Artis—Naples in December: A Gift that Keeps Giving 2025-26 Season

This holiday season, Artis—Naples offers a full calendar of festive programming, from three continuing exhibitions at The Baker Museum to a stocking full of Naples Philharmonic performances and the return of a beloved musical. Leading the month’s highlights are a series of holiday performances, including smooth jazz favorite Dave Koz on December 1, Tony winner Leslie Odom, Jr., on December 3 and superstar soprano Sarah Brightman on December 14, Jodie DeSalvo’s Christmas with Jodie returns December 11, and modern a cappella sensation Straight No Chaser brings its spirited blend of holiday favorites, R&B, doo-wop, country, hip-hop and more on December 28. And while Handel’s Messiah has often echoed through Hayes Hall, few ensembles perform it with the depth of the 211-year-old Handel and Haydn Society, presenting the Baroque masterwork for its 172nd consecutive season on December 2.

The Naples Philharmonic will be busy spreading inspiration and cheer in December, with several performances throughout the month. On December 7, the orchestra joins a cast of talented vocalists for Gulfshore Opera’s Carmen led by conductor Jorge Parodi. A few days later, on December 12, they share the stage with country superstar Trisha Yearwood for her 12 Days of Christmas Tour, featuring songs from her latest album, Christmastime! On December 18, former Naples Philharmonic Associate Conductor Radu Paponiu returns to lead the orchestra, joined by Broadway’s Michael Longoria, the Naples Philharmonic Chorus and Naples Philharmonic Youth Chorus, for the cherished Holiday Pops tradition.

On December 11 and 13, the Naples Philharmonic returns with its third Masterworks program of the season. Led by Peruvian-American conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya and joined by the technically brilliant and musically dynamic pianist Jeremy Denk, the orchestra will perform Beethoven’s spirited and sophisticated Piano Concerto No. 1, Peruvian composer Jimmy López’s percussive and vibrant Perú Negro and Prokofiev’s enchanting Suite from Cinderella. Before and after the Masterworks performance, Denk also joins musicians of the Naples Philharmonic in Daniels Pavilion on December 9 and 14 in a program featuring Beethoven’s poignant Piano Sonata No. 27 in E Minor and Schubert’s charming Piano Quintet in A Major, affectionately known as the Trout.

In The Baker Museum, the exhibition sonia louise davis: to reverberate tenderly—which opened last month and reflects the artist’s fascination with improvisation through textile-based soft paintings, custom steel instruments and a site-specific mural—continues on view, alongside Tamara de Lempicka, a showcase of the Art Deco painter’s bold style and groundbreaking career. A screening of the new documentary The True Story of Tamara de Lempicka & The Art of Survival takes place in Daniels Pavilion on December 10. Also continuing, Florida Contemporary 2025-26 spotlights four notable artists currently practicing in the Sunshine State.

Rounding out the month, saxophonist Donald Harrison, Jr., performs with the Naples Philharmonic Jazz Orchestra for All That Jazz on December 17, and Les Misérables returns to Hayes Hall beginning December 30, running through the first week of the new
year.

ARTIS-NAPLES home of The Baker Museum and Naples Philharmonic 

Tickets and additional details can be found at ArtisNaples.org