March 2026 events calendar for Los Angeles

This display of film and video art, billed as “a sweeping odyssey into the depths of human experience,” will take over all six stories of the abandoned, historic Variety Arts Theater in Downtown L.A. (the theater served as the setting for this past Halloween’s immersive haunt Delusion, and the expansive space was as impressive as the production itself). Over a century of visual storytelling will be explored, blurring the line between visual art and cinema. The contemporary video works by artists including Marina Abramović, Doug Aitken, Chris Burden, Cyprien Gaillard, Arthur Jafa and Precious Okoyomon—juxtaposed with cinematic works by the likes of Walt Disney and Georges Méliès—come from the time-based art collection of the Germany-based Julia Stoschek Foundation.

Treat your ears to a vibrant concert on a spring or summer night by attending MUSE/IQUE’s annual program. This concert series, held at cultural venues across L.A., features a mix of performances inspired by music movements and public figures, including tributes to Quincy Jones, Joni Mitchell, the world of Oz, the Harlem Renaissance, the American Sound and more. You can make a $75 donation to the performing arts nonprofit for a single event, or become a MUSE/IQUE member if you’re interested in multiple programs.

Pasadena’s underrated collection of museums and performance spaces open up their doors for free at this biannual arts and culture open house. Take advantage of the free shuttle buses to travel between local institutions such as the recently reopened USC Pacific Asia Museum, ArtCenter, Norton Simon Museum, Gamble House, Kidspace Children’s Museum and more, many of which will be offering special arts programming and live performances. And, of course, no arts fest would be complete without food trucks, which often include pop-ups from local bricks-and-mortar businesses.

It’s a great month for the arts in L.A. Not only can you see a new section of Judy Baca’s The Great Wall of Los Angeles at Jeffrey Deitch and a film installation by director Alejandro G. Iñárritu at LACMA, but now the two creative minds are joining forces with Gustavo Dudamel for this edition of the LA Phil’s Green Umbrella New Music Series. A group of composers have joined forces to create an hour-long symphonic tribute to the Angelenos who shaped the city’s history, which will be paired with an original film by Iñárritu.

Public radio station LAist’s (née KPCC) weekly show “FilmWeek” records its yearly preview of the Academy Awards in front of a live audience. Gain expert insight into the upcoming Oscars and hear critics debate who’s likely to take home a statuette. Host Larry Mantle will talk to the show’s in-house film critic cast. Watch clips on the big screen at the historic Alex Theatre, and hear the pros’ opinions on this year’s nominated films.

The English major in me adored this play about the life and work of Sylvia Plath at the Geffen Playhouse, running through March 8. It functions as a ghost story of sorts, toggling between Sylvia’s life in the 1950s with her husband, fellow writer Ted Hughes, and the present-day couple—also writers—who are living in the same apartment. The play—a new work by rising playwright Beth Hyland—has interesting things to say about feminism, creativity, relationships, mental health and therapy speak, and it’s anchored by strong performances across the board from the four-person cast, particularly Marianna Gailus, who plays the titular character, and Midori Francis, who provides both pathos and humor.

The reopened Getty Villa will descend into the underworld with this exhibition, which looks at the ritual spells and religious writings ancient Egyptians employed to garner favor with Re and Osiris in the afterlife. See the Getty’s collection of rare Book of the Dead rare hieroglyphics-adorned and illustrated manuscripts, dating back to around 1000 BCE, which were last displayed in 2023. The show should dovetail nicely with the museum’s “Sculpted Portraits From Ancient Egypt,” which runs through January 2027.

Support local makers at Santa Monica Place, when dozens of artisans sell their handcrafted goods, one-of-a-kind vintage finds and homemade treats at this family-friendly and pet-friendly market in the Center Plaza, which will be popping up every second Sunday throughout the year. 

This beautiful, free festival celebrates the history and whimsy of the kite. Watch as hundreds take to the sky—you can buy a kite on the pier or bring your own. The fest culminates with a kite-flying contest and group kite-flying session on the sand. There’s also typically a slew of non-kite-related activities taking place on the pier all day, including a hot-dog-on-a-stick-eating contest, a dance performance, face painting and live music.

