UCLA PRESENTS THE BEST in arts and culture, community events, sports and entertainment. From fabulous film screenings and sensational sports exhibitions, March has a slew of exciting events at the ready. For more UCLA events, visit community.ucla.edu.
MARCH 9 | NOON
Happy New Year! Yes, we know it’s March, but the Persian New Year begins with the arrival of spring. Originating in the Middle East and Central Asia, Nowruz is a centuries-old celebration encouraging renewal, rebirth, peace, triumph, family and neighborliness. But Nowruz isn’t just about a typical “new-year-new-me” mindset; the holiday is known for its slew of activities and the symbolic Haft-sin table, adorned with seven objects that promise to bring good fortune. This year’s event features musical performances, children’s activities, arts and crafts, dancers, traditional musicians, stilt walkers, orchestra performances and an Iranian tea house. Outdoor performances will take place across Dickinson Court; there will also be a ticketed concert in Royce Hall at 6 p.m. View the full Nowruz schedule here. No tickets required.
MARCH 20 | 7:30 P.M.
Larry “Lonesome” Rhodes (Andy Griffith) is a drifter who, upon being discovered as the nation’s next great guitarist by an Arkansas radio producer, has one question: “What do I get out of this?” When Rhodes becomes a big radio star, television fame soon follows and launches him to national stardom and political power he never wanted and certainly never expected. At a time when McCarthyism was still very much in the air, this 1957 classic, directed by Elia Kazan and written by Budd Schulberg, pitches a dark take on populism that maintains a faith in the American public’s natural resistance to authoritarianism. It’s a film that still feels prophetic and eerily relevant. Another poignant pick from the UCLA Film & Television Archive, this screening at the Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer Museum is completely free; seating is first come, first served.
MARCH 20–21
The Brokentalkers Theater Company prides itself on creating live performances that respond to contemporary debates on culture, life and politics, integrating original writing, dance, film, interviews, found materials and music to recreate the most interesting biographical stories from the world we live in. Brokentalkers’ passion for the now makes its latest collaboration with traditional Irish accordionist Danny O’Mahony — an artist whose motto is “tradition is the future” — so fascinating. In Bellow, Brokentalkers tells the extraordinary true story of O’Mahony, a man who has dedicated his life to the preservation of traditional Irish music, through its unconventional multimedia theater techniques. Set to O’Mahony’s exquisite live playing, Brokentalkers revisits pivotal moments in O’Mahony’s life: his first taste of music as a child, the mentors who shaped him, and the unrelenting pursuit of mastery that left room for little else. A mix of autobiography, experimental theater and a battle of the bands concert, Bellow is a unique and astonishingly beautiful theater performance that explores what it means to be an artist and what it means to be Irish. Get your tickets to this UCLA Nimoy Theater performance here.
MARCH 28 | 8 P.M.
Jeremy Nedd: from rock to rock
You know more viral dances than you think you do. The moonwalk, the “Y.M.C.A,” “The Carlton” — we all share a repertoire of dance moves straight from the pop culture zeitgeist. from rock to rock … aka how magnolia was taken for granite is a dance performance inspired by a rapper’s copyright lawsuit against Epic Games, the company behind the multiplayer game Fortnite, whose characters dance when they “emote.” When rapper 2 Milly sued Epic Games in 2018 for copyright infringement, he claimed the company stole the “Milly Rock,” opening a discussion on how gaming companies profit from pop culture figures’ identities, cultures and choreography. from rock to rock examines the “Milly Rock” dance move, searching for the hidden poetry and virtuosic freedom found in social and viral dance moves. Choreographer Jeremy Nedd has crafted a biography of the “Milly Rock” through individual and group performances. Nedd examines each learned movement of the dance to ask: Can a dance move belong to anyone? And, if yes, who gets to actually profit socially and economically from it? Get tickets for this UCLA Freud Playhouse performance here.
UNTIL APRIL 12
Last Chance: Fowler Museum’s Fire Kinship
Last year, UCLA institutions and Bruin artists and scientists took part in the nation’s largest art event, Pacific Standard Time. PST ART: Art & Science Collide was a Getty Museum brainchild, kicking off dozens of exhibitions and installations across Los Angeles and questioning the relationship between art and science. Though most of the PST ART exhibitions are gone, some remain. One of those exhibitions is right on campus, but not for long: The Fowler Museum’s Fire Kinship: Southern California Native Ecology and Art reexamines how Southern California demonizes wildfires and argues for a new understanding of fire’s role in our ecosystems, one centered around Native practices and a return to land stewardship. In this exhibit, Native Angeleno baskets, skirts, ollas and canoes stand next to video, sculpture, portraits, paintings and contemporary installations, centering the Tongva, Cahuilla, Luiseño and Kumeyaay communities that know fire’s role intimately. March is one of the last months of Fire Kinship and PST ART at large. Come to the Fowler Museum to reimagine your relationship with fire, connect with California’s ecological past and look toward the sustainable future blazing ahead. No tickets necessary.
MARCH MEANS MADNESS
The 2026 NCAA Basketball Championship Tournament is approaching. Women’s hoops has its spot as a top 5 team in the nation and as the single best team in the Big Ten. Men’s hoops is on its way, pulling out buzzer-beater wins and taking competitive games into overtime. To contribute to the madness and watch the tournaments with fellow Bruin faithful, check out the UCLA Alumni Game Watch Parties Page for gatherings near you. Better yet, join students, alumni, faculty and staff on campus. Pauley Pavilion has free, big-screen tournament livestreams for anyone wearing the blue and gold. Come to campus before the Bruins tip-off — and you’ll be all set for another maddening season. Watch the UCLA Athletics page for more information about on-campus streaming and keep an eye on the Bracketology Bubble Watch to track men’s hoops’ chances of making the tournament.
MARCH 6 | 9 A.M.
Marina del Rey is the home of Bruin rowing and the site of this year’s rivalry regatta. The UCLA and University of Southern California varsity boats will commence in a series of intense races across the marina straight-aways, screaming and clawing to be the best crew in L.A. There’s no better place to watch a race: Marina del Rey is stunningly picturesque, and the UCLA boathouse transforms into a tailgate open to all Bruin fans. Watch the Bruins launch and race from the dock, run along the course yelling your head off and then welcome the boats back as they dock just feet in