Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures welcomes award-winning Norwegian author Karl Ove Knausgaard. Acclaimed for his series of six autobiographical novels, his latest work, “The School of Night” has been called “a dark cautionary tale about the lengths we will go to achieve success — and how far we are willing to fall.” Set in the 1980s, the novel follows an ambitious, young photographer from Norway to London who “finds himself at a crossroads — ultimately deciding to pay any price for success in his early career, willing to sacrifice everything and to stop at nothing.” The thrilling tale explores fate, fame, morality, power, ambition, creativity, the supernatural and more. Tickets.
Pistachio-crusted salmon with cranberry chutney and parmesan-crusted chicken over pasta entrees at LeMont for PRW 2025. Photo by Roman Hladio.
Thursday, Jan. 15-Sunday, Jan. 18: Pittsburgh Restaurant Week Winter Edition
Various times
Pittsburgh Restaurant Week arrives just in time for all the exhausted home chefs who are ready to get out of the kitchen after the hectic holiday season. Highlighting new dishes for the New Year, the winter edition offers prix fixe meals and special entrees at 40-plus eateries. There’s a flavor for all palates — from Khalil’s, Cafe Momentum and EYV, to Golden Gai, The Commoner, Muddy Waters Oyster Bar and more. There are newbies like Palm Palm and Cucina Alfabeto, veterans like the Grand Concourse and everything in between. Peruse the menus online to plot out your culinary adventures.
The national tour of “Wicked.” Photo by Joan Marcus.
Thursday, Jan. 15-Sunday, Jan. 18: “Wicked” at the Benedum Center
Various times
Start off 2026 on a wildly wicked note, when this Broadway sensation soars into the Benedum. Imagine the Land of Oz way before Dorothy’s momentous arrival. Discover what transpires when “another young woman, born with emerald-green skin — smart, fiery, misunderstood and possessing an extraordinary talent — meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular.” Rivalry turns into friendship, but the rest of the world “decides to call one good and the other one wicked.” Sing along to electrifying hits including “Defying Gravity,” “Popular” and “For Good,” with iconic music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, the show features a book by Winnie Holzman. Directed by Tony Award winner Joe Mantello, “Wicked” runs through Feb. 15. Tickets.
Photo courtesy of the Original Pittsburgh RV Show.
Friday, Jan. 16-Sunday, Jan. 18: The Original Pittsburgh RV Show at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center
10 a.m.-8 p.m. & 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Daydreaming about your next cross-country adventure but don’t have sufficient wheels yet? The country’s longest-running indoor RV show is here to send you on your way. Rolling into the convention center over two weekends in January, the RV Show is your go-to hub for this year’s biggest selection, lowest prices and best manufacturer incentives. Pittsburghers with wanderlust can explore 9 acres of RVs ranging from folding camping trailers to high-end motor homes. Meet with more than a dozen on-site dealers and get pro tips from the industry’s top reps. Compare the latest models and try out every accessory to enhance your trip. Be prepared to expand your definition of recreational vehicle, because this show boasts everything from motor homes, boats, lightweight trailers and toy haulers, to scooters, diesel pushers and golf carts. Tickets.
Read more about the RV Show in NEXT.
Photo courtesy of the Kamin Science Center.
Friday, Jan. 16: 21+ Video Games Night at Kamin Science Center
6-10 p.m.
Gaming, nostalgia and science converge for a fab Friday night on the North Shore. Grab a controller, raise a glass and play your heart out at Kamin Science Center’s first 21+ party of 2026. Step into the “ultimate gamers’ paradise” to battle challengers on the Rangos Giant Cinema’s immersive 71-by-39-foot screen. Explore five kid-free floors of interactive exhibits, numerous gameplay arenas and the center’s largest long-term exhibition, “Sports360.” Test out new video game demos, sip themed cocktails, and have fun with chiptunes, cosplay and pixel art. Play Jackbox Games with award-winning comedian Derek Minto, rock out to video game music performed by Arcadia, and get a sneak peek of innovative robotics being developed by CMU’s Entertainment Technology Center. Tickets.
Friday, Jan. 16: Poetry Unplugged: Still Dreaming! at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center
7 p.m.
Join the August Wilson African American Cultural Center to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its Poetry Unplugged series and honor the trailblazing life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Curated and hosted by Orlando Watson, governor for the Recording Academy’s Philadelphia chapter, the powerful evening fusing artistry, activism and storytelling features a special appearance by Grammy-nominated songwriter, Khemist Mayfield. Joining Mayfield is a remarkable lineup of Pennsylvania-based spoken word poets, including Diarra Imani, Thembisile Gxuluwe, Devantae Butler, Leslie Ezra Smith, Shockie G and Mike Smalls. DJ Selecta will spin sounds throughout the evening, including the post-show open mic session and after-party. Tickets. Read more about Poetry Unplugged in NEXT.