Support women-owned restaurants and dine at some of L.A.’s best spots during the return of this annual food fest in honor of Women’s History Month. Regarding Her's festival will offer themed menu specials, cooking classes, convos and collabs from women restaurateurs all month long. Highlights from this year’s lineup include La Festa Della Donna, a special International Women's Day celebration at Smorgasburg (Mar 8); the Echo Park Bop, a walking food and drink tour of 10 women-owned restaurants including Quarter Sheets, Bakers Bench, Bar Flores, Tsubaki, Little Fish and Valerie Confections (Mar 22); Maydan Market Monday (Mar 23); the return of All Day Baby via a biscuit pop-up (Mar 28); and a women-powered Lincoln Avenue Parking Lot Party Benefit for Altadena (Mar 29). You’ll also find other fun one-offs on the calendar, including a cacao tasting at the Chocolate Dispensary (Mar 12) and a “Sweetcute” ice cream social at the Very Best Cookie in the Whole Wide World (Mar 21). Check the website for the full lineup.

L.A. cultural organizations will come together at the historic Wilshire Ebell Theatre to celebrate Women’s History Month with live performances, interactive art, dance, music and a marketplace. Bob Baker Marionette Theater, Chevalier’s Books, Self Help Graphics, the Ebell Chorale, Leigh Purtell Dance Theatre, Vox Femina and the Korean Cultural Center are just some of the highlights of the lineup, as well as an art show, vintage fashion, film-focused tours of the Ebell and a family-friendly musical about Rosie the Riveter. 

Spend your Friday night amid dinosaurs and DJs. For two decades now, the Natural History Museum has been staying open late for its popular First Fridays series. And during this year’s 20th season, the KCRW-presented after-hours event is returning to its roots, filling the museum’s iconic diorama halls with live music from around the globe, DJ sets and dancing from February to May. A new discussion series, “Life, From Our Guts to the Galaxy: Rethinking the Living World,” will explore different topics each month. While you’re there, you can check out all the galleries and exhibitions, sip cocktails and order food from a revolving selection of local trucks. Check out the museum’s website for advance tickets and updates on lineups.

A sound bath already represents peak relaxation, but Alice Moon doubles down on peace and tranquility in her Moon Soul Sound Baths by hosting them inside a mattress store. The result is part zen retreat, part self-care slumber party. Bring a pillow and get cozy in the showroom of Mattress Central in Atwater Village as Moon helps you unwind with singing bowls, chimes and an ocean drum. Note: Fresh sheets are provided for all attendees to lay on, and you’ll receive a sleep mask to wear and take home with you.

If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at paddling (or drumming), this annual festival dedicated to the 2,000-year-old Chinese tradition of dragon boat racing is the place to do it. Not feeling competitive? You can stake out a spot along the waterfront at Burton Chace Park to cheer on the teams. Expect lion dancers on the sidelines, food trucks serving Asian-inspired street food, and stalls selling arts and crafts from local makers.

You can currently see a handful of his works at the Broad, but Takashi Murakami is the star of the show at a new solo exhibition at Perrotin Los Angeles, where 24 new paintings by the Japanese artist grace the walls. Known for marrying traditional Japanese painting with Western influences, Murakami found inspiration for this show from a visit to Monet’s Garden in Giverny, France, and here explores how the Japanese art form of ukiyo-e, or “floating world pictures,” later inspired artists including Monet, Degas and Van Gogh. Next door, limited-edition Murakami prints and merchandise are for sale at a pop-up Perrotin Store through February 28 (Tue–Sat 1–6pm).

Third Street Promenade has been making a concerted effort to become more of a nightlife destination, and this St. Patrick’s Day, its new Entertainment Zone will welcome revelers who want to feel Irish for a day. Head to the 1300 block of the pedestrian-friendly thoroughfare for live music by Shamrock Sean and the Irish Cabbage Band, plus trivia, games, photo ops and festive decor. You can order drinks from the outdoor bar, and the Promenade party also ties in to the local Lucky’s St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl.

Whether you follow awards season like it’s your favorite sport or you haven’t yet seen any of this year’s buzzworthy films, get ready for the upcoming Academy Awards at—where else?—the Academy Museum, which will be hosting a series of nominee spotlights in its 1,000-seat David Geffen Theater (which Time Out just named as one of the best cinemas in the world). For just $10, you can catch screenings of all the nominated animated short films (Mar 7), documentary shorts (Mar 8) and live action shorts (Mar 9). For a handful of other categories—animated feature film, international feature film, best picture and makeup and hairstyling—the filmmakers themselves will be on hand at panels to share clips and behind-the-scenes stories from their films.

Celebrate Pi Day the sweetest way possible—surrounded by hundreds of pies at the Autry Museum. KCRW Good Food host Evan Kleiman will host the massive pie-baking contest, but even if you don’t plan on entering your own creation, show up to shop slices from over 25 dessert vendors, watch baking demos, play games, shop cookbooks and learn to weave. And though you won’t be taste-testing the home bakers’ entries, you can help the judges—including Will Ferrell, Roy Choi and other culinary celebs—pick winners in the visual categories. The Autry will be offering free admission as well; check out the new exhibition “Desert Dreams and Coastal Currents.”

