February 2026 events calendar for Los Angeles

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.

Welcome the Year of the Horse amid the lush greenery of South Coast Botanic Garden every weekend this February. Enjoy an afternoon of festive Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean traditions, with activities including the Korean game Yutnori, the Vietnamese game Bầu Cua Cá Cọp or the Chinese game of Mahjong. Enjoy the grounds on a Zodiac Stroll, the new dragon walk or a morning tai chi class. You’ll also find storytelling, a wishing tree, live music, a themed photo op and specialty food and cocktails (available for purchase from 10am–4pm). Admission is $18, but for $9 more, you can catch a performance by lion dancers, martial artists, drummers and folk dancers (Sat, Sun at 11am, 1pm, 3pm).

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.

Now that her astonishing Coachella set and the first leg of her tour are behind us, Angelenos can partake in the mayhem once again: Lady Gaga will return her Mayhem Ball tour to the Forum in February. Expect Mayhem’s dance-pop return to work its way into much of the set alongside plenty of old favorites.

This new heart-eyed haunt from the producers of the Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor will have you clinging to your Valentine. Featuring a fog-filled, circus-themed dance party and three other 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.

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.

KCRW’s School Night series—which has hosted the likes of Father John Misty and Odesza since it started in 2010—is back, this time with a new home: century-old Lincoln Heights bar the Airliner, which recently fully redesigned its music venue and upstairs listening room. Though the sets are short, the price is certainly right, as is the lineup curated by resident DJ and KCRW tastemaker Chris Douridas. It’s the perfect excuse to stay out late on a school night.

A display of over 30 mummified people and animals is back at the California Science Center. 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. Memorable artifacts include two “bundle” mummies making their West Coast debut, amulets and organ jars, an ancient Egyptian cat mummy and a shrunken sloth head. The museum’s IMAX theater will be screening the complementary Mummies 3D: Secrets of the Pharaohs.

Hark back to the heyday of radio at a massive, free all-ages Valentine’s Day celebration in Gloria Molina Grand Park. DJs will be on hand spinning vinyls and providing the soulful soundtrack. Add a personal touch and call 213-204-1666 to dedicate a song to someone you love. A classic car show will add to the vintage vibes, and you can also make your own cards, arrange your own flower bouquets, shop handmade goods and enjoy a free sweet treat. The evening will culminate with a dazzling drone show that promises to be a “love letter for the entire county.”

Dart down Santa Monica Boulevard in your undies to raise money for the Children’s Tumor Foundation during this annual Valentine’s Day-themed “pantless party with a purpose.” The Virgil is the home base for the 15-minute mile-long fun run and a pre- and post-dash dance party, where you can mix and mingle over drinks.

Members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic will celebrate the Lunar New Year by performing Chinese folk songs reimagined for a string quartet by Yi-Wen Jiang, including Haihuai Huang’s Racing Horses—a nod to the year of the independent and free-spirited horse. Arrive early to toast the holiday with a complimentary glass of wine.

This interactive performance series is a sexy way to spend Valentine’s Day, whether you come with a date or looking for connection. The literary cabaret is populated with musicians, dancers, performance artists, sketch artists and poets. This year’s theme, Devotion, asks that you “come ready to worship and be worshipped.” You can upgrade your experience with tokens that will give you access to private poetry readings behind closed curtains, tarot readings and typewriter poetry. Costumes, cocktail attire or themed eveningwear are encouraged.

What better place to celebrate the Lunar New Year than the Huntington Library’s beautiful Chinese garden? Usher in the Year of the Horse with lion dancers, mask-changing performances, martial arts demonstrations, floral art and music, from Chinese opera to traditional Vietnamese music, during this two-day event. Kids will enjoy storytime, arts and crafts and a Lego display. Look out for some sweet and savory treats just for the occasion (think banh mi and creamy shaved ice) from on-site food trucks. Advance ticket reservations are required.

What better place to celebrate the Lunar New Year than the Huntington Library’s beautiful Chinese garden? Usher in the Year of the Horse with lion dancers, mask-changing performances, martial arts demonstrations, floral art and music, from Chinese opera to traditional Vietnamese music, during this two-day event. Kids will enjoy storytime, arts and crafts and a Lego display. Look out for some sweet and savory treats just for the occasion (think banh mi and creamy shaved ice) from on-site food trucks. Advance ticket reservations are required.

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.

