UCLA PRESENTS THE BEST in arts and culture, community events, sports and entertainment. From fabulous film screenings and amazing art exhibitions, February has a number of experiences unlike any other. For more UCLA events, visit community.ucla.edu.
FEBRUARY 10 | 7:30 P.M.
Navigating Challenging Conversations and Compassionate Connections with Dr. Loretta Ross
Loretta Ross is calling you out so you can hear all about her strategies of “calling in.” The 2022 MacArthur Fellow confronts how we approach challenging conversations and compassionate connections in her new book, Calling In: How to Start Making Change With Those You’d Rather Cancel. Part memoir, part manifesto, part handbook, Calling In addresses how we can only build coalitions and community in a polarized world once we look inward rather than blindly critique. Hosted at the Hammer Museum at UCLA, this Hammer Forum will see Ross foster conversation about how “calling in” can affect positive change every day. No reservation needed.
FEBRUARY 19 | 7:30 P.M.
Some Favorite Writers: Katie Kitamura
There are two kinds of people: those who have heard of Katie Kitamura, and those who are about to. The BBC has called her “one of America’s best contemporary writers,” and her work has been translated into 21 languages. Her 2021 novel Intimacies — a taut story about an unnamed New Yorker who moves to The Hague to work as an interpreter at the International Criminal Court — was longlisted for the National Book Award, a top 25 book of the year for The New York Times and featured on President Barack Obama’s list of annual favorite books. Kitamura then released her follow-up work, Audition, one of the most highly anticipated novels of 2025. Audition follows an accomplished actress struggling with her performances inside and outside the theater. She begins to view every interaction as an “audition,”especially when starting a relationship with a younger man, then uncovers a series of searing and psychologically profound secrets. As part of the Hammer Museum’s Some Favorite Writers series, Kitamura will read excerpts from Audition before discussing her work with UCLA professor Mona Simpson. This event, co-presented by the UCLA Department of English, is free; books will be available for purchase.
FEBRUARY 20–22
Winter Wellness Wakeup Retreat
Winter is more than just a season — it’s an invitation to pause, reflect and release habits that no longer serve us. Embrace winter’s wisdom with expert wellness leader Jeanne Marie Mudd on a three-day, two-night retreat at the always stunning UCLA Lake Arrowhead Lodge. This retreat goes beyond a juice cleanse or surface-level notions of wellness: Mudd has curated a retreat to help you find clarity in your daily choices and cultivate habits that support greater vitality and joy as your age. In your time at Lake Arrowhead, you’ll participate in workshops led by Mudd, explore the property’s stunning natural beauty, reflect in intimate group sessions and learn how to prepare nourishing meals. Whether you’re looking to invest in your nutrition, movement and healthy aging journey, or whether you just want a midwinter reset, this retreat offers the perfect winter getaway. Reserve your spot and register today.
FEBRUARY 4–MARCH 8
Sally is having a rough time. A formerly celebrated novelist, she now grapples with writer’s block while her husband Theo’s emerging literary fame begins to overshadow her once fruitful career. In all the madness, Sally finds solace within the walls of her iconic Boston apartment, a brownstone once inhabited by Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes. But when eerie encounters begin to blur the line between inspiration and madness, Sally is forced to question what is real or imagined — and what great art may truly cost her. A darkly funny, gripping world premiere from rising playwright Beth Hyland, this tragicomic thriller explores creativity, obsession and ghosts that refuse to be ignored. Don’t miss another instant classic from the Geffen Playhouse; get tickets here.
FEBRUARY 6 | ALL DAY
Early Modern Skies: Conference on 18th Century European Landscapes
In early modern philosophy, the sky reflected fears and hopes for stasis, contained light and color without shadow or form, and felt both fulsome and empty. Environmentalists, scientists, artists, poets and literary critics alike have obsessed over the sky and what its interdisciplinary depictions represent, from religious notions to meteorological records. To discuss the variability of European skies, the UCLA Center for 17th- and 18th-Century Studies has brought together a panel of experts on the firmament from across disciplines and global institutions for a conference on early modern skies. Come to the UCLA Clark Memorial Library in Exposition Park for a day of lectures, panels, discussions, exhibitions and Q&As all on the enduring mystery of the skies above us. RSVP for free and view the schedule.
FEBRUARY 7 | 1 P.M.
asses.masses: Patrick Blenkarn + Milton Lim
The unemployed donkeys have one demand: The humans must surrender their machines and give all donkeys their jobs back. But it turns out revolution is never easy. asses.masses is a custom-made video game about labor, technophobia and sharing the load of revolution from the delightfully twisted minds of Patrick Blenkarn and Milton Lim. The two have melded their experiences in performance, video game design, direction and visual art to create an immersive, cheeky and original work that will have you spellbound for seven hours in the UCLA Nimoy Theater. In this highly interactive experience, audience members work as a collective, shouting demands to the single person in possession of the controller, to help the donkeys take control of their jobs amid an unraveling society. To play through asses.masses fully, you’ll have to stay at the Nimoy Theater until 8 p.m., but there will be several intermissions with complimentary food and opportunities to strategize with your fellow participants. Confronting automation-driven job loss and the role of technology in adaptation, asses.masses encourages you to find the space between the work that defines us and the play that frees us. Tickets here.
FEBRUARY 13 | 7:30 P.M.
Vivaldi gets a fresher look with this year’s edition of the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music’s annual string concert. The UCLA Camarades (The Music of Friends chamber music program) has planned an evening of soothing Vivaldi, featuring solos from first-year students. Considered one of the most prestigious string music departments in the nation, the Alpert contingent’s Winter Vivaldi concert aims to provide a joyous musical respite. Now it’s time for the freshmen to showcase their skills. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis at Lani Hall; if you can’t make it in person, you can watch the livestream here.
FEBRUARY 15 | 7 P.M.
Archive Talks: Hitchcock and Herrmann with Steven C. Smith
Between 1955 and 1964, filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock and composer Bernard Herrmann collaborated on eight iconic films, including Vertigo (1958), North by Northwest (1959), Psycho (1960) and The Birds (1963). For two strong personalities and independent workers, Hitchcock and Herrmann found creative solace in one another: Hitchcock would edit films to accommodate Herrmann’s scoring, while Herrmann took creative leaps in search of the perfect sound to accompany Hitchcock’s vision. The UCLA Film & Television Archive presents a digital screening of Psycho as part of its Archive Talks series, which highlights behind-the-scenes friendships and film histories. After the screening, award-winning filmmaker and film historian Steven C. Smith will dive deep into the creative relationship between these two collaborators as explored in his latest book, Hitchcock and Herrmann: The Friendship and Film Scores That Changed Cinema. Smith will deliver an illustrated talk about the unknown histories of this collaborative relationship and conduct a Q&A. Like all Archive events, the event at the Hammer’s Billy Wilder Theater is free; no reservation required.
FEBRUARY 3 | 9:30 P.M.
The legendary crosstown rivalry takes to the ice rink? (Dare we call it a … “heated rivalry”?) Both teams have some seriously underrated talent: Though both participate in club sports at their respective schools, they also compete against Division II and Division III schools and are building legacies with the dream of an eventual Division I program in mind. This face-off at Anaheim’s Honda Center — the home of the Anaheim Ducks — is a step toward achieving that goal.
FEBRUARY 6–8
Softball: Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament
UCLA Softball — and its top five NCAA ranking — is officially back. The 2026 season opens this February with the annual Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament. As the Bruins warm up for the regular season, they’ll face off against competition that includes UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara and Northern Colorado. Games take place all day at Easton Stadium on campus. Purchase your tickets here.
FEBRUARY 14 | 4 P.M.
There’s no better way to celebrate love than by showing your love for UCLA gymnastics. This Valentine’s Day, come to Pauley Pavilion and see your favorite gymnasts perform the routines they love for the crowd they adore (you!). Tickets start at only $9.
FEBRUARY 15 | NOON
Women’s Basketball vs. Indiana
Most Bruin hoops games will get you in the blue-and-gold spirit, but this match against the Hoosiers will have you thinking pink. This game marks UCLA’s annual Play4Kay Pink Game, supporting breast cancer research. In addition to great on-court performances from the top team in the Big Ten (that would be our Bruins, of course), Pauley Pavilion will be packed with pink giveaways from T-shirts to pom-poms. Tickets start at $20.
FEBRUARY 20–22
“UCLA leads the D1 Baseball preseason top 25 rankings.” Those aren’t our words — that’s straight from the NCAA. For the first time in the 12-year history of NCAA’s official baseball rankings, UCLA starts the season out as the top team to beat. The team’s series against the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs, another top-10 team, is one of the most highly anticipated matchups of the entire season. Bring your peanuts and baseball mitt to Jackie Robinson Stadium — only five minutes from campus — to start enjoying some of the best competition college baseball has to offer. You can buy tickets here.
FEBRUARY 24 | 8 P.M.
Two words: Beat ’SC. It’s finally time for the rivalry game on home court, right in Pauley Pavilion. Tip-off is at 8 p.m., but come early for pregame festivities and food trucks before doors open at 6:30 p.m. Wear your blue, get loud and come prepared for an inevitable Trojan beatdown. Get your tickets here.
FEBRUARY 27–28
Beach Volleyball: Battle for LA
February in L.A. is basically summer, right? No matter the weather, Bruins beach volleyball is ready to dominate the competition and keep its reputation as the best team in Southern California. Its annual Battle for L.A. is held on Mapes Beach at Sunset Recreation Center, right on campus. This tournament is a home opener for the Bruins, who will host the best teams in the nation: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Loyola Marymount University, Long Beach State, Boise State and Pepperdine. No tickets required for this all-weekend tournament; just arrive at Mapes Beach with your blue and gold on and be ready to cheer.
THROUGH FEBRUARY
We all know how Bruins love to cheer each other on. And this cheering often occurs together, loudly, proudly and in public. Join in on the fun at a UCLA Game Watch Party, a great way to support Bruins athletics and meet new friends also loudly, proudly and in public. As basketball season ramps up, the Alumni Association has plenty of Game Watch Parties planned across the nation. Check out a gathering near you and come root for your favorite team alongside fellow Bruin faithful.
FEBRUARY 11 | 9:30 A.M.
UC & IE University Panel: Scaling Business in Spain
Craving a reason to relocate to Iberia? Join a conversation with four UC and IE (Instituto de Empresa, a global Spanish university) alumni entrepreneurs who have successfully grown businesses in Spain. This hybrid event will offer insights into starting a business — from brainstorming to overcoming obstacles, navigating EU regulations and sustaining a global business. Ikhlaq Sidhu, dean of the IE School of Science and Technology and founding director of UC Berkeley’s Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology, will moderate this panel. While the panel is held in Madrid, you can attend it virtually via Zoom. You are encouraged to participate in the Q&A. All tickets to this panel are free.
FEBRUARY 21, 22 & 28 | 6 P.M.
Don’t miss the opportunity to contribute to one of UCLA’s most beloved and longest-running traditions. For more than 50 years, the Alumni Association has helped Bruins host Dinners for 12 Strangers, bringing alumni, faculty, staff and students together to enjoy good food and great conversation. Are you ready to join the fun? Host or attend a gathering on February 21, 22 or 28. Sign up and prepare to sit down as strangers and stand up as friends.