This lively Holi celebration—modeled after a music festival—takes over Redondo Beach’s Seaside Lagoon for an afternoon of colorful fun. Billed as the city’s biggest festival of colors, the event is back with a new, bigger music stage for Bollywood DJs, photo booths, food trucks, free swag and, of course, hours of color play and dancing.

The curvaceous, cavernous lobby of the Broad will become a sonic soundscape this Saturday night, when it serves as the stage for new commissions from electro-acoustic organist Sarah Davachi and electronic musician Robert Takahashi Novak. From 9:15 to 10pm, you can also explore the ground-floor special exhibition “Robert Therrien: This Is a Story,” which plays with scale and perception and serves as inspiration for the site-specific performances.

Mark the annual gray whale migration from the shore with this festival, now in its 55th year, which offers a full weekend of marine-themed activities, educational exhibits, family-friendly entertainment, whale-watching excursions, marine conservation talks and a cardboard-boat-building contest and Dinghy Dash in Dana Point. Things kick off Friday with a sunset whale-welcoming ceremony by members of the local Acjachemen Nation, followed by a reception with live music and food trucks. This year, the Magical Migration Parade is back after a year off, which will be joined by the second annual Festival of Whales Carnival, complete with carnival rides, games, food and a beer garden with an ocean view. See the full lineup of events here.

Known for its engaging and exciting performances, American Contemporary Ballet will present a double bill of choreographer George Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco and La Source—it’s the first time the two ballets have been paired together in L.A. (and the latter, in particular, hasn’t been staged in full here in 40 years). Compare and contrast the differences between the two works, which are similar in structure but worlds apart, as the dancers of ACB perform to live music.

Lord knows the characters in Aimee Mann’s songs are often hopelessly earthbound by plodding tempos and the singer’s trademark painfully honest, closet-sung vocals. But Mann is an appealing live performer, and she has a fantastic catalog of pop songs to draw from. Here, she’ll take the stage at the United Theater on Broadway (the show was relocated from soon-to-open venue Pacific Electric) to celebrate the 22 1/2-year anniversary of her fourth album, Lost in Space, with support from Jonathan Coulton.

Celebrate the whimsical world of Studio Ghibli at the Little Tokyo Flea Market this Sunday, when the first two floors and outdoor area of Little Tokyo Galleria will be transformed into a treasure trove of film merch, collectibles and fan-made creations. Shoppers can browse a curated selection of art, apparel and trinkets inspired by classics like Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro and Howl’s Moving Castle alongside the market’s signature mix of vintage goods, handmade jewelry and Japanese snacks—you’ll also find themed cookies, flash tattoos and photo ops. The free-to-enter pop-up sounds like a perfect afternoon for anime enthusiasts and curious shoppers alike.

Can’t wait for Halloween? This off-season haunt from the producers of the Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor is a fittingly spooky way to mark this Friday the 13th. Featuring a fog-filled, circus-themed dance party and swapping out mazes for three heart-racing, story-driven experiences in the ship’s cavernous lower decks—including Sweethearts’ Slaughterhouse and the Search for Mary, where you escape the ghost of a little girl with nothing but a glow stick to guide you—the event also serves as an exclusive preview of this year’s Halloween attraction. Themed eats and signature cocktails will be available for purchase throughout the ship. Elegant attire—paired with comfortable footwear—is encouraged.

Disneyland’s already the happiest place on earth, but throw in a massive parkwide food festival—and now it’s somehow even happier. Running nearly two full months, the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival takes over the state-themed park with eight different culinary marketplaces with themes such as garlic, local breweries and wineries, peppers and food-truck fare. Just be sure you don’t forget the rides in all of the culinary whirlwind—fan-favorite Soarin’ will temporarily bring back its California-themed version just for the occasion.

Artist Ralph Steadman—known for his unmistakable illustrations, cartoons and collaborations with Hunter S. Thompson—has imbued his work with political, satirical, environmental and spiritual threads throughout his six-decade-plus career. Now, on the eve of his 90th birthday, you can see 149 of Steadman’s works, including some influenced by Los Angeles, for free at the Torrance Art Museum—it’s the only Southern California stop on the show’s national tour. If you’re feeling inspired, you can embark on your own off-the-page adventure, thanks to the exhibition’s accompanying interactive Gonzo Art Trail (find details here).

