Introducing: Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts
Venue’s Naming Unveiling Caps Groundbreaking Celebration
for New, Reimagined Highmark Mann Plaza & Patron Experience
City and state officials joined leaders from the region’s arts, culture, business, and civic sectors on Wednesday to officially break ground on one of Philadelphia’s largest capital projects for 2026 leading into the semiquincentennial – a completely reimagined entry plaza and visitor experience at the Mann. Elevating the celebration was a surprise announcement: Philadelphia’s premier outdoor music destination is getting a new name just in time for its own 50th anniversary year. Officials from both the Mann and Highmark Blue Shield announced their new, 12-year partnership as Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts.
New Era & New Name
“This is a transformational moment in our history,” said Catherine M. Cahill, president and CEO of Highmark Mann. “For the first time since this venue was constructed in 1976, we are building anew to create magical spaces and experiences for patrons and the community, and that is thanks to the generosity of so many. We are incredibly grateful for Highmark’s leadership and wholehearted belief in our mission; with their partnership and long-term commitment, we are reimagining together how we can serve the future of our city. That’s good for our audiences, artists, and our communities. Today is the beginning of a bold new chapter as Highmark Mann, extending beautifully the legacy that our original namesake and fearless leader, Fredric R. Mann, established 50 years ago.”
Cahill added that Highmark’s investment not only gives the venue a new name, but also serves as a catalyst for inventive artistic programming, greater community engagement, and broader educational reach and access through the ambitious new Institute for Creative Arts & Community Impact.
“We believe in the connection between art, music, and health, and that equitable access to creative opportunities in the arts can contribute to community well-being in profound ways,” said Dan Tropeano, market president, Highmark Blue Shield in southeastern Pennsylvania. “As one of Philadelphia’s cultural treasures, the Mann has a long, successful history of community involvement and arts education that changes lives, and we couldn’t be prouder to now play a larger part in that story. Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts stands for a shared commitment to world-class entertainment and community and social impact.”
Breaking Ground on New Gateway to Philadelphia’s Outdoor Music Destination
When Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts opens its 2026 season next spring, the new 40,000 square foot plaza project, three times the size of the current main gate and plaza area, will welcome patrons with:
- A grand, main entry canopy
- A Welcome Center with the first-ever enclosed, public spaces, including a Music Hall of Fame with archival objects and an interactive jukebox for guests to explore Mann history and the music of the artists who have performed at the venue over its 50 years as well as the Encore Gift Shop.
- The Satell Centennial Wall East, a 4,200 square foot dynamic, light-and-sound digital wall that will display vivid installations and historical and cultural video productions on the exterior of the TD Pavilion. Made possible by the generous support of Ed Satell, founder and chair of the Satell Institute.
- Interactive digital installations and wayfinding enhancements
- New ticket office, now accessible from inside and outside of Highmark Mann gates
- ADA accessibility enhancements
- Additional restrooms
- Expanded concessions and patron amenities, including a new permanent outdoor bar and seating area
- Stormwater management and green infrastructure
Project partners include EwingCole, architect; Pennoni, engineering; Hunter Roberts Construction Group; Crafted Action, experiential/digital planner; and JLL Philadelphia, project management.
To mark the 50th anniversary of the venue and the nation’s 250th birthday, the 2026 season at Highmark Mann will also include original commissions and signature programming highlighting the history made on or near the venue in 1876, 1976 and, soon, 2026. These programs will feature Highmark Mann’s resident companies, including The Philadelphia Orchestra, BalletX, and Mural Arts Philadelphia. Performance details will be announced in early 2026.
The groundbreaking and renaming also mark a milestone in the Mann’s 50th Anniversary Campaign, which is ensuring Highmark Mann’s future for generations to come. Now in its public phase, the $70 million campaign supports the venue’s endowment, programming, campus renewal, and education and community initiatives. Already 85% toward its goal, the campaign is made possible by the generosity of supporters who believe in the lasting impact of the arts in Philadelphia.
About Highmark Blue Shield
Highmark Inc., doing business as Highmark Blue Shield, protects Pennsylvania individuals and families with a range of high-quality, affordable and reliable health insurance solutions. As the only Blue Shield licensee in Pennsylvania, Highmark Blue Shield has a long and successful history of delivering remarkable experiences in Southeastern Pennsylvania through the Federal Employee Program. Highmark Blue Shield earned a Brand Excellence Award from the national Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, in recognition of its efforts in building brand strength and providing superior customer service, solid financial performance and enrollment growth. Highmark Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information, visit www.highmark.com.
About Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts
As one of the foremost outdoor music centers in the country, Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts, a leading non-profit organization, has a historical legacy of artistic excellence as a world-class entertainment destination presenting premier artists, now in association with Live Nation Entertainment. Each summer season, renowned symphony orchestras, iconic rock stars, and the latest touring artists in indie rock, hip hop, R&B, jazz and pop take the stage here. Highmark Mann is the summer home of The Philadelphia Orchestra and has presented critically acclaimed performers in every decade since the 1930s. Located in the heart of Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park, Highmark Mann hosts more than 400,000 visitors annually. Signature concert experiences are surrounded by Philadelphia’s stunning skyline and include seats beneath Highmark Mann’s acoustically acclaimed TD Pavilion; picnics, blankets, and music under the stars on its Russ and Wendy Palmer Great Lawn or at the top of the hill at the Skyline Stage @ Highmark Mann; and dining in Crescendo Gift of Robert and Nanette Zakian, the venue’s spectacular tented restaurant, and the Acclaim Lounge, gift of the Gdula Family. In addition, Highmark Mann’s Institute for Creative Arts & Community Impact reaches tens of thousands of young people annually through free programming and educational initiatives. Highmark Mann's unique setting also provides an unparalleled opportunity to activate the campus's six unique event spaces available to host concert presentations, intimate gatherings, corporate events, and private functions. For more information, visit www.HighmarkMann.org.
