Inside Omaha’s New Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement
There is always something new happening in Omaha, Nebraska, and one of the city’s newest additions is bringing even more energy to downtown Omaha.
The Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement officially opened in March 2026 as the newest addition to the Omaha Performing Arts campus. Located at 1115 Dodge Street, the new center was designed to be much more than another performance venue. It is a place where people can actually participate in the arts through music, dance, theater, classes, workshops, camps, community events, and professional training.
Whether you are looking for things to do in Omaha with kids, searching for a new date night experience, interested in Omaha arts and culture, or simply want to see one of the newest developments in downtown Omaha, the Tenaska Center is worth knowing about.
What Is the Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement?
The Tenaska Center is a new 100,000 square foot performing arts education and community space operated by Omaha Performing Arts.
The $108 million facility officially opened in March 2026 after approximately two years of construction.
It joins the Holland Performing Arts Center and Steelhouse Omaha to complete the Dick and Mary Holland Campus in downtown Omaha.
But unlike a traditional theater where you primarily come to watch someone else perform, the Tenaska Center was designed around participation.
People of all ages and experience levels can come here to learn, create, perform, and try something new.
Programs include Broadway and theater, dance and movement, music, hip hop, expressive arts, family programming, preschool classes, workshops, camps, and professional development opportunities for aspiring performers.
In other words, you absolutely do not need to consider yourself an artist to walk through the doors.
What Can You Do at the Tenaska Center?
This is where the new space gets especially interesting.
Omaha Performing Arts designed the Tenaska Center to offer classes and experiences for nearly every age group, from babies and toddlers all the way through older adults.
Depending on the season, you may find acting classes, Broadway workshops, dance classes, music production, keyboard lessons, hip hop programs, family arts classes, camps, professional artist workshops, and other special events.
For performers who want to pursue the arts professionally, the center also provides opportunities to learn from working professionals and gain exposure to careers in Broadway and the entertainment industry.
That makes the Tenaska Center both a community arts space and a training ground for the next generation of Omaha performers.
What Is It Like Inside?
One of the goals behind the building was to make the arts feel visible and accessible.
Large windows connect the building visually with downtown Omaha, and the center includes classrooms, rehearsal and performance spaces, gathering areas, an Event Hall, and an outdoor garden.
The Event Hall and Garden overlook Gene Leahy Mall, connecting the center to the larger transformation that has been happening throughout downtown Omaha.
The spaces can also be rented for weddings, corporate gatherings, conferences, and private events.
And its location is hard to beat.
The Tenaska Center sits within walking distance of Gene Leahy Mall, The RiverFront, the Old Market, Steelhouse Omaha, and the Holland Performing Arts Center, making it easy to incorporate into an afternoon or evening downtown.
Why Did Omaha Build It?
The Tenaska Center represents the final piece of a much larger vision for Omaha Performing Arts.
The goal was to create a true performing arts campus where entertainment, education, and community engagement could exist together.
Omaha Performing Arts already serves more than 100,000 students, teachers, and community members each year through its education and engagement programs. The Tenaska Center gives those programs a permanent home designed specifically for learning and participation.
It also completes the Dick and Mary Holland Campus, bringing together the Holland Performing Arts Center, Steelhouse Omaha, and the Tenaska Center within the same downtown arts district.
For a city the size of Omaha, having this type of dedicated performing arts education facility is another noteworthy addition to an already growing arts and entertainment scene.
How Much Does It Cost?
Unlike a museum or attraction with one general admission price, the Tenaska Center operates primarily through individual classes, camps, workshops, performances, and special events.
Pricing varies depending on the program.
Some community events are completely free, while classes, workshops, camps, and ticketed experiences have their own registration fees.
Omaha Performing Arts also offers scholarships, payment plans, and discounts for active military members, veterans, and their families to help make programming more accessible.
You can browse current offerings and pricing directly through Omaha Performing Arts before planning your visit.
Upcoming Events and Classes in Fall 2026
Because the Tenaska Center is built around programming, there will continually be something new happening here.
This fall, the calendar includes a variety of programs for kids, teens, families, and adults.
A Music Production Class for ages 15 and older began September 2 and continues through November 4.
An Intro to Keyboard for Adults begins September 14 and runs through December 16.
Several new hip hop programs begin later in September, including dance, graffiti, and DJing classes for teens.
Families with younger children can check out ArtsPlay! for children ages three through six and Baby ArtsPlay! for babies and toddlers beginning September 26.
The center is also hosting special events, including the 2026 Indigenous Peoples Summit on September 10 and Tastings with Master Sommelier George Miliotes on September 24.
Later this fall, Broadway professionals will also visit the center for specialized dance and theater workshops.
Because events and classes change throughout the year, it is worth checking the Omaha Performing Arts calendar regularly to see what is coming next.
Where Is the Tenaska Center?
The Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement is located at:
1115 Dodge Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68102
The main entrance is along Dodge Street.
For parking, visitors can use nearby street parking or the Omaha Park Eight garage near 13th and Dodge Streets. The center is also located directly across from an ORBT stop, making it accessible through Omaha’s rapid transit system.
The entire facility was designed to be accessible, including entrances, classrooms, restrooms, event spaces, performance areas, and green rooms.
Another Piece of Omaha’s Changing Downtown
If you have not spent much time in downtown Omaha recently, it may surprise you just how much has changed.
The RiverFront transformed more than 70 acres of downtown park space. Gene Leahy Mall was completely redesigned. The Kiewit Luminarium opened along the Missouri River. Steelhouse Omaha brought a new concert venue downtown. Development continues throughout North Downtown, the Old Market, and the riverfront.
Now the Tenaska Center adds another piece to that transformation.
And there is still much more coming.
Major projects throughout the Omaha metro include new residential development, restaurants, retail, entertainment districts, transportation improvements, and public spaces.
It is one of the reasons we love highlighting places like this through our Discover Omaha series.
Living in Omaha Is About More Than the House
When someone is considering moving to Omaha, Nebraska, it is easy to focus entirely on the housing market.
What are home prices in Omaha?
What are the best neighborhoods in Omaha?
Should you live in Omaha, Elkhorn, Gretna, Papillion, Bellevue, Springfield, or another part of the metro?
What are the schools like?
How long will the commute be?
Those questions matter, especially when you are buying a home in the Omaha metro. But choosing where to live is also about everything that happens after you unpack the boxes.
It is having great parks nearby. Restaurants you want to try. Places to take your kids. Concerts and sporting events. Local businesses. Arts and culture. Walkable neighborhoods. Community events. And new places that continue giving you reasons to explore your own city.
The Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement is one more example of the investment happening throughout Omaha and one more reason downtown Omaha continues to become a destination for people throughout the metro.
At Anthology Real Estate Group, we help people buy and sell homes throughout Omaha and the surrounding communities, including Papillion, Bellevue, La Vista, Gretna, Springfield, Elkhorn, and communities throughout Sarpy and Douglas Counties.
But we also believe knowing Omaha real estate means knowing Omaha itself.
That is what our Discover Omaha series is all about.
Whether you are relocating to Omaha, thinking about buying a home in the Omaha metro, considering selling your Omaha area home, or you already live here and simply want to discover somewhere new, we hope these local guides give you another reason to get out and explore.
And the next time you are downtown, take a look inside Omaha’s newest home for the performing arts.