The Department of Cultural Affairs and NXT Art Foundation have teamed up on this free light and sound experience taking place simultaneously at parks across L.A. County this Valentine’s Day. Meant to amplify love, foster connection and inspire hope, the multi-disciplinary project will feature sound-based works by nine artists, and each site will be lit up by artist-designed sculptural installations. You can be a part of the moment at Barnsdall Art Park, Sycamore Grove Park, Exposition Park, Jane and Bert Boeckmann Park in Porter Ranch, Hansen Dam, Leimert Park, the Wende Museum in Culver City (which is hosting its own concurrent “My Sonic Valentine” event), Tongva Park, Promenade Square Park in Long Beach and Altadena’s renovated Loma Alta Park. Bring a picnic blanket, settle in and enjoy the sounds of harmony.

Westfield Topanga is welcoming the Year of the Horse in style. The Valley shopping center is decked out in festive decor through February, and will host a lion and dragon dance performance (through Level 1 and ending with a grand finale in front of food hall Topanga Social) and give out lucky red envelopes to guests on February 15. 

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, hand-crafted and salvaged, the cheap and the costly. On the second Sunday of each month, an odd mix of vendors populates the loop around the stadium: for every eye-catching artwork, there’s a ratty $5 T-shirt, and for each elegant craft there’s a competing “as seen on TV” demo. But you may have more luck in the rows and rows of old furniture, albums and vintage clothes and accessories that fill the adjacent parking lot.

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.

Each fall, the Getty Villa hosts a reimagined classical Greek play in its outdoor amphitheater. While that’s a ways off, for Valentine’s weekend, the acclaimed Theatre Movement Bazaar is staging Delphi—a new musical comedy about the Oracle of Delphi set in Greece 2,000 years ago—inside the museum’s indoor auditorium for three nights only. If your date is a history or theater buff, it’s sure to impress. Stick around for a post-play Delphic Valentine’s reception with sweet treats and Champagne (included in ticket price).

Sit back with your lover—or best buddy—and watch a special Valentine’s Day screening of Rob Reiner’s beloved rom-com, When Harry Met Sally, at Dynasty Typewriter. Move out of the friend zone with champagne toasts, romantic photo ops, a costume contest (come in your late ’80s best) and a karaoke afterparty. Oh, and did we mention the audience-wide fake orgasm and faux orgasm-off? We’ll have what they’re having.

It’s famous for that spaghetti kiss—a legendary scene that Walt Disney almost cut out. But Lady and the Tramp has many other charming moments; the script evolved out of years of personal pet stories shared by the studio’s animal-loving writers and executives. It’s a true labor of love. See it at the El Capitan Theatre around Valentine’s Day, and if you opt for the Sweetheart Dinner and a Movie package ($75), you can dine at Miceli’s down the street before or after a 7pm screening and re-create that spaghetti kiss yourself.

Got a list of L.A. museums you haven’t visited yet? Clear your calendar for Museums Free-for-All, when museums all over the region throw open the doors for free admission. Nearly 30 museums will drop their admission fees on Sunday, February 22. It’s the perfect opportunity to knock a couple of cultural to-dos off your list, like the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, LACMA, the Autry, the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum, Craft Contemporary, the Skirball and more. You’ll still have to pay to see any exhibitions that require a special ticket and for parking, but we can’t say no to free admission.

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.

Every year, the L.A. Zoo hosts an animal-filled celebration of the Lunar New Year. (2026 is the year of the horse, and though the zoo may not be home to horses, you can see their cousins, the zebras.) Take a self-guided tour through the animals of the Chinese zodiac, watch special feedings of the zoo’s inhabitants, and write down your hopes for the new year on the Wall of Well Wishes. You can also catch the Asian Arts Talents Foundation’s Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese dance performances, as well as calligraphy demos and Chinese fan decorating. All weekend activities are included in the price of zoo admission.

Santa Monica Place is welcoming the Year of the Horse with red and gold lanterns, cherry blossom wishing trees, arts and crafts for kids and shopping deals for adults. Stop by on the afternoon of February 21 for a free, family-friendly event—expect Chinese lion dance performances and martial arts demos, dough and balloon artists, live music and special Lunar New Year blessings spelled out by a calligraphy artist. While you’re there, pick up a red envelope with exclusive offers from the shopping center’s retailers and restaurants, valid through March 2.

