The IN List 2026: September 27th - October 4th
The IN List shares the top experiences and events going on this week in & around Albuquerque. Be sure to keep an eye on Instagram stories from @keepingupinalbuquerque throughout the week for any event changes or additions.
These events are all accurate at the time of posting, but be sure to call ahead or check vendor websites/socials before heading out.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28th
Toddler Time
9–11am, Explora. Free-play drop-in session for toddlers and their grown-ups — blocks, sensory bins, and hands-on science exhibits sized for little ones. Included with admission ($11 adult / $7 child) · ages 1–3
“Fair is Foul, and Foul is Fair”: Macbeth and Elizabethan Morality
6–7:30pm, Cherry Hills Library. A talk with New Mexico Shakespeare Festival educators on the moral universe of Macbeth. Free
Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber
7:30pm, First Financial Credit Union Amphitheater. Wu-Tang Clan brings the classic catalog to one of the last big amphitheater shows of the season. Ticketed, price varies by section
Board Game Battle
6–7pm, Top of the BLOCK, Rio Rancho. Competitive board-game night upstairs at the food hall’s bar. Free to play · 18+
National Public Lands Day
All day, multiple sites across Sandoval County. Volunteer trail and site cleanup and restoration work — bring gloves and water. Free
Fire Station Groundbreaking Ceremony
10am, Donato Sanchez Fire Station #1, Bernalillo. Public ceremony marking the start of construction on the town’s newest fire station. Free
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
Let’s Lego!
3:30–5pm, Cherry Hills Library. Drop-in build time with the library’s Lego and Duplo bins. Free · all ages
Digital Zines
4–6pm, Explora X Studio. Teens design and print their own zines — mental health, activism, hobbies, whatever’s on their mind. Included with admission ($11) · ages 13–19
Genealogy Research Day
10:30am–1pm, Main Library Genealogy Center. Free one-on-one help tracing your family tree, from Albuquerque Genealogical Society volunteers. Free
Karaoke Night
7–8pm, Top of the BLOCK, Rio Rancho. Grab the mic at the food hall’s weekly karaoke night. Free to attend · 18+
BABYMETAL World Tour 2026
7:20pm, First Financial Credit Union Amphitheater. The Japanese metal-idol trio bring their genre-bending live show through town. Ticket required.
Unto Others, Wraith Knight, Coma Recovery
Doors 7pm / show 8pm, Launchpad. Gothic post-punk and metal triple bill. $20 advance, rises day-of · all ages
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30th
Corrales Growers’ Market
9am–noon, Corrales. Local produce, honey, eggs, baked goods and crafts from two dozen-plus vendors. Free entry
Stories and Music in the Sky: Leap into Literacy
9:30–10:30am & 11am–noon, Balloon Museum. Award-winning early-childhood program mixing stories, music, movement and art. Included with admission ($6) · ages up to 6
Intro to GarageBand
5–7pm, Explora X Studio. Teens learn the basics of recording, mixing and beat-making. Included with admission ($11) · ages 13–19
Water Balloon Wednesday
7–8pm, The Block, Rio Rancho. Family water-balloon battle out front of the food hall — bring a change of clothes. Free
Cannons: The Everything Glows Tour
Doors 6:30pm / show 8pm, Revel. Synth-pop and dream-pop headliner. $39.65–$81.65 · all ages
All Shall Perish, Carnifex, Extermination Dismemberment, Mauled
Doors 7pm / show 8pm, Sunshine Theater. “The Price of Existence” 20th-anniversary tour — a heavy deathcore and metalcore night. $25–$75 · all ages
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1st
Old Town Balloon Fiesta Week kicks off
Noon–4pm daily through Oct 11, Old Town Albuquerque. Free outdoor music in the plaza after the morning balloon launch — today’s the opening day; named performers start Friday. Free
Route 66: The Main Street of America — screening + filmmaker Q&A
7–10pm, KiMo Theatre. Documentary on the historic highway, followed by a live Q&A with filmmaker John Paget. $18
Terror Thursdays: Beetlejuice
7–8pm, The Block, Rio Rancho. Free outdoor movie night, rain or shine — bring blankets and chairs, free s’mores while they last. Free
For KING & COUNTRY
7pm, Kiva Auditorium, Albuquerque Convention Center. The Christian pop duo stop through on their “Most Beautiful Colours” album tour. Ticket required.