Want to get away? Indulge your wanderlust and get a head start on planning your summer vacation at this travel trade show. Learn pro tips, trends and advice from travel celebrities like Phil Rosenthal (a.k.a. the co-owner of L.A.’s hottest new diner, Max and Helen’s), Peter Greenberg and Pauline Frommer, and discover the hottest new trip destinations. Take advantage of travel deals exclusive to the show, and enter giveaways for a chance at a free trip.

It’s no Emerald Isle, but Hermosa Beach is full of Irish spirit during its annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. For the 30th year, bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers and classic cars decked out in green will all make their way along the coastal city’s parade route. The procession kicks off near City Hall on Valley Drive, heads west on Pier Avenue and ends at the corner of Hermosa Avenue and 8th Street. The free festivities also include live music and dancing nearby at Pier Plaza. If you want to start the shenanigans early, there’ll be a pre-parade party on March 13 with more music, food and drinks ($13, location and time TBA).

Sure, Tam O’Shanter is technically Scottish, but head to the classic L.A. restaurant on St. Patrick’s Day for an epic Irish celebration starting at 11am and ending, well, whenever the party dies down. The patio and a tented area in the parking lot will host live music beginning at 3pm as revelers clink pints of green beer, enjoy pub food and show their Irish pride. In the dining room, you can enjoy corned beef and cabbage specials. 

Each March, holiday-themed theme park SkyPark at Santa’s Village swaps out Santa for Seamus the Leprechaun leading up to St. Patrick’s Day. Kitsch meets Irish with live trad music, entertainment, a hunt for gold coins, the Pot O’ Gold puppet show and more. Pair the festive fun with food and drink specials at SkyPark’s dining venues: Think Irish nachos and corned beef and cabbage at St. Nick’s Patio & Grille and a SkyPark Shamrock Shake at Kringle’s Coffee & Gifts.

Kicking off at Dodger Stadium, this annual parade of physical endurance and community spirit winds its way through 26.2 miles of L.A. It used to wrap up in Santa Monica, but now the route loops back around West L.A. and toward Century City. More than 25,000 runners will participate, and even if you aren’t one of them, being a spectator can be an exhilarating experience as well. There’s also a concurrent charity half-marathon, which goes straight from Dodger Stadium to Avenue of the Stars.

RECOMMENDED: L.A. Marathon guide

Lincoln Heights brewery and cider house Benny Boy is celebrating its fourth anniversary with a carnival-themed bash, complete with face painting, flash tattoos, music, live portraits, tarot card readings, carnival games and, of course, plenty of beer. Correa’s Mariscos, Zef BBQ and Nyletta will be on hand to sell fair food and treats.

For a sweet taste of the East Coast this weekend, head to Levain Bakery. The New York import will be pairing its iconic, thick cookies with Hamptons-based Montauk General’s signature matcha for a limited-edition creation: cookie milk matcha. The beverage will balance the lifestyle brand’s bright, naturally sweet matcha with creamy notes of vanilla and toasted macadamia, thanks to milk steeped from Levain’s white chocolate macadamia cookies. You can try the drink—and pair with a cookie or two, of course—in Beverly Hills on Friday (130 S Beverly Dr), Venice on Saturday (1661 Abbot Kinney Blvd) or Larchmont on Sunday (227 N Larchmont Blvd), from 8am until they sell out.

Shop local at this free, pet-friendly celebration of small businesses, which is expanding and trading in its Mar Vista setting for the heart of Venice Beach: You’ll find live music, art, fashion and food under the famed Venice sign at Windward and Pacific Avenues. The festival brings together over 300 local brands and artists three times a year, attracting thousands of shoppers. This time around, there will be four stages for live music—with a TBA lineup of local musicians and surprise guests sponsored by the upcoming BeachLife Festival—as well as DJs, fitness and kids’ entertainment.

Made up of a Melrose Avenue workshop and two galleries—including one designed by Frank Gehry—Gemini G.E.L. has been at the forefront of fine art printmaking for 60 years now, an accomplishment it’s celebrating in this show which doubles as a love letter to L.A. On display are innovative works by artists including David Hockney, Roy Lichtenstein, Ed Ruscha and Robert Rauschenberg—many of which haven’t been shown in decades—which are inspired by the atmosphere and streets of Los Angeles.

Stop by the Original Farmers Market on St. Patrick’s Day for corned beef, cabbage and potatoes at at the market’s first eatery, Magee’s Kitchen, plus green beer, Guinness and other imported Irish beers at E.B.’s Beer & Wine and Bar 326. Celtic tunes (12:30–3:30pm) from a strolling bagpiper provide a fitting soundtrack.

