New seasonal guide features eight curated cultural experiences — and an artist-designed collectible at every stop
PITTSBURGH, PA (September 15, 2026) – WQED today launched Next Stop, a new seasonal guide connecting Pittsburgh-area residents with arts and culture experiences across the region. The inaugural edition features eight curated experiences spanning visual arts, dance, music, craft, theater, and nature. At each stop, participants can collect a free button designed by a local artist.
Next Stop reflects WQED’s growing role as a cultural connector for southwestern Pennsylvania. By bringing experiences from across the region together in one curated guide, WQED hopes to introduce neighbors to organizations, artists, and destinations they may not yet know — while helping the organizations that make Pittsburgh’s cultural community so vibrant reach new audiences.
The Fall 2026 Next Stop includes experiences at Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, August Wilson African American Cultural Center, Texture Contemporary Ballet, City Theatre, Contemporary Craft, Mattress Factory, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Each participating organization has its own collectible button, designed by WQED artist-in-residence Joe Wos, creator and host of Cartoon Academy®.
“Pittsburgh has an extraordinary arts and culture community, but even people who have lived here for years haven’t experienced all it has to offer,” said Jason Jedlinski, President and CEO of WQED. “Next Stop is an invitation to try something new — a performance, an exhibition, or a place you haven’t visited before — and feel more connected to the region and one another. That’s an important part of public media’s role: not only sharing great stories but helping people discover and share the experiences that make this community special.”
WQED mailed the inaugural guide to 10,000 members, and copies are available at each participating organization. Anyone can download the digital guide at wqed.org/nextstop, where visitors can also find experience and ticket details, and eligible WQED members can access exclusive discount codes. Visitors can collect each button by checking in at each featured stop and showing their guide. Together, the guide and buttons offer a fun new way to explore the region’s arts and culture throughout the season.
WQED plans to publish Next Stop three times annually, with the next edition—a special holiday guide—arriving in late November.
Next Stop Fall 2026 highlights organizations supported by the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD), which invests in regional assets that contribute to Allegheny County’s quality of life. Allegheny County residents can use their library cards to obtain free or discounted admission to participating destinations through RAD Pass. Explore current offers at RADPass.org; availability varies by destination.
Learn more about Next Stop and download the digital guide at wqed.org/nextstop.
About WQED
Founded in 1953 as America’s first community-owned television station, WQED was a forerunner to PBS and the television home of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Today WQED provides a trusted platform that amplifies southwestern Pennsylvania’s vibrant and diverse cultural assets. WQED’s Education team builds vital bridges between families and dozens of schools, libraries, and community partners, offering free and accessible resources wherever kids learn, live, and play. Every day, WQED showcases the stories and voices that make our communities unique, strengthening our connections to each other and deepening our pride in the place we call home.
About Joe Wos
Joe Wos is an award-winning, internationally syndicated cartoonist based in Pittsburgh. The creator and host of WQED’s Cartoon Academy, he has taught cartooning for more than 30 years and served for nearly two decades as the guest cartoonist at the Charles M. Schulz Museum. Learn more about Cartoon Academy.