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The Boston Globe's The Big To-Do Short Cuts

July 8, 2026

Welcome to the Wednesday edition of the Big To-Do: Short Cuts, our midweek round-up of what’s going on around Boston, as selected by Boston Globe critics and writers.

A jogger runs past the Mexican Tall Ship Cuauhtemoc as it’s docked at Fan Pier on the Boston Waterfront in 2023. Beginning July 11, more than 50 tall ships from 21 countries will make their way through Boston as part the grand finale of the nationwide Sail250 celebration. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff

Thursday

Dwayne Johnson is back for Disney’s live-action version of “Moana,” opening in theaters.
The Nantucket-set, star-studded new series “The Five-Star Weekend” debuts on Peacock.
Burning Man gets the docuseries treatment with “The Man Will Burn,” out Thursday on HBO and HBO Max.

Friday

Sarah McLachlan returns to Boston for a show at Leader Bank Pavilion.
Shakira kicks off a two-night stay at TD Garden on Friday.

Saturday & Sunday

Sail Boston 2026 officially kicks off on Saturday, with more than 50 tall ships from around the world coming to the Hub.
Singer Madison Beer headlines MGM Music Hall at Fenway Sunday.
J.K. Simmons and Titus Welliver star in “The Westies,” premiering Sunday on MGM+.

Ongoing

Presented by Shakespeare & Company, the production “Fireflies” continues at Lenox’s Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre through July 19.

Last chance

Scoring tickets now may be impossible, but Noah Kahan wraps up his stay at Fenway Park on Saturday.
The stage adaptation of “Black Swan” ends its run at Cambridge’s Loeb Drama Center on Sunday.

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Thanks for reading our new Wednesday newsletter. Keep an eye out for Friday's regular Big To-Do email written by Marie Morris. Send comments to arts@globe.com.

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A jogger runs past the Mexican Tall Ship Cuauhtemoc as it’s docked at Fan Pier on the Boston Waterfront in 2023. Beginning July 11, more than 50 tall ships from 21 countries will make their way through Boston as part the grand finale of the nationwide Sail250 celebration. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff

Thursday

Dwayne Johnson is back for Disney’s live-action version of “Moana,” opening in theaters.

The Nantucket-set, star-studded new series “The Five-Star Weekend” debuts on Peacock.

Burning Man gets the docuseries treatment with “The Man Will Burn,” out Thursday on HBO and HBO Max.

Friday

Sarah McLachlan returns to Boston for a show at Leader Bank Pavilion.

Shakira kicks off a two-night stay at TD Garden on Friday.

Saturday & Sunday

Sail Boston 2026 officially kicks off on Saturday, with more than 50 tall ships from around the world coming to the Hub.

Singer Madison Beer headlines MGM Music Hall at Fenway Sunday.

J.K. Simmons and Titus Welliver star in “The Westies,” premiering Sunday on MGM+.

Ongoing

Presented by Shakespeare & Company, the production “Fireflies” continues at Lenox’s Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre through July 19.

Last chance

Scoring tickets now may be impossible, but Noah Kahan wraps up his stay at Fenway Park on Saturday.

The stage adaptation of “Black Swan” ends its run at Cambridge’s Loeb Drama Center on Sunday.

Sign up here to get The Boston Globe’s latest food stories delivered to your inbox once a week.

Thanks for reading our new Wednesday newsletter. Keep an eye out for Friday's regular Big To-Do email written by Marie Morris. Send comments to arts@globe.com.