Godfrey. Photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Improv.
Friday, Jan. 16-Sunday, Jan. 18: Godfrey at Pittsburgh Improv
Various times
He’s been busy racking up the television, film and podcast credits, and now the internationally touring comedian brings his witty standup to Homestead. If you love his Showtime special, “Regular” or his Netflix feature in Tiffany Haddish’s “They Ready” series, don’t skip this chance to catch the versatile comic, actor and writer Godfrey live on stage. Née Godfrey C. Danchimah Jr., the Nigerian-American comedian has appeared on BET, VH1 and Comedy Central, and in feature films including “Soul Plane,” “Original Gangstas,” Zoolander,” “Leaving Las Vegas and “Johnson Family Vacation.” Godfrey is also known for doing the voices of Mr. Stubborn and Mr. Tall in “The Mr. Men Show,” and portraying Plaid Jeff in Adult Swim’s “Neon Joe: Werewolf Hunter.” Tickets.
Saturday, Jan. 17, & Sunday, Jan. 18: Winterfest at The Frick Pittsburgh
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Bundle up and head to Point Breeze, where The Frick Pittsburgh transforms into a festive two-day winter wonderland. Banish the post-holiday blues with uplifting music from the South Hills Children’s Choir and jazz pianist Royce Hearn. Heat up with Hot Wheels demonstrations led by Pittsburgh Glass Center, join a snowman scavenger hunt and contribute to a collaborative mural. Make puppets, test your deduction skills using Gilded Age tools at the History Mystery Table and listen to the immersive Duquesne Soundwalk. Sip soothing treats at the hot chocolate bar and step into the Frick family’s Victorian mansion and add your wish for the new year to an interactive ribbon sculpture. Information. Read more about Winterfest in NEXT
Saturday, Jan. 17: Brushes & Birds at the National Aviary
10:30 a.m.-1 .pm.
Ever wanted to create your very own avian artwork but feel daunted by the task?Pittsburgh artist Maria DeSimone Prascak is here to help you paint a well-loved National Aviary bird! Following Maria’s step-by-step instructions, participants will learn to paint a vibrant Toucan portrait on an eco-friendly tote bag. That way you can take your handmade, fine-feathered treasure with you everywhere. The class is open to participants 8 years and older and is designed for painters of all abilities. Attendees under age 16 must be accompanied by a registered adult. Materials are included and no prior drawing skills are required. Tickets.
“Untitled,” unidentified photographer, ca. 1962, Documentary Arts, Inc., BPJ.2025.745.
Saturday, Jan. 17: “Black Photojournalism” Closing Celebration at Carnegie Museum of Art
11 a.m.
If you still haven’t seen the “Black Photojournalism” exhibition at Carnegie Museum of Art, this event is the perfect opportunity to do so. Join the museum to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. weekend and explore the exhibition before it closes on Jan. 19. Featuring work by 60 photographers, the exhibit documents daily life and historic events in the U.S., spanning the conclusion of WW2 in 1945 to the presidential campaigns of 1984, along with three decades of civil rights movements.
Through workshops, gallery conversations and listening, attendees will explore personal and collective memories and histories, the role of living archives, and how “Black Photojournalism” is a platform for liberation. Exhibition curators Dan Leers and Charlene Foggie-Barnett will facilitate a close looking conversation with community members focusing on a selection of photographs. The day also includes a fellowship reception and a performance by the Madame Mary Caldwell Dawson Chapter of the National Association of Negro Musicians. Educator Jason Butler will moderate a conversation with journalist and storyteller Ervin Dyer, artist and Black Archives founder Renata Cherlise and photojournalist and artist Michael Santiago. Information.
Saturday, Jan. 17: Dinosaur World Live at the Byham Theater
11 a.m. & 2 p.m.
The dinosaurs are coming to Downtown. Courageous adventurers and young dinosaur devotees will experience the “dangers and delights” of the Mesozoic Era when this international sensation roars back to town as part of its third major U.S. tour. Bring your compass and join the show’s “intrepid explorer across uncharted territories to discover a prehistoric world of astonishing dinosaurs.” Using puppetry, the Olivier award-winning interactive show brings dinosaurs to the stage with lifelike precision. Meet awe-inspiring creatures, from a triceratops and a giraffatitan, to a microraptor and a segnosaurus. And keep your eyes peeled for “every child’s favorite flesh-eating giant” — the mighty tyrannosaurus rex! Tickets.
