Main Events Around the Valley in August and September

The Phoenix metropolitan area is set for a busy stretch of events in August and September, featuring a mix of live music, sports, and art exhibitions. While the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles are still on the horizon, local fans won’t have to wait long for high-level competition and entertainment. The Mortgage Matchup Center in downtown Phoenix will host the 2026 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships, allowing athletes to vie for a spot on the national team ahead of the World Championships in Rotterdam. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Journey will also perform at the venue on September 11th as part of their farewell tour, stepping behind the microphone with vocalist Arnel Pineda and founding member Neal Schon.

Several major musical acts are scheduled to play across the Valley. Country star Zach Bryan is set to perform at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on September 6th, following his record-breaking tour performance earlier this summer. John Mellencamp, who initially released music under the name Johnny Cougar before rebranding, will bring his hits and deep cuts to the Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre on September 9th. The lineup also includes Noah Kahan, who will bring his “Busyhead” fanbase to Chase Field for a performance on August 24th, and a 40th-anniversary production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera at ASU Gammage in Tempe.

For those interested in culinary experiences, the Queen Creek Olive Mill will host its annual Garlic Fest, featuring cooking demonstrations, tractor tours, and a menu inspired by the pungent vegetable. The biannual Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market returns to WestWorld in Scottsdale, offering visitors a chance to browse over 130 small businesses and artists. The Phoenix Art Museum will host an exhibition on artist Kim Chong Hak, featuring over 80 works that blend expressive sensibilities with Western techniques. The Scottsdale Art Auction will feature pieces from Logan Maxwell Hagege, Martin Grelle, and Billy Schenck, with some works expected to fetch significant value. Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art will open “Valley Deep/Mountain High,” a collection that reexamines the local setting through the works of Ed Mell, Jen Urso, and others.

Further north, the Flagstaff Symphony Guild is hosting its annual Home Tour, offering a look inside five historic and modern residences. The Arboretum at Flagstaff will display botanical-themed metal sculptures during its annual Botanical Blacksmith exhibit. On a larger scale, the 18th Annual Grand Canyon Celebration of Art will take place on September 26th and 27th at Kolb Studio, featuring works by southwestern artists capturing the beauty of the Grand Canyon’s South Rim. The Lisa Sette Gallery will also host a summer exhibition featuring artists Andy Burgess, Carlos Estévez, and Carrie Marill.

The Scottsdale Art Auction features pieces from Logan Maxwell Hagege, Martin Grelle, and Billy Schenck, with some works expected to fetch significant value. The Arboretum at Flagstaff will display botanical-themed metal sculptures during its annual Botanical Blacksmith exhibit. On a larger scale, the 18th Annual Grand Canyon Celebration of Art will take place on September 26th and 27th at Kolb Studio, featuring works by southwestern artists capturing the beauty of the Grand Canyon’s South Rim. The Lisa Sette Gallery will also host a summer exhibition featuring artists Andy Burgess, Carlos Estévez, and Carrie Marill.