Ghostbusters in Concert
7:30pm, Popejoy Hall. The 1984 film on the big screen with a live orchestra performing Elmer Bernstein’s score in sync. $34–$92
Tickets
Hot Water Music, Russian Girlfriends, Past Lives
Doors 7pm / show 8pm, Launchpad. Veteran melodic hardcore and punk headliner. $30 advance, rises day-of · all ages
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2nd
Baby Storytime
10:30–11am, Lomas Tramway Library. Songs, fingerplays and movement for caregivers and babies. Free · ages 0–2
Virtual Reality Balloon Experience
9am–4pm, Balloon Museum. Strap in for a VR hot-air-balloon ride, part of the museum’s Balloon Fiesta week programming. Included with admission ($6)
Balloon Fiesta Week in Old Town
Noon–4pm, Old Town Albuquerque. Free live music in the plaza after the morning balloon launch; today’s Musicians Showcase set starts around noon on the tiny grocer ABQ patio. Free
Balloon Fiesta Week at Indian Pueblo Cultural Center begins
9am–5pm daily through Oct 11, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. Cultural dances and Native artist vendors timed to Balloon Fiesta and Indigenous Peoples’ Day. $12 adult weekday / $8 youth
Route 66: The Main Street of America (matinee)
12:30pm, KiMo Theatre. Same documentary as Thursday’s evening screening, without the Q&A. $10
Live Music: The High Desert Playboys
7–8pm, The Block, Rio Rancho. Original Americana and classic country. Free
Arsenic and Old Lace
7:30pm, Albuquerque Little Theatre. Opening night of the classic dark comedy about two sweet old ladies with a habit of poisoning lonely gentlemen callers. Runs through Oct 18 — also playing Sat 7:30pm and Sun 2pm this week. Price not posted online, call the box office to check (505-242-4750)
The Motherf—ker with the Hat
7:30pm, Vortex Theatre. Stephen Adly Guirgis’s dark comedy about a recovering addict whose fragile sobriety unravels over a stranger’s hat. Mature language and themes. Closes this week — also playing Sat 7:30pm and Sun 2pm (final show). $26 general / $21 students
Earl Sweatshirt & MIKE
Doors 7pm, El Rey Theater. Underground hip-hop double bill, with Surf Gang and Na-Kel Smith opening. Ticketed, price varies · ages 13+
Kevin Farley
8:30pm & 10:30pm, Hyena’s Comedy Nightclub. Stand-up from the actor and comedian. Tickets required. · 21+
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3rd
Balloon Fiesta — Day 1
Gates open 5:45am, Balloon Fiesta Park. Mass Ascension at 7am, plus Dawn Patrol, Morning Glow, chainsaw carving, and an evening Twilight Twinkle Glow capped with fireworks. Tickets Required. · kids 12 and under free
Downtown Growers’ Market
8am–noon, Robinson Park. Producer-only market — local produce, crafts and prepared foods downtown. Free entry
Los Ranchos Growers & Arts Market
Growers 8–11am, art market 8am–noon, Los Ranchos. Farm-fresh produce alongside a juried local art market. Free entry
Family Art Workshop: Torch of Enlightenment
1–2:30pm, Albuquerque Museum. Build a personalized “torch” inspired by artist Eric J. Garcia’s mural, reflecting your own community’s stories. Included with admission ($3–$6)
American Indian Arts Festival — Day 1
9am–5pm, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. 50-plus Native artist vendors, plus all-day cultural dances in the courtyard. Included with admission
Disney On Ice: Find Your Hero
10:30am, 2:30pm & 6:30pm, Rio Rancho Events Center. Touring ice show built around Disney and Pixar heroes. Ticketed, price not posted online
NM Lobos Football vs. UTEP
2pm, University Stadium. Mountain West matchup during homecoming season. Ticketed
Live Music: Hicks Philly Fowler
7–8pm, The Block, Rio Rancho. Danceable rock and pop covers. Free
New Mexico Philharmonic: Dvořák’s New World
6pm, Popejoy Hall. The Phil plays Dvořák’s Ninth Symphony. Tickets required.
Mumford & Sons: Prizefighter Tour
Show 7:30pm, First Financial Credit Union Amphitheater. Folk-rock arena tour with Sierra Ferrell opening. Ticketed, price varies by section
Whitney Cummings: Big Baby Tour
7pm, Kiva Auditorium. Stand-up from the comedian and actress. Tickets required · 18+
Night of the Living Cover Bands
Doors 5pm, music 6pm–12:30am, Launchpad. Annual local tradition- a marathon lineup of tribute and cover bands. $10, rises at the door · 21+
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4th
Balloon Fiesta — Day 2
Gates open 5:45am, Balloon Fiesta Park. Mass Ascension at 7am plus Fiesta de los Globitos (radio-control balloons), a Fiesta of Wheels car show, pin trading, an evening Balloon Glow and fireworks. Tickets Required. · kids 12 and under free
Rail Yards Market
10am–2pm, Rail Yards. 200-plus vendor market, plus a Taco Tournament fundraiser today — sample and vote for your favorite among local chef entries. Free entry (fundraiser tastings ticketed separately at the Info Booth)
Corrales Growers’ Market
9am–noon, Corrales. Same lineup as Wednesday’s market- produce, honey, eggs and crafts. Free entry
First Sunday Free Admission
10am–4pm, National Hispanic Cultural Center. Free entry to all NHCC Visual Arts Museum galleries, plus an artist dialogue with Jesús Miguel Avena at 12:30pm and an eco-docs film screening at 2pm. Free
Chatter Sunday
10:30am, 912 3rd St NW. Chamber music: Arvo Pärt, Charles Ives, and the world premiere of Kory Reeder’s “Sometime, Even Later.” $17 regular / $9 under 30 & students / $5 under 13
American Indian Arts Festival — Day 2
9am–5pm, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. Same lineup as Saturday — Native artist vendors and courtyard dances. Included with admission
Cars & Coffee
11am–noon, The Block, Rio Rancho. Casual car meetup sponsored by State Employees Credit Union. Free
New Mexico United vs. Phoenix Rising FC
4pm, Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park. USL Championship match, rescheduled from Saturday — Hispanic Heritage Night. Tickets from $19
Menopause the Musical
2pm, Popejoy Hall. Musical-comedy revue set to classic hits. Ticketed, price varies
Casper (outdoor movie)
7–8pm, The Block, Rio Rancho. Free family movie night, rain or shine- bring blankets and chairs. Free
All ticket/registration links go directly to the organizer or official ticketing partner.