Saturday, Jan. 17: Brigid at the New Hazlett Theater
2 p.m. & 7 p.m.
March might revolve around St. Patrick, but January is all about Brigid. Women, whiskey and light will merge at this musical celebration of the Celtic goddess and Patron Saint of Ireland. The event takes place two weeks before St. Brigid’s Feast Day on Feb. 1 (also known as Imbolc), which signals the beginning of spring on the Emerald Isle. There’s a lot to celebrate because Brigid is also the patron saint of women, light, poetry, beer, newborns, blacksmiths, dairymaids, learning, healing, protection, sailors and more. Don’t miss bagpiping phenom Ally the Piper, acclaimed cellist Leah Rankin and Grammy winners Eileen Ivers & The Brigideens. Also featured will be The Ladies of Longford and Meadhbh Walsh, 23-year-old Irish folk singer-songwriter from Cork. Tickets. Read more about Brigid in NEXT.
Saturday, Jan. 17, & Sunday, Jan. 18: “Malcolm X & Redd Foxx Washing Dishes at Jimmy’s Chicken Shack in Harlem” at City Theatre Company
5:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
What happens when two future icons meet as young dish washers in Harlem? Find out when City Theatre kicks off 2026 with this highly anticipated co-world premiere penned by Jonathan Norton. Directed by Dexter J. Singleton, the play marks the third world premiere of City Theatre’s 51st season. Artistic Director Clare Drobot describes the work as a “remarkably prescient and hilarious script that imagines the formative years of two enormously influential figures.”
Audiences will be transported to the summer of 1943, as Foxy — soon to be comedian Redd Foxx — befriends fellow dishwater Little, known years later as the revolutionary figure and human rights activist Malcolm X. Making their Pittsburgh debut are Trey Smith-Mills as Foxy and Edwin Green as Little. Running through Feb. 8, the play is co-produced by City Theatre, TheatreSquared, Virginia Stage Company, and Dallas Theater Center. To augment the production with community events, City Theatre is partnering with the Alumni Theatre Co., Steel Smiling, August Wilson African American Cultural Center and Vibrant Pittsburgh. Tickets.
Saturday, Jan. 17: Steel City Square Dance at Brew House Arts
6-10 p.m.
Go beyond the gallery walls at Brew House Arts to experience Appalachian culture and cuisine. Saturday night will heat up on the South Side when Brew House Arts teams up with Steel City Squares to host this evening of dancing, community and creativity. Bring a dish to share for the night’s potluck, and head into the gallery to explore the current Brew House exhibition, “Our Appalachia,” showcasing 11artists from the Solar Ant Arts Collective based in Elkins, West Virginia. As part of its mission, Steel City Squares hosts traditional Appalachian square dances featuring live music and callers. No partner or previous dance experience is necessary. Tickets are available on a sliding scale from $0-$20 online and at the door.
Writers featured at the 2026 Free Association Reading Series at Alphabet City. Photos courtesy of City of Asylum.
Sunday, Jan. 18: Free Association Reading Series at Alphabet City
3-4 p.m.
Join City of Asylum to celebrate the 10th anniversary of The Free Association Reading series. Founded by Pat Hart and Marc Nieson, the series amplifies the voices of established and emerging writers of fiction, poetry and nonfiction. Since its inception a decade ago, the program has welcomed more than 130 local writers to share newly written works as well as works-in-progress. The afternoon program features readings by M. Soledad Caballero, Sheila Carter-Jones, Chiwan Choi, T.N. Eyer, Jane McCafferty, Jolene McIlwain, Adriana E. Ramírez, Sarah Shotland, Carolyn P. Speranza and Marcel Lamont (M.L.) Walker. The readings will be followed by a reception for participants and attendees. The free event will also be available via livestream. Information.
4 more things to do this weekend
Thursday, Jan. 15: the World Affairs Council co-hosts Healthcare Innovations from Japan to Pittsburgh at the Three Stories Building, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 15: Sound Series: Tarta Relena and Meara O’Reilly’s “Hockets for Two Voices,” performed by Mingjia Chen & Linnea Sablosky at the Andy Warhol Museum, 8 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 17: Smokin’ Betties Burlesque Brunch Show with Pittsburgh Sandwich Society at Club Cafe, noon
Sunday, Jan. 18: The Society to Preserve the Millvale Murals of Maxo Vanka and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy host an all-ages Creative Happening: Collective Radiance program at the Frick Environmental Center, 1-3 p.m.
For more things to do with NEXT, don’t miss our January Event Guide and NEXT in the Gallery series.