For the past 15 years, the Farhang Foundation has hosted a Nowruz festival—marking Iranian New Year and the arrival of spring—in UCLA’s Dickson Court. Given the current state of affairs, that celebration has understandably been canceled, but in its place is this indoor concert at Royce Hall on International Women’s Day featuring two female singers—classical legend Maestra Parissa and rising soprano star Golda Zahra (especially significant because women have been forbidden from singing publicly in Iran since 1979). They’ll be accompanied by Iranshahr Orchestra, the first Iranian orchestra established outside of Iran, and will be performing works composed exclusively by Iranian composers.

Take your pup to the Arboretum and grab a beer during this dog-friendly event at the Arcadia botanical garden. You can purchase bites from food trucks and craft beer from the Mt. Lowe Brewing Company, take a free portrait with your pup, let them try out the agility course and, if you’re looking for a new four-legged friend, meet adoptable pets from Pasadena Humane. The fundraiser benefits both the local animal shelter and the Arboretum Foundation. Note: Dogs must remain on leash at all times and are restricted to paved paths and grass fields.

Step aboard the Queen Mary and into your own Agatha Christie novel at this new interactive murder mystery dinner from the team behind Murder & Mayhem on the Mary. Based on the ocean liner’s real-life “Last Great Cruise,” which set off from Southampton on Halloween 1967, the spooky yet silly experience combines a multi-course dinner with comedy, clues, live music and audience participation. 

Catch sets from up-and-coming performers, local legends and global talents during this free music series at the Getty, which features a pair of shows from a different band each weekend. The concerts kick off in February with Inuit soul musicians Pamyua and continue in March with gospel choir Jimetta Rose & the Voices of Creation and April with Persian poets Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat. Get there early to check out the museum’s exhibitions, then head to the Harold M. Williams Auditorium for the show.

Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo—featuring iconic imagery, effects and, of course, performances by Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak—may have been under-appreciated at the time of its release, but it’s proved one of Hitchcock’s most beloved, tender and lasting films. Nevertheless, Stewart’s acrophobia will leave you thankful that you’re firmly planted in your seat. Revisit the classic at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, with Bernard Herrmann’s score performed live to film by the LA Phil.

Comedy renaissance man Paul Scheer leads this always-excellent mix of improvisers, who perform monthly at Largo. Regular guests include the likes of Rob Huebel, Jason Mantzoukas, Rob Riggle, Carl Tart, Seth Morris, Mary Holland, Owen Burke, Edi Patterson, Tim Baltz and more.

Explore the Autry into the evening at the Griffith Park museum’s Thursday-night series that spotlights the city’s emerging and established artists, musicians, poets and writers. Programming ranges from free salsa lessons to DJ sets to old-timey radio plays. The museum galleries stay open late, too, plus drinks and food trucks are also on offer.

Cure a case of the Mondays with a restorative sound bath at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center’s private Garden of the Clear Stream, an urban oasis in Little Tokyo. At the start of every week in April, you can bring a mat and enjoy an hour of healing sounds and reflection amid the garden’s lush flora and cascading waterfall. Afterward, stick around to purchase lunch and a matcha and enjoy them in the garden.

“Let’s hang out at the Pier” is something Santa Monica locals probably say next to never, but this monthly series is trying to change that. Every third Thursday from September to May, you’ll find everything from live music to storytelling to a classic car show on the Santa Monica Pier, all free to attend. 

You’ve probably seen the nostalgic black-and-white photos of Los Angeles on LA Explained’s Instagram account. And now you can see historical sites in person on its walking tour series, where, instead of just your typical tourist spots, you’ll also see often-overlooked landmarks, historic homes, architectural gems and hidden pathways and hear stories about the city’s history and rise of the film industry. The current lineup includes tours through Hancock Park and Windsor Square, Melrose Avenue, Whitley Heights and Sunset Boulevard, and some even include snacks and shopping at select spots on the itinerary.

This springtime spinoff in Insomniac’s Wonderland series adds a whimsical, carnival-like atmosphere to the house, techno, dubstep, trance and bass-heavy festival. Go down the rabbit hole in San Bernardino with multiple themed stages, where the likes of Tiësto, Zedd, GRiZ, SLANDER, Steve Angello, Diesel and more will perform.

