Summer at The Mount

Richly Varied Programming

By: Mount - Mar 31, 2026

 

The Mount Announces Its 2026 Summer Season

Author Talks, Cultural Conversations, Performances, Outdoor Art, and Free Family Programs Invite Audiences to “Let Your Mind and Spirit Soar”

 The Mount, Edith Wharton Cultural Center announces its 2026 Summer Season, Let Your Mind and Spirit Soar—an expansive celebration of ideas, creativity, and connection set across one of the Berkshires’ most inspiring cultural landscapes. From compelling conversations with award-winning writers and journalists to live music, poetry, dance, and immersive outdoor art, this season invites visitors to experience The Mount as both a place of reflection and a catalyst for imagination.

This summer also marks the debut of The Mount’s refreshed visual identity, honoring Edith Wharton’s legacy while embracing the organization’s evolution into a vibrant, multidisciplinary cultural center.

“At The Mount, history meets the present,” says Executive Director Susan Wissler. “Literature, art, and nature come together in experiences that feel both timeless and alive. Our new name, Edith Wharton Cultural Center, and our redesigned logo, reflect the spirit of what it feels like to be here: unexpected, inspiring, and unforgettable.”

Tickets go on sale to Members on April 28th and to the general public on May 6th.

Summer Author Series | July 6 – August 25

A cornerstone of the season, the Summer Author Series brings together acclaimed biographers and cultural historians whose work illuminates bold lives and transformative moments. These conversations explore the forces that challenge convention and expand our collective imagination.

• Julia Ioffe, Motherland: A Feminist History of Modern Russia, from Revolution to Autocracy — July       6 & 7
• Mark Braude, The Typewriter and the Guillotine — July 13 & 14
• Martha Ackmann with Anastasia Stanmeyer, Ain’t Nobody’s Fool: The Life and Times of Dolly Parton — July 20 & 21
• Carla Kaplan, Troublemaker: The Fierce, Unruly Life of Jessica Mitford — July 27 & 28
• Jeff Chang, Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America — August 3 & 4
• Amanda Vaill, Pride & Pleasure: The Schuyler Sisters in an Age of Revolution — August 10       & 11
• Nicholas Boggs, Baldwin: A Love Story — August 17 & 18
• Peter S. Canellos, Revenge for       the Sixties: Sam Alito and the Triumph of the Conservative Legal Movement — August 24 & 25

Summer Author Series Tickets: $27 Members | $32 Non-members. Rain or Shine passes available

In Conversation with André Bernard | July 16 – August 20

In this intimate series, André Bernard, former Vice President of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, brings audiences into thoughtful dialogue with some of today’s most influential voices shaping culture, politics, and public life.

• Jodi Kantor, Pulitzer Prize-winning Journalist and Author — July 16
• Max Boot, Historian, Foreign Policy Analyst, and Author — July 30
• General David H. Petraeus, Retired U.S. Army General, Former CIA Director, and Author — August 6
• Kiran Desai, Booker Prize-winning Novelist — August 13
• Lawrence Wright, Pulitzer Prize-winning Author, Screenwriter, Playwright, and Journalist — August 20

In Conversation Tickets: $35 Members | $40 Non-members

NEW | New York Stories

A dynamic new series explores the artists, visionaries, and power brokers who shaped New York’s cultural and political identity—revealing stories of ambition, reinvention, glamour, and intrigue that still resonate today.

• Lenox to Harlem: The Life and Art of James Van Der Zee with Donna Van Der Zee and Jeff L. Rosenheim — July 8
• Gilded Age Fashion: Iconic Looks  and the Stories Behind Them with Elizabeth L. Block — July 22
• The Gods of New York with Jonathan Mahler in conversation with Sarah LaDuke — July 29
• Gilded Lives, Dazzling Tables: Food and Dining in Edith Wharton’s New York with Carl Raymond, featuring Becky L. Diamond — August 12
• The Talented Mrs. Mandelbaum with Margalit Fox in conversation with Debby Applegate — August 26

New York Stories Tickets: $10 Members | $15 Non-members

Poetry, Performance & Dance

Throughout the season, The Mount’s grounds become a stage for storytelling in all its forms:

• Wharton on Wednesdays (June–October): Beloved weekly readings of Edith Wharton’s short stories by local actors on the Terrace. Members: $10 | Non-members: $15
• WordXWord Poetry Programs: Immersive experiences that invite audiences to encounter poetry in dialogue with landscape and art.
• The Jazz Barn (August 16, 6 PM): A live performance and conversation exploring the legacy of jazz in the Berkshires with author John Gennari, featuring Ron Ramsay and Samantha Talora. Tickets: $30 Members | $35 Non-members
• Olga Dunn Dance Company (August 30, 5 PM): A sweeping site-responsive performance blending choreography, spoken word, and live cello music across The Mount’s terraced lawns, culminating in a tribute to Wharton’s life in France.

New Writing Workshops

Visitors are invited not only to listen, but to create. A series of innovative workshops offers space for reflection, storytelling, and creative exploration.

• Cultivating Resilience in the Face of Chaos with Rev. Eileen Mahoney — July 30
• Reshaping Our Relationship with the Future with climatologist Anne Therese Gennari — August 6
• Heirloom Meals Recipe Project: Preserving Family Stories through Food with Carole Murko — August 13

Live Music Across the Grounds

Music fills the gardens and grounds throughout the summer, offering moments of joy, discovery, and connection:

• Sounds of Summer Concerts (Free)
  • Natalia Bernal Quintet — June 11
  • Gato 6 with Suzi Stern — August        27
• Music in the Moment - July 23
  An intimate performance and conversation with Peggy Stern and saxophonist       Alex Cole, tracing the creative journey from inspiration to improvisation.
  Tickets: Members: $30 | Non-members: $35

Free Family & Youth Programs | Sundays, June–August

Sunday at The Mount are dedicated to creativity, curiosity, and play. Families can enjoy free weekly programming featuring arts and crafts, music, storytelling, movement, and hands-on workshops—from graphic novel creation to STEAM-based maker projects and collaborative poetry.

Community Day | August 9
A highlight of the season, Community Day offers a full day of free performances, activities, and shared celebration for visitors of all ages.

Sculpture at The Mount | May 24 – October 24

Set throughout the property’s woods, gardens, and open vistas, Sculpture at The Mount transforms the landscape into an open-air gallery. The 2026 exhibition, Flourish, explores themes of growth, resilience, and connection—inviting visitors to experience art as an integral part of the natural world. Explore on your own or join a free guided tour.

Mansion and Garden Tours | May 9 – October 31

Join a tour of Edith Wharton’s home and learn about the fascinating history of the house as well as Wharton’s life and literature. Our expert guides share their stories and insights. Self-guided audio tours are also available. Garden tours are offered daily at 1 pm and are included with a mansion admission ticket. Tours are $22 for adults; Free for members and children 18 and under.

Plan Your Visit

Tickets go on sale April 28 for Mount Members and May 5 for the public.
Visit edithwharton.org for full details and updates.

The Mount’s grounds are open daily from dawn to dusk and are free to explore. Visitors are encouraged to wander the gardens, trails, and outdoor exhibitions; leashed dogs are welcome. (Please check the website for occasional early closures due to private events.)