When the sun sets over Scottsdale, the city doesn’t slow down—it simply changes pace.
This summer, art lovers and night owls alike can experience art in a whole new light, thanks to a growing list of evening cultural experiences that combine cool temperatures with creative inspiration.
At the Musical Instrument Museum, summer takes on a global rhythm. Upcoming events include Cuba Days on May 17 and 18, and France Days on July 12 and 13. Guests can stroll through immersive galleries filled with instruments from around the world, or attend one of the museum’s summer concerts featuring artists like Macy Gray, Kirk Whalum, Patti Austin and Pure Prairie League. For classical music fans, the museum’s latest exhibition, Stradivarius and the Golden Age of Violins and Guitars, offers a quiet, thoughtful look at craftsmanship and sound—with curator-led tours available once a month through August.
Downtown, Scottsdale Public Art is keeping things fresh with new indoor exhibitions that reflect the spirit of the season. Now on view at the Civic Center Library, Superdelic Psychonatural features vibrant paintings, sculptures, and even augmented reality elements that explore nature through a surreal lens. A silk painting titled End of Summer (Flower Curtain) anchors the show, which runs through July 15.
Later this summer, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) will unveil Infinite, a new immersive installation by British artist collective Squidsoup. Known for their crowd-favorite piece Ocean of Light: Submergence, the group returns with a fresh take on space and light—this time surrounding viewers with hundreds of softly glowing spheres and layers of sound. The result is a meditative, all-encompassing experience you feel as much as you see.
From trails to concert halls, galleries to digital installations, Scottsdale’s after-hours art scene offers a reason to stay out just a little longer.