Stroll through a garden illuminated by celestial-inspired lights during this winter event at South Coast Botanic Garden. The hour-long Palos Verdes trail’s nine stellar installations are the most cosmically mesmerizing of the budding after-dark botanical garden shows that’ve come to blanket L.A. each holiday season—and this one continues once the others have switched their lights off. This time around, the event is embracing a wellness-inspired approach, with pre-walk breathwork classes on select nights to encourage mindfulness.

The Wilco frontman’s freewheeling solo shows balance acoustic takes, deep cut requests and charming banter. He’s playing two consecutive nights—first at the Belasco, then the United Theater on Broadway (if you prefer a seated show)—as part of his Twilight Override Tour, in support of his folksy fifth solo album. Speaking of those requests, you can submit your own here.

Spend an afternoon underneath Torrance’s cherry blossoms as dancers and Japanese folk musicians perform at this annual Pan-Asian celebration. You’ll also find a craft fair with everything from ceramics to intricate textiles handcrafted by local artisans, plus food from South Bay vendors. Bring a blanket and picnic amid the pink and white blooms.

Perhaps the Los Angeles area’s most iconic flea market, this event around the exterior of the Rose Bowl is staggeringly colossal—but what else would you expect from a 90,000-seat stadium? The sheer size and scale of this flea market means that it encompasses multitudes: new and old, handcrafted and salvaged, the cheap and the costly. On the second Sunday of each month, treasure hunt among the odd mix of vendors that populates the loop around the stadium—and don’t miss the rows and rows of old furniture, albums and vintage clothes and accessories that fill the adjacent parking lot.

Celebrate the history, diversity and wildlife of our fair city with the locally beloved Bob Baker Marionette Theater. This puppet-filled ode to L.A. first debuted in 1981 for the city’s bicentennial, and while it retains its retro charm, it’s been refreshed for 2026 with new animal puppets and updates that reflect Los Angeles today.

The masters of alfresco movie viewing are keeping outdoor screening season alive throughout winter with their Fireside Films series, which ensures you’ll stay cozy, with outdoor heaters and a complimentary hot beverage with each ticket. Enjoy a steady stream of modern classics, (The Notebook, Pulp Fiction) local favorites (La La Land, Friday) and recent releases (Wicked: For Good, Sinners)—as well as the odd TV marathon (think Gossip Girl and Pushing Daisies—screened atop LEVEL DTLA throughout the winter months.

Feeling like you and your four-legged friend are attached at the hip? Spend even more quality time together during this dog-friendly series at Palos Verdes’ South Coast Botanic Garden. One Sunday a month, you can roam the gardens’ 87 acres with your fur baby. Nearly all of the paths are open to pups, except for the rose garden and a couple of other small areas. You’ll find plenty of water stations set up across the grounds, as well as an optional obedience class for purchase. You—the human—will need a reservation, while your best friend—the pup—will need to remain on their leash at all times, including in the parking lot.

Celebrated Chicana artist Judy Baca’s half-mile-long The Great Wall of Los Angeles, a collaborative mural begun in the ’70s along the Tujunga Wash, has received all sorts of museum love in the past few years, including at a LACMA show where the muralist and her team painted new sections of the work during museum hours. Now, Baca and the Social and Public Art Resource Center are returning to Jeffrey Deitch Los Angeles to exhibit the newest segment of the mural—which documents activism and resistance in the 1970s—continuing their mission to give voice to the voiceless through art.

When Mexican director Alejandro G. Iñárritu made his debut feature, Amores Perros, over a million feet of film didn’t make it to the final cut (to put that into perspective, the finished two-and-a-half-hour movie used around 18,000 feet of film). Twenty five years later, some of these unearthed reels of celluloid now zip through a ground-floor gallery at LACMA as part of a multi-channel film installation. As much a piece of sculpture as it is film or video art, Sueño Perro assembles six 35mm projectors that pierce the hazy near-dark space with raw, nonlinear snippets of the movie, fed from a mesmerizing curtain of film stock speeding along sprockets. It’s an intense experience, both sonically (during the car crash that connects the feature’s storylines) and visually (dog fighting plays a pivotal role in the film, though you’ll see here some of the behind-the-scenes tricks that kept the production cruelty-free).

A display of over 30 mummified people and animals is back at the California Science Center; after the exhibition debuted there back in 2010, it traveled through the U.S. and Europe before returning to L.A., which is the final stop on its tour before the artifacts are returned to their lending museums. This time around, you can see a selection of specimens never before shown in Los Angeles.

Mummies are, of course, most often associated with ancient Egypt, and while Egypt is represented here, you’ll also see mummified remains that were discovered in Germany, Hungarian, Peru—even the University of Maryland, which in the 1990s carried out the first ancient Egyptian-style mummification performed in 2,800 years.

