Global storytelling nonprofit The Moth today announced its Winter/Spring 2026 season, centering on the theme "American Dreams" — a thoughtful and provocative exploration of hope, ambition, identity, and belonging at a defining moment in the nation’s history.
As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, The Moth is marking the moment by examining one of America’s most enduring and complicated ideas: the American Dream. For two and a half centuries, it has tantalized people with the possibility…of possibility. Each of us carries some version of it — the irrepressible notion that where you begin does not necessarily determine where you end up. The belief that, in America, anything is possible.
This season, at more than 20 curated Moth Mainstage shows across the U.S., storytellers will explore the idea of the American Dream — its promises and its challenges. What happens when it’s dashed or deferred, or when it unexpectedly comes true? As audiences sit shoulder to shoulder, they will encounter a vivid mosaic of personal stories of reinvention, resilience, heartbreak, hope, survival and, yes, the enduring pull of possibility.
“At this significant moment in our country's history, we could think of no better way to honor the beautiful, complex quilt that is America than by sharing true personal stories of American Dreams,” says Christina Norman, chief creative officer of The Moth. “These fresh stories of hope, humor, and heart let us focus on the many things we share rather than the noise that pulls us apart.”
Each Moth Mainstage is a curated, theme-driven show where storytellers from all walks of life share true stories told live and without notes. The Winter/Spring 2026 season will travel from Anchorage to New York, Los Angeles to Boston — in cities and small towns alike — creating a collective portrait of what it means to dream in America today.
Season highlights include:
- Four New York City shows — each offering a distinct perspective on the season’s theme, all presented in The Moth’s hometown.
- A double-header in Los Angeles and Orange County, presented as part of an exciting new partnership with LAist.
- Back by popular demand: The Moth returns to the Mandel Opera & Humanities Festival in Cleveland, Ohio
Tickets for The Moth’s complete Winter/Spring 2026 Mainstage season (see full list below) are available at themoth.org/mainstage:
- Anchorage, Alaska — Atwood Concert Hall — Feb. 4, 2026
- New York, N.Y. — Aaron Davis Hall — Feb. 20, 2026 (with additional NYC dates to be announced)
- Iowa City, Iowa — The Englert Theatre — Feb. 26, 2026
- Fairfield, Conn. — Sacred Heart University — Feb. 28, 2026
- Bellingham, Wash. — Mount Baker Theatre — March 7, 2026
- New Bedford, Mass. — Zeiterion Performing Arts Center — March 19, 2026
- New York, N.Y. — Skirball Cultural Center — March 20, 2026 (with additional NYC dates to be announced)
- Charlottesville, Va. — The Paramount Theater — March 27, 2026
- Princeton, N.J. — McCarter Theatre Center — April 10, 2026
- Morristown, N.J. — Mayo Performing Arts Center — April 11, 2026
- Troy, N.Y. — Troy Savings Bank Music Hall — April 11, 2026
- Los Angeles — The Orpheum Theatre — April 15, 2026 (Double-header — night 1)
- Orange County, Calif. — Irvine Barclay Theatre — April 16, 2026 (Double-header — night 2)
- Lincoln, Neb. — Lied Center for Performing Arts — April 17, 2026
- Tarrytown, N.Y. — Tarrytown Music Hall — May 8, 2026
- Traverse City, Mich. — City Opera House — May 13, 2026
- Cleveland — Severance Music Center — May 2026
- Boston — Somerville Theatre — June 4, 2026
- Portsmouth, N.H. — The Music Hall — June 5, 2026
- New York, N.Y. — Green-Wood Cemetery — June 11, 2026 (with additional NYC dates to be announced)
With The Moth’s 30th anniversary approaching in 2027, the 2026 season builds momentum toward the next chapter in the organization’s ongoing work highlighting the art and power of storytelling.
The 2026 Winter/Spring season also marks the publication of"My Life in Stories: A Guided Journal from The Moth"(Penguin Random House, $22.99), slated for release on February 17, 2026. This special keepsake journal is filled with prompts to help people uncover, reflect on and share the stories that make them who they are. With over 150 insightful prompts, The Moth’s storytelling experts help you not only identify important milestones and details from your life, but also shape them into stories. "My Life In Stories" is currently available for pre-order from your favorite bookseller.
Then, in Summer 2026,The Moth will launch a multi-city live tour experience that serves up beloved listener favorites from "The Moth Radio Hour" and "The Moth Podcast" all in one evening. It’s a chance for new audiences and avid fans alike to experience those hilarious, devastating, chill-inducing, dumbfounding Moth classics live on stage like never before. Cities and dates to be announced.
About The Moth
The Moth is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling through live events, education programs, and media. Since its founding in 1997, The Moth has presented more than 65,000 true stories, told live and without notes, to standing-room-only audiences worldwide.
Its core programs include The Moth Mainstage, a global tour featuring diverse storytellers; The Moth StorySLAM, an open-mic competition held in 28 cities; and The Moth Community Engagement Program, which offers workshops to marginalized adults. The Moth Education Program brings personal storytelling to schools and colleges, while The Moth Global Community Program highlights voices from the global south.
“The Moth Podcast,” a Webby Award-winning series, has tens of millions of downloads annually, and “The Moth Radio Hour,” a Peabody Award-winning show, airs weekly on more than 540 public radio stations. The organization also offers MothWorks, a program that uses storytelling to foster empathetic communication, and has published five books, including The New York Times bestseller “The Moth: 50 True Stories” and its most recent release, “A Point of Beauty: True Stories of Holding On and Letting Go” (2024).
Learn more at themoth.org.
Media Contact
Meryl Cooper
meryl@thecooperationinc.com
