UCLA PRESENTS THE BEST in arts and culture, community events, sports and entertainment. From fabulous film screenings and amazing art exhibitions, January has a number of experiences unlike any other. For more UCLA events, visit community.ucla.edu.
JANUARY 22 | 7:30 P.M.
Some Favorite Writers: Jean Strouse
Author Jean Strouse has a way of making American history the most entertaining soap opera you’ve ever devoured. Telling unheard stories from the American Victorian era, her work has garnered a MacArthur “genius” grant, a Bancroft Prize and a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. Her newest publication, Family Romance: John Sargent and the Wertheimers, captures the drama, mystery, intrigue and tragedy surrounding the portraitist John Sargent (known for his vibrant portraits of the Vanderbilts and other wealthy elite) and the family behind the Coco Chanel fashion house. Strouse will discuss Family Romance, Sargent’s many portraits and the intersections between the aristocrats he depicted; UCLA professor Mona Simpson will lead a subsequent discussion on Strouse’s work and the Edwardian age. This is a free program from the Hammer Museum at UCLA, so no RSVP required; just come to the lobby the day of.
SATURDAYS | 1 P.M.
Exhibition Highlights Tour: Made in L.A. 2025
Have you noticed that a 25-foot inflatable bear has crashed its convertible into the Hammer Museum at UCLA? Made in L.A. 2025 is the Hammer’s seventh iteration of exhibitions solely featuring Los Angeles artists. Alake Shilling is one artist featured this year, and you can walk away from one of her contributions — an inflatable sculpture titled Buggy Bear Crashed Made in L.A. — with a lot of questions. Don’t worry: The ace docents of the Hammer are here to help. Every Saturday at 1 p.m., Hammer educators lead free conversation-based tours of Made in L.A. to help decipher the meaning behind some of the most creative art you’ve ever seen. Come see Shilling’s pieces inside and outside the museum, in addition to works from more than two dozen other brilliant artists. No RSVP required.
THROUGH JANUARY
Belongings: Changing Hands and Shifting Meanings in African Arts
As a historical object moves through communities from Africa to Los Angeles, it passes through several hands, takes on many meanings and bears witness to historical moments. Past projects at the Fowler Museum at UCLA have focused on the original intent of an object, but not their often amazing journeys. The Belongings exhibition is organized into four sections marking periods of transition: early owners in Africa; colonial-era buyers; movement through Europe’s secondary market; and eventual arrival at UCLA. Come see Belongings at the Fowler on UCLA’s campus, no tickets required.
JANUARY 11 | 2 P.M.
Escher Quartet at Clark Library
Did you know UCLA has an off-campus rare book and manuscript library in Exposition Park? The Clark Memorial Library specializes in English and Western European works spanning the 17th to the 19th centuries, in addition to stunning manicured grounds. Though the library usually remains a quiet, pristine haven of academia, its doors occasionally open to breathe new life into the Georgian Era; now, the Escher Quartet is coming to the library drawing room stage to do just that. Straight from its residency at Lincoln Center, the Escher Quartet consists of two violins, a viola and a cello. Its musicians will perform a number of string quartets originally composed by 19th century Hungarian ethnomusicologist Béla Bartók. Purchase your tickets here for a rare glimpse at one of UCLA’s most underappreciated research centers and a rarer example of world-class string quartet performances.
JANUARY 17 | 7:30 P.M.
Bong Joon Ho’s 2019 masterpiece Parasite changed cinematic depictions of class forever, in addition to being one of the most decorated films of the 21st century so far. At the 92nd Academy Awards, Parasite became the first non-English language film to win Best Picture, while also winning Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. The film follows the resourceful working-class Kim family as its members infiltrate a wealthy household, morphing seamlessly from social satire to psychological thriller to tragedy. Parasite’s searing portrayal of inequality entered the global cinematic canon with a fast and undeniable fury, but there’s a much-less heralded 2009 documentary even many well-versed film buffs don’t know: A Nice Place. Over the course of a decade, sociologist-turned-filmmaker Cho Uhn followed four generations of one South Korean family repeatedly displaced from Seoul’s hillside slum of Daldongne. His film exposes how urban poverty persists across decades in a rapidly modernizing Korea, rumored to have inspired Parasite and serves as its ersatz prequel. The UCLA Film & Television Archive invites you to see one decade of “parasitic” class systems for free as part of their (Dis)placement series, only at the Billy Wilder Theater.