Head to Benny Boy Brewing for a free Lunar New Year concert by multilingual singer and accordionist Jessica Fichot, who returns to channel the swing era of Shanghai with her band. Expect to hear classic Chinese New Year songs, jazz songs sung in Mandarin and Mandopop. Pair pours from the Lincoln Heights brewery and cider house with food from Yakitori Cartel (noon–6pm) and Zef BBQ and the Dumpling Dream (6–11pm). The San Gabriel Valley Chinese Cultural Association will close out the night with drumming and roaming lion dancers.

Pasadena’s USC Pacific Asia Museum museum rings in the Lunar New Year with a free afternoon of pan-Asian activities—and a grand reopening. In addition to traditional performances in the museum’s courtyard (think: lion dances, martial arts demonstrations, Korean classical music and storytimes) plus art activities and food trucks, you’ll also be able to visit the museum’s galleries for free. Check out the brand-new immersive new exhibition “Mythical Creatures: The Stories We Carry,” which takes visitors on an interactive journey through the immigrant experience.

First up on the Academy Museum’s 2026 calendar is a deep dive into Studio Ghibli’s Ponyo. One of Hayao Miyazaki’s most beloved films, Ponyo was notable for its focus on hand-drawn animation, with not only the characters but the backgrounds drawn frame-by-frame rather than using animation cels or CGI. Last year, Studio Ghibli donated original production materials to the Academy Collection, so this show will highlight those items, including art boards, posters, a Studio Ghibli animation desk and original drawings—some of which will be displayed in North America for the very first time—pairing them with immersive and interactive elements like an animation table and a play environment for kids.

We’re pretty spoiled when it comes to live scores in Los Angeles, whether it’s orchestra-backed screenings at the Hollywood Bowl or ensemble-accompanied showings at iconic movie palaces. Time to add another very cool entry to that second category: Wordless Music, Sister Midnight and KCRW will host a series of live scores of A24 films at the architecturally-stunning United Theater on Broadway in Downtown L.A. The lineup includes Under the Skin (Feb 20) with the 30-person Worldless Music Orchestra, Pearl (June 12) and Heriditary (Oct 23) with a 40-member variation of the same ensemble, and Eighth Grade (Dec 11) featuring a three-person electronic outfit.

This adults-only, nudity-hunting scavenger hunt at the Getty (held on V-Day) is a comical two-hour quest that has guests team up to follow clues and search for answers to riddles such as: “Who painted a gal who may soon suffer a heart attack?” Answer: Bouguereau. (Eros aims an arrow at a woman’s heart in Bouguereau’s A Young Girl Defending Herself Against Eros.) Whoever answers the most questions correctly will pick up a medal and some bragging rights. No previous art—or nudity—knowledge is required. Just wear comfy shoes and arrive 30 minutes early to allow time to park (that fee isn’t included in the scavenger hunt cost) and ride the tram up to the Getty.

Now under the stewardship of only one of its cofounders, Liz Fairbairn, the former Lucha VaVoom brings its unique mix of sexo y violencia to its new home—the Art Deco Fox Theater in Pomona—following 23 years in DTLA’s Mayan Theater. At this Valentine’s Day ode to desire and obsession, expect a night of masked Mexican wrestling, burlesque stripteasing, amazing aerialists, live music and more. Fill up on tequila and tamales while you watch Aztec dancers and luchadores alongside live comedic commentary.

Not to be confused with a similarly named fest at L.A. State Historic Park a few years ago, this Skyline comes from mega promoter Insomniac. For the fifth edition of the fest, held now next to the Sixth Street Viaduct at Ace Mission Studios, you’ll find Richie Hawtin, Marco Carola, Chris Stussy, I Hate Models, Joseph Capriati, VTSS and many more on the house and techno-heavy lineup that celebrates the city’s underground scene.

“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. 

The historic theater is putting on a mix of music, film, theater, dance and comedy programs to mark the Lunar New Year during this multi-week festival, which kicks off the playhouse’s year-long spotlight on Asian and Asian American voices. Highlights include a performance by experimental pop artist Jett Kwong (Feb 20); Tam Tran Goes to Washington, a family-friendly play put on by the East West Players (Feb 21); the first public screening of a documentary about composer Earl Kim (Feb 21); a laugh-out-loud show by the first and longest-running Asian American improv troupe, Cold Tofu (Feb 21); and an afternoon of dance by the Vietnamese American Thủy Vân Dance Company (Feb 22). See the full lineup of events here.

Watch a slate of classics from the past couple of decades on one of the prettiest rooftops in Hollywood at this outdoor screenings series. All movies are piped in over sets of provided wireless headphones. Before showtime, make sure to hit up the bar or the on-site kitchen, Oasis, which will be serving up wagyu burgers and classic film concessions.

