Things to do in Detroit in April 2026 start with one of the biggest Opening Days in years and build from there. The Tigers return to Comerica Park on April 3, the Pistons enter the NBA Playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the East, Downtown Street Eats brings 80-plus food trucks back to Cadillac Square, and MOCAD reopens after a months-long renovation with three new exhibitions. April also delivers Bob Dylan at the Masonic Temple, Florence + The Machine at Little Caesars Arena, and multiple new restaurant openings across the metro area.
Here is what is happening across the city.
Tigers Opening Day at Comerica Park (April 3)
The Detroit Tigers host the St. Louis Cardinals at 1:10 p.m. on Friday, April 3 for the 2026 home opener at Comerica Park. The gates open early for the annual pregame festivities, including the player parade down Woodward Avenue. Tickets are available through MLB.com and StubHub.
Related: Detroit Tigers Opening Day 2026 Guide
Detroit Pistons Playoffs (Starting April 18)
The Detroit Pistons clinched the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and will face the eighth-seeded Play-In winner in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs starting April 18 at Little Caesars Arena. Individual playoff tickets went on sale April 1 at 10 a.m. The Pistons close out the regular season with home games against the Toronto Raptors (April 1) and Minnesota Timberwolves (April 3) before the postseason begins.
Downtown Street Eats Returns (Starting April 6)
Michigan’s largest weekly food truck rally returns for its 14th season at Cadillac Square on Monday, April 6. More than 80 food trucks and trailers will rotate through the weekday lineup, running 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday through October 9. Notable vendors this season include Detroit Panzerotti Co., Cousins Maine Lobster, Los Dos Amigos, CIA Cheesesteak, and Island Noodles.
Bob Dylan at the Masonic Temple (April 4)
Bob Dylan brings the Rough and Rowdy Ways tour to the Masonic Temple Theatre on Saturday, April 4 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $70 and are available through AXS.com.
Florence + The Machine at Little Caesars Arena
Florence + The Machine performs at Little Caesars Arena this month with support from Rachel Chinouriri. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and StubHub.
Broadway and Theater
Disney’s The Lion King wraps its Detroit run at the Detroit Opera House on Sunday, April 5. The Tony Award-winning musical Suffs, about the women’s suffrage movement, opens at the Fisher Theatre this month. Both venues are operated by Broadway in Detroit and tickets are available at broadwayindetroit.com.
Related: The Lion King in Detroit
All Things Detroit Day at Eastern Market (April 12)
More than 200 local artists, makers, chefs, and small businesses take over Eastern Market on Saturday, April 12 for All Things Detroit Day. Beat the Crowd early access runs 10 a.m. to noon for $15 and includes a tote bag and first pick. General admission opens at noon. The event drew thousands of attendees in 2025.
Modded Detroit Season Opener (April 11)
Modded Detroit returns for the 2026 season opener in Commerce Township on Saturday, April 11, 1 to 7 p.m. More than 2,000 vehicles, including Lamborghinis, JDM builds, classic American muscle, and off-road rigs. Admission is $20 per car. A grand prize raffle includes a Miata go-kart, and a footrace offers a $500 cash prize.
MOCAD Reopens With Three New Exhibitions (April 25)
The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit reopens on Friday, April 25 after a months-long closure for renovations. The Midtown museum kicks off its 20th anniversary year with three exhibitions:
- Detroit Cosmologies, a retrospective of Olayami Dabls, the artist and historian behind the MBAD African Bead Museum
- This Side of the River, tracing quilting and textile artist Carole Harris’s career from the 1970s to present
- Retail Therapy, the first solo museum exhibition for Martha Mysko of Cranbrook Academy of Art
The renovations include a redesigned facade and a new window art installation on Woodward Avenue. MOCAD plans to rename its main building for late co-founder Julia Reyes Taubman.
The Speakeasy at the Guardian Building (April 18)
A Jazz Age afterparty inside one of Detroit’s most stunning Art Deco landmarks. A 15-piece big band transforms the Guardian Building’s Promenade into a full dance hall with Charleston lessons, East Coast Swing, open bar, and late-night coneys. Tickets are $100. Ages 21 and over.
Detroit Symphony Orchestra: Northern Lights Festival
The DSO presents the Northern Lights Festival at Orchestra Hall, featuring symphonic works from Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Norwegian guest conductor Tabita Berglund leads the program. The DSO also runs its William Davidson Neighborhood Concert Series on April 23, 24, 25, and 26 at venues across the metro area, performing Vaughan Williams’s The Lark Ascending.
Detroit Zoo: Bunnyville and Greenfest
The Detroit Zoo hosts Bunnyville on April 3 and 4 with live entertainment, photos with the Easter bunny, and a golden egg hunt. Greenfest follows on April 11 and 12, the zoo’s annual celebration of environmental action for southeast Michigan.
New Restaurant Openings in April
Several notable restaurants are set to open across metro Detroit this month:
Joe Louis Southern Kitchen opens its third location at 1528 Woodward Ave. in downtown Detroit on April 3, timed to Tigers Opening Day. The all-day breakfast and Southern-inspired spot marks the brand’s first downtown presence.
Hamlin Pub opens in the former Statler space at 313 Park Ave. near Grand Circus Park, also targeting Opening Day on April 3.
Coco’s Chop House opens at 6810 N. Rochester Road in Rochester Hills, led by chef Dean Cicala and owner John DeAngelis.
Related: New Restaurants in Detroit
Greenfield Village Reopens (April 11)
Greenfield Village in Dearborn reopens for the 2026 season on Saturday, April 11. The 80-acre outdoor history museum features working farms, historic homes, and ride-along experiences. Special dining events are also expected to return this month.
Free Events in April
The Detroit Public Library system runs free events throughout the month across all branches. LittleGuide Detroit publishes a full guide to free library programming for families. The DSO Neighborhood Concert Series is free to attend. And Downtown Street Eats is free admission with food available for purchase.
Sports at a Glance
The Tigers play home games throughout April at Comerica Park following the April 3 opener. The Pistons wrap the regular season in early April and open the NBA Playoffs on April 18. The Red Wings finish their season in April at Little Caesars Arena.
For more things to do in Detroit this month and every month, check back at RAW Detroit.