JANUARY 23–24
Agrupación Señor Serrano: Birdie
What has live video, scale models, 2,000 miniature animals, three performers and a retelling of Hitchcock’s The Birds? A showing from the UCLA Center for the Art of Performance, of course. Birdie is a multimedia reimagining of the 1963 classic Hitchcock film The Birds. But instead of thousands of birds descending upon a picturesque Northern California beach community, the Barcelona theater company Agrupación Señor Serrano uses multimedia production to compare two existences: a society of war and economic depression, and a society of leisure and economic prosperity. Going beyond the limits of the stage and many, many props (did we mention 2,000 miniature animals?), Agrupación Señor Serrano examines where the birds go — no matter which fate humankind faces. Get tickets here for this on-campus performance at the Macgowan Little Theater.
JANUARY 3 | 5 P.M.
New year, same goal: Beat ’SC. Pack Pauley Pavilion and wear your Bruin blue for good luck in the latest installment of the eternal battle of UCLA versus the University of Southern California. If we’re honest, the Bruins have something a bit better than luck: talent. UCLA’s women, who made the Final Four last year, have already been deemed a top-five team in the NCAA and the No. 1 team to beat in the Big Ten. Usher in the new year by watching (hopefully) another USC beatdown. Purchase tickets here.
JANUARY 17 | 3 P.M.
It’s time for UCLA Gymnastics’ long-awaited return in their home opener against the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Bruins have all the flips, tricks, spins and splits for you — but you already know that. What you may not know is that preseason polls place the Bruins in the top five in the nation and Olympic champion Jordan Chiles, fresh off her Dancing With the Stars run (she made it to the finale), is ready for her grand reentry to the NCAA. One more thing to convince you: The squad has added two first-years straight from Jordan Chiles and Simone Biles’ home gym. Get ready for a great season. Tickets here.
JANUARY 20 | 7 P.M.
When the Bruins take on the Boilermakers, it’s a celebration of basketball — and a celebration of John Wooden, who graduated from Purdue University. The two programs have rich histories in college basketball, so it’s only right that this matchup marks Coach John Wooden Legacy Night. In addition to a great game on the hardwood, the Wooden family will be in attendance as honorary captains, and halftime will commemorate Coach Wooden’s legendary contributions to UCLA and the game itself. Get your tickets here.
JANUARY 30 | 2 P.M.
It’s the last regular conference meet before February’s Big Ten Tournament, and of course, it’s against that one particular team from across town. Come support UCLA Swim and Dive in the most competitive meet of the year as they take on USC in everything from the high dive to the breaststroke. This meet, on campus at Spieker Aquatics Center, is completely free, so just come ready to cheer.
JANUARY 14 | 5 P.M.
Join the Alumni Association for its first Leaders 2 Leaders session of 2026! Learn how to maximize your network’s impact using UCLA’s official career development platform, which connects you with 75,000+ alumni and professionals worldwide.
In this session, you’ll learn how to:
- Discover potential speakers and event attendees
- Offer mentorship and professional development to students
- Connect with and recruit UCLA alumni to your network
- Post jobs and events
- Build a robust online community
Don’t miss this Zoom event; details on how to RSVP here.
JANUARY 21 | 11:30 A.M.
Bruin Affiliates: January Luncheon with Law Professor Paul Bergman
Join Bruin Affiliates for its January luncheon as UCLA Professor of Law Emeritus Paul Bergman returns to present his amusing and enlightening take on fictional courtroom drama at the James West Alumni Center. Titled “Captivating Clips from Classic Courtroom Movies,” Bergman will explore the unique connection between real trials and courtroom movies, like 12 Angry Men and To Kill a Mockingbird. This luncheon will reveal how lawyers are storytellers and courtrooms are theaters — sites of drama, surprise, suspense, laughter, and sometimes, truth. Using clips from both familiar and lesser-known films, Bergman will both educate and entertain. You’ll never look at My Cousin Vinny the same way.
JANUARY 31 | 11:30 A.M.
UCLA Alumni Bruin Bash: Men’s Basketball vs. Indiana
Double down on the joys of basketball season at UCLA Alumni’s Bruin Bash events, starting off with this UCLA men’s basketball tussle against the Indiana Hoosiers. Before the 2 p.m. game in Pauley Pavilion, stop by the James West Alumni Center next door for food, games and pregame hype. Start the occasion off right by bringing family and friends to the party before the party. Tickets available here.
