7 Performing Arts Predictions for 2026: Your Mid-Year Scorecard

Are your traditional funding sources drying up while your audience development plateaus? In this mid-season reflection, Aubrey Bergauer revisits her seven bold performing arts predictions for 2025 and 2026 to see what’s working and what’s failing in the current landscape. From the global boom of the subscription economy to the bipartisan surprise in government funding, this episode breaks down the data-driven shifts necessary for survival. Aubrey shares why retention must overtake acquisition as your primary growth engine and how AI can reclaim your staff's time for higher-value creative work.

This episode is for arts administrators, executive leaders, and board members who are ready to stop the "leaky bucket" of audience churn and start running their organization like a business. You’ll learn: Why opt-out renewals and strong onboarding are the keys to bucking subscription declines. How to move beyond brand-only social media to leverage an "influencer army" of artists and staff. And the tactical ways AI-assisted productivity can solve administrative burnout without cutting jobs.

Sponsors:

Bolero: https://hellobolero.com/changingthenarrative

EvolvArts: https://evolvarts.com/

Morreale Digital: https://morreale.ca/podcast

Sources:

Aubrey Bergauer: 145% Performance Revenue Growth with the Long Haul Model https://www.aubreybergauer.com/long-haul-model

Mark Schaefer: Marketing Rebellion https://businessesgrow.com/publication/marketing-rebellion/