Skip to main content
    Des Moines Insider

    December 2026 Events in Des Moines

    Des Moines Metro Area
    128 events this month, Central time

    Event list last updated

    Things to do in Des Moines in December 2026

    December in Des Moines means holiday lights, holiday markets and concerts, and New Year's Eve to close out the year.

    We list 128 events in Des Moines and the suburbs for December 2026 so far. The busiest categories are arts, entertainment and music.

    Seasonal picks from the December 2026 calendar

    128
    Total Events
    2
    Free Events
    7
    Event Categories
    91
    Starting after 5 PM

    Filter by Category

    December 2026 by day

    1. Tue, Dec 17 events
    2. Wed, Dec 23 events
    3. Thu, Dec 34 events
    4. Fri, Dec 48 events
    5. Sat, Dec 57 events
    6. Sun, Dec 65 events
    7. Mon, Dec 7None
    8. Tue, Dec 81 event
    9. Wed, Dec 92 events
    10. Thu, Dec 106 events
    11. Fri, Dec 117 events
    12. Sat, Dec 1212 events
    13. Sun, Dec 137 events
    14. Mon, Dec 141 event
    15. Tue, Dec 152 events
    16. Wed, Dec 163 events
    17. Thu, Dec 174 events
    18. Fri, Dec 1812 events
    19. Sat, Dec 196 events
    20. Sun, Dec 205 events
    21. Mon, Dec 214 events
    22. Tue, Dec 223 events
    23. Wed, Dec 232 events
    24. Thu, Dec 24None
    25. Fri, Dec 25None
    26. Sat, Dec 261 event
    27. Sun, Dec 271 event
    28. Mon, Dec 282 events
    29. Tue, Dec 293 events
    30. Wed, Dec 304 events
    31. Thu, Dec 316 events

    Dec 1 - Dec 6 (34 events)

    Sports
    DEC
    1
    Tue
    Sports
    See website

    Time not listedHilton Coliseum

    Norfolk State Spartanettes at Iowa State Cyclones Womens Basketball

    Iowa State Cyclones Womens Basketball, Norfolk State Spartanettes Womens Basketball

    Sports
    DEC
    1
    Tue
    Sports
    See website

    Time not listedHilton Coliseum

    Alcorn State Braves at Iowa State Cyclones Mens Basketball

    Iowa State Cyclones Mens Basketball, Alcorn State Braves Mens Basketball

    Sports
    DEC
    1
    Tue
    Sports
    See website

    6:00 PM CTKnapp Center

    Iowa Hawkeyes at Drake Bulldogs Womens Basketball

    Drake Bulldogs Womens Basketball, Iowa Hawkeyes Womens Basketball

    DEC
    1
    Tue
    Arts
    See website

    Time not listedCivic Center of Greater Des MoinesDowntown / Court Ave

    Maybe Happy Ending - A New Musical

    Maybe Happy Ending - A New Musical at Des Moines Civic Center

    Entertainment
    DEC
    1
    Tue
    Entertainment
    See website

    7:00 PM CTWells Fargo ArenaDowntown / Court Ave

    Chicago Wolves at Iowa Wild

    Iowa Wild, Chicago Wolves

    Arts
    DEC
    1
    Tue
    Arts
    See website

    7:30 PM CTCivic Center of Greater Des MoinesDowntown / Court Ave

    Maybe Happy Ending - Des Moines

    Maybe Happy Ending

    DEC
    1
    Tue
    Entertainment
    See website

    7:30 PM CTHoyt Sherman Place

    A Drag Queen Christmas

    A Drag Queen Christmas concert/show at Hoyt Sherman Place.

    Sports
    DEC
    2
    Wed
    Sports
    See website

    Time not listedHilton Coliseum

    Iowa State Cyclones at Iowa State Cyclones Womens Basketball

    Iowa State Cyclones Womens Basketball

    DEC
    2
    Wed
    Entertainment
    $5.55

    Time not listedFlix BrewhouseDowntown / Court Ave

    $5.55 Movie Ticket Wednesdays!

    Recurring weekly on Wednesday until January 6, 2027

    Arts
    DEC
    2
    Wed
    Arts
    See website

    7:30 PM CTCivic Center of Greater Des MoinesDowntown / Court Ave

    Maybe Happy Ending - Des Moines

    Maybe Happy Ending

    Comedy
    DEC
    3
    Thu
    Comedy
    $50 - $150

    7:00 PM CTFunny Bone Comedy Club

    Joe Gatto

    Ages 18 and up. Doors at 6 pm, show at 7 pm.

    DEC
    3
    Thu
    Music
    See website

    7:00 PM CTVal Air Ballroom

    Pouya

    Presented by First Fleet Concerts. Pouya live at Val Air Ballroom.

    Arts
    DEC
    3
    Thu
    Arts
    See website

    7:30 PM CTStephens Auditorium

    The Doo Wop Project - Ames

    The Doo Wop Project

    Arts
    DEC
    3
    Thu
    Arts
    See website

    7:30 PM CTCivic Center of Greater Des MoinesDowntown / Court Ave

    Maybe Happy Ending - Des Moines

    Maybe Happy Ending

    Comedy
    DEC
    4
    Fri
    Comedy
    $50 - $150

    7:00 PM CTFunny Bone Comedy Club

    Joe Gatto

    Ages 18 and up. Doors at 6 pm, show at 7 pm.