Memorable artifacts include the two Peruvian “bundle” mummies making their West Coast debut, amulets and organ jars (just like you learned about in history class), an ancient Egyptian cat mummy and a shrunken (but still very cute) sloth head. Be warned, though, that as you make your way through the different rooms, the displays become more macabre and, dare I say, haunting, with mummified organs and babies—so make sure you (and any kids in attendance) know what you’re getting into before visiting the exhibition.

The museum’s IMAX theater will be screening the complementary 40-minute Mummies 3D: Secrets of the Pharaohs, and if you buy combo tickets for both the exhibition and film, you get a small discount on both.

Step back into the era of grunge, supermodels and the dawn of the internet at this free exhibition at the ASU FIDM Museum in DTLA. This retrospective explores the decade’s spirit of rebellion and experimentation, featuring high-fashion couture from icons like Vivienne Westwood and Gianni Versace alongside the flannel shirts, slip dresses and bold prints that defined everyday style. Through a curated mix of garments, vintage magazines and video footage, visitors can trace how 1990s innovation continues to shape contemporary trends.

Whether or not you follow soccer, you probably know by now that Los Angeles is hosting eight matches of the World Cup in summer 2026. In celebration of its arrival, this LACMA show will display Lyndon J. Barrois Sr.’s ode to the world’s most beloved sport. The artist’s miniature “sportraits” re-create classic moments in both women’s and men’s soccer using materials like gum wrappers, glue and paint—even if you’re not a sports fan, the playful sculptures and stop-motion animations will win you over.

Ponyo loves Sosuke! And we love this exhibition at the Academy Museum dedicated to the wholesome Hayao Miyazaki film. Studio Ghibli donated more than 100 objects to the Academy Collection, and you’ll find everything from an animation desk to colorful art boards to dozens of frame-by-frame pencil drawings of the scene when Sosuke first finds Ponyo. Though you may recognize a couple of items from the museum’s debut Hayao Miyazaki retrospective, the vast majority of Ponyo pieces are new—and some have never been displayed in North America before. It’s also a colorful and super kid-friendly exhibition; you can watch clips of the gorgeously hand-drawn movie, recreate the wave-running scene and even make your own stop-motion animation. You’ll find it on the museum’s second floor, inside the first few galleries of the “Stories of Cinema’ space.

The Pacific Asia Museum’s galleries have been closed for months in preparation for this immersive new exhibition, which is taking over the entire museum and marks a new, artist-centered shift to its programming. The ambitious show will use the visual language of mythology to take visitors on an immersive journey through the immigrant experience, combining objects from USC PAM’s 5,000-year-spanning historical collection with new media technology and works by over 20 contemporary artists, led by L.A.-based Korean American muralist Dave Young Kim. Highlights include a wrap-around video installation in a reconstructed airplane cabin and an AI feature that puts visitors in the shoes of an immigrant. Along the way, mythical creatures—dragons, cranes, guardian spirits and shapeshifters—nod to intergenerational legacies.

The beloved late singer, who’s ascended to music and fashion icon status since her untimely death in 1995, is the focus of a new show at the Grammy Museum. Co-curated by the singer’s sister, Suzette Quintanilla, the exhibition peeks behind the curtain of Selena’s life, artistry and career, exploring how her legacy continues as a symbol of empowerment for both young women and Latin communities. Though the exhibition is limited to a single gallery on the fourth floor, it’s packed with iconic items: You can see the singer’s personal artifacts displayed for the first time outside of the Selena Museum in Corpus Christi, Texas, including her Grammy Award, cellphone, hand-drawn fashions and microphone, still marked with her signature red lipstick. In preparation for the opening, artist Mister Toledo recently created a mural of the singer outside the museum.

Anonymous feminist art collective the Guerrilla Girls—whose members gained notoriety for donning gorilla masks and fighting the patriarchy—is coming up on its 40th anniversary, and the Getty Center is marking the occasion with a behind-the-scenes look at the group. See photography, protest art and the group’s famed posters—sporting statistics, bold visuals and satirical humor—that showcase the tactics the members used to demand recognition for women and artists of color. The Guerrilla Girls have even created a newly commissioned work for the exhibition. And you can add your own mark on the “graffitti wall” installation, giving visitors a creative outlet for their complaints about the world today. 

Accompanying programming throughout the run of the show will include a conversation between the Guerrilla Girls and author Roxane Gay, a feminist Valentine’s Day mail art workshop, cocktail receptions with the exhibition curators, tours and more.

Robert Therrien’s Under the Table has long been one of the most popular pieces in the Broad’s collection (you know the one—the giant table and chairs that you ask your friend to snap a photo of as you stand underneath). Well now the museum is hosting the largest-ever solo exhibition of the artist’s work, displaying more than 120 pieces, including many that have never been shown in museums before. Expect more huge housewares and striking works, plus some intimate drawings and surprises from the late L.A.-based artist. The specially ticketed show will fill the first-floor galleries through April 5, 2026.

Don’t go in the water, but do go to the Academy Museum to see the largest exhibition ever dedicated to Steven Spielberg’s original summer blockbuster, Jaws—which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The museum was already home to the last surviving model shark from filming, but now you can go behind the scenes and see some 200 original objects from the film across multiple galleries. Some highlights: a re-creation of the Orca fishing boat, the dorsal fin used both in Jaws and its sequels, costumes worn by the central trio and a room full of vintage film posters and merch promoting the film. There are interactive elements, too: You can have your own Chief Brody dolly-zoom moment (and see the lens used to film the famous shot), play the iconic John Williams two-note score and control a replica of the mechanical shark.

When I first stepped foot inside of this exhibition of decommissioned Confederate monuments and reflective contemporary art pieces, I was taken aback by the scale of it all. I’d seen the installation photos of the side-by-side statues of Confederate generals Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee on horseback, but as I craned my neck up at these towering tributes, they felt awe-inspiring in the most dreadful meaning of the phrase.

Most Angelenos don’t need to be convinced of the immoralities of the Confederacy—but most likely haven’t been forced to come face-to-face with such Civil War iconography either. “Monuments,” displayed almost entirely at MOCA’s Little Tokyo warehouse with a single Kara Walker installation at the Brick in East Hollywood, presents tangible proof that these monuments removed from public view over the past decade were not simple, somber remembrances for the recently deceased, these were larger-than-life celebrations of the Confederacy forged in the Jim Crow era and often financed by folks seeking to twist its history.

Works from 19 artists respond either directly or thematically to the many statues on display, or in some cases physically alter them: Bethany Collins’s Love is dangerous chisels pieces of the granite pedestal of a Stonewall Jackson monument into Carolina rose petals. Other graffitied or paint-splattered statues speak for themselves: The Robert E. Lee monument at the center of 2017’s Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia resides here reduced to a pile of bronze ingots and a bucket of leftover slag.

The matter-of-fact wall text lends context to hauntingly-shot portraits of wicked people and beautifully-detailed busts of complicated figures. Seated in front of a colossal globe, a monument to Matthew Fontaine Maury pays homage to the father of modern oceanography—who, the wall text notes, sought to expand American slavery into Brazil. The text next to a comparatively modest statue of Josephus Daniels notes his progressive stances on women’s suffrage and trust busting—and advocacy for white supremacy.

“Monuments” is a tremendous undertaking in every sense, and easily L.A.’s most essential exhibition to see in 2025 (and 2026, as its run extends through the spring). It’s worth every cent of its $18 ticket price, though if you book far enough ahead of time, you can take advantage of free admission on the first Friday of every month.

Right on the heels of the release of his new film, Mickey 17, director Bong Joon Ho steps into the spotlight at the Academy Museum’s latest “Director’s Spotlight” exhibition (past subjects have included Spike Lee and Agnès Varda). The first-ever museum show dedicated to the Oscar-winning South Korean filmmaker will trace Ho’s career, creative process and cinematic influences. See over 100 storyboards, research materials, posters, concept art, creature models, props and on-set photos from the director’s archive and personal collection. On opening day, March 23, catch screenings of Okja (2pm) and Parasite (7:30pm) in the David Geffen Theater—Ho himself will be there in person.

The Natural History Museum’s taxidermy dioramas turn a century old this year, and to celebrate the museum is reviving an entire hall of displays that’ve been dark for decades. Expect some fresh approaches to these assembled snapshots of the wilderness, including alebrijes made of recycled materials, a crystalline depiction of pollution and a tech-driven display of the L.A. River.

The California Science Center is inviting kids to get in the game with a new 17,000-square-foot exhibition about the power of play and the human body in motion. Besides teaching about the science behind sports, it also offers interactive challenges and video coaching from a team of Los Angeles-based mentor athletes including dancer Debbie Allen, the Dodgers’ World Series hero Freddie Freeman, Olympic medalist softball player Rachel Garcia and more. And for the first time ever, the center has commissioned public art—all by local artists—to complement the exhibition, including a Dodgers mural by Gustavo Zermeño Jr. The free exhibition will run at the Science Center through the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.