It may seem a little over-the-top, but there’s no way booking a dinner cruise—on a yacht, with a coastline view—won’t win you points. Get dolled up and take to the water for a romantic meal and cocktails, then dance under the stars to tunes spun by a DJ. If you really want to impress—and have the funds—upgrading to the “Romance Package” will get you champagne with flutes, plus a half-dozen roses. You can set sail from either Marina del Rey (13757 Fiji Way) or Long Beach (Rainbow Harbor, Dock 6A). Daytime brunch cruises are also available.

Channel your inner Food Network star just in time for Valentine’s Day (or Galentine’s Day). Sip champagne as you learn how to expertly design and decorate a love-inspired cake from the Peninsula Beverly Hills’ pastry chef, James Rosselle (Food Network Challenge) on February 11, then enjoy it for dessert on the holiday—if you can wait that long.

Join in one of L.A.’s oldest traditions at the 127th annual Golden Dragon Parade. The colorful procession of lion dancers, dance troupes, music groups and more will make its way through Chinatown (kicking off at Hill Street at Temple, traveling toward Bernard, then right onto Broadway then back to Broadway & Temple) on Saturday, February 21, from 1 to 4pm. The parade historically coincides with a free Lunar New Year festival in the Central Plaza as well.

RECOMMENDED: Lunar New Year in Los Angeles

It’s an event, to say the least, when the world’s biggest cartoon band brings its chart-topping show to town. Murdoc & Co. are of course helmed by Damon Albarn and cult cartoon artist Jamie Hewlett, with a cast of impressive (as in, spit-out-your-drink-impressive) collaborators. Albarn and the Gorillaz live band will be performing upcoming album The Mountain in full, joined by special guests, during two one-off dates at the Palladium this February.

Scope out dozens food and craft booths while dragon dances, kung fu demonstrations, live candy sculpting and other entertainment play out across a street festival. For those new to celebrating the holiday, the fest’s “cultural passport” experience teaches you how different regions celebrate Lunar New Year. This annual event takes place just on Alhambra’s Main Street and celebrates the diversity of the San Gabriel Valley.

This South Bay Lunar New Year celebration offers live entertainment, dancers, arts and crafts, food trucks and more at Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles. The free, family-friendly event typically boasts a petting zoo, too, where visitors can get close to roosters, sheep, goats and pigs—maybe even horses in honor of the Year of the Horse. Parking is also free; head to 22nd and Miner streets to park and catch a free ride to the event from the San Pedro Downtown Trolley. 

Learn to make your own handcrafted ravioli from a Scuola chef who’ll school you on the culinary traditions of Northern Italy. For this special Valentine’s edition of the class, you’ll even create intricate ravioli flowers and take some home to enjoy later. Your ticket also includes antipasto, a welcome glass of prosecco and wine to pair with your pasta creation.

Participate in a 5K or 10K run/walk, a 2K dog walk, a kiddie run or a 20- or 50-mile bike ride that will take you along the L.A. River and through Griffith Park during this weekend-long Lunar New Year tradition centered in the heart of historic Chinatown. All courses start and end at Chinatown Central Plaza, which will host a concurrent, free family-friendly festival with a beer garden, kids’ activities and live entertainment, if you want to celebrate without breaking a sweat. Don’t miss the weekend opening ceremony, with lion dancers and the traditional lighting of 100,000 firecrackers. Check the website for a detailed schedule of events.

Coinciding with the Firecracker Run’s Paw’er Dog Walk, this third annual Lunar New Year celebration specifically caters to dogs and their owners. The Blossom Plaza event includes Year of the Fire Horse–themed pet photography sessions and custom portraits, plus shopping from local pet-centric businesses and cultural activities. 

Whether you go in cold or the soundtrack has never left your Spotify rotation, you’ll likely find yourself crying with laughter through the first few songs of The Book of Mormon. Over a decade on, the story of a forced-together pair of Mormon missionaries in Africa—with music, lyrics and book by South Park co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, as well as Robert Lopez (known then for Avenue Q, now for Frozen)—is just as catchy, witty and gleefully filthy as ever. (If you’ve never seen the musical before, however vulgar you think it is, it’s magnitudes more obscene, and all the better for it.) The touring production of the nine-time Tony winner stops at the Pantages for two weeks.

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.

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.

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 created a mural of the singer outside the museum.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

Following 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.