    DEC
    4
    Fri
    Music
    See website

    7:00 PM CTWooly'sEast Village

    House Party

    Wooly's & IA Live Presents

    Comedy
    DEC
    4
    Fri
    Comedy
    See website

    7:00 PM CTHoyt Sherman Place

    Dusty Slay

    Dusty Slay

    DEC
    4
    Fri
    Comedy
    See website

    Time not listedHoyt Sherman Place

    Dusty Slay: The Neighborhood Guy

    Dusty Slay performs The Neighborhood Guy comedy show at Hoyt Sherman Place.

    Entertainment
    DEC
    4
    Fri
    Entertainment
    See website

    7:05 PM CTThe MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex

    Cedar Rapids RoughRiders at Des Moines Buccaneers

    Des Moines Buccaneers, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders

    Arts
    DEC
    4
    Fri
    Arts
    See website

    7:30 PM CTCivic Center of Greater Des MoinesDowntown / Court Ave

    Maybe Happy Ending - Des Moines

    Maybe Happy Ending

    Arts
    DEC
    4
    Fri
    Arts
    See website

    7:30 PM CTStoner Theater at Des Moines Performing Arts

    A Christmas Carol - Des Moines

    A Christmas Carol

    Music
    DEC
    4
    Fri
    Music
    See website

    9:00 PM CTWooly's - Des Moines

    House Party (21+)

    House Party

    Sports
    DEC
    5
    Sat
    Sports
    See website

    Time not listedHilton Coliseum

    Purdue Boilermakers at Iowa State Cyclones Mens Basketball

    Iowa State Cyclones Mens Basketball, Purdue Boilermakers Mens Basketball

    Entertainment
    DEC
    5
    Sat
    Entertainment
    See website

    6:00 PM CTWells Fargo ArenaDowntown / Court Ave

    Grand Rapids Griffins at Iowa Wild

    Iowa Wild, Grand Rapids Griffins

    Comedy
    DEC
    5
    Sat
    Comedy
    $50 - $150

    6:30 PM CTFunny Bone Comedy Club

    Joe Gatto

    Ages 18 and up. Doors at 5:30 pm, show at 6:30 pm.

    DEC
    5
    Sat
    Music
    See website

    Time not listedHoyt Sherman PlaceDowntown / Court Ave

    An Irish Christmas with Rend Collective Presented by Thrivent

    Holiday concert featuring Irish Christmas music with Rend Collective

    Music
    DEC
    5
    Sat
    Music
    See website

    7:00 PM CTHoyt Sherman Place

    Rend Collective

    Rend Collective

    DEC
    5
    Sat
    Music
    See website

    7:00 PM CTVal Air Ballroom

    PetRock: A Tribute To The Smooth Rock Of The 70's

    Val Air Ballroom & IA Live Presents PetRock: A Tribute To The Smooth Rock Of The 70's.

    Arts
    DEC
    5
    Sat
    Arts
    See website

    7:30 PM CTCivic Center of Greater Des MoinesDowntown / Court Ave

    Maybe Happy Ending - Des Moines

    Maybe Happy Ending

    Sports
    DEC
    6
    Sun
    Sports
    See website

    Time not listedHilton Coliseum

    Loyola Chicago Ramblers at Iowa State Cyclones Womens Basketball

    Iowa State Cyclones Womens Basketball, Loyola Chicago Ramblers Womens Basketball

    Arts
    DEC
    6
    Sun
    Arts
    See website

    1:00 PM CTCivic Center of Greater Des MoinesDowntown / Court Ave

    Maybe Happy Ending (ASL Interpreted and Audio Described) - Des Moines

    Maybe Happy Ending

    DEC
    6
    Sun
    Arts
    See website

    2:00 PM CTCivic Center of Greater Des MoinesDowntown / Court Ave

    Maybe Happy Ending - A New Musical - ASL Interpreted & Audio Described

    Maybe Happy Ending - A New Musical - ASL Interpreted and Audio Described performance at Des Moines Civic Center

    Arts
    DEC
    6
    Sun
    Arts
    See website

    6:30 PM CTCivic Center of Greater Des MoinesDowntown / Court Ave

    Maybe Happy Ending - Des Moines

    Maybe Happy Ending

    DEC
    6
    Sun
    Music
    See website

    6:30 PM CTThe IngersollIngersoll

    Patricia Holly

    Patricia Holly

    Dec 7 - Dec 13 (35 events)

    Entertainment
    DEC
    8
    Tue
    Entertainment
    See website

    6:30 PM CTWells Fargo ArenaDowntown / Court Ave

    Sioux Falls Skyforce at Iowa Wolves

    Iowa Wolves, Sioux Falls Skyforce

    DEC
    9
    Wed
    Entertainment
    $5.55

    Time not listedFlix BrewhouseDowntown / Court Ave

    $5.55 Movie Ticket Wednesdays!

    Recurring weekly on Wednesday until January 6, 2027

    Showing the 36 soonest of 128 events in December 2026.

    See the rest of December 2026 on the events page

    Monthly Events Questions

    Common questions about December 2026 events in Des Moines

    • What events are happening in December 2026 in Des Moines?

      This page lists the events on our calendar for December 2026, Central time, in Des Moines and surrounding areas: a calendar with the count for each day, then the events week by week, with dates, times and venues.

    • How often is the monthly calendar updated?

      New events are collected daily from venue and organizer calendars. All times are Central Time, and each list shows when it was last updated.

    • Do you include events in Des Moines suburbs?

      Yes. The calendar includes events across the Des Moines metro, including West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, Johnston and other nearby communities.

    • Can I filter events by category or type?

      Yes. The category buttons on this page narrow the month to one category, and each day in the calendar opens that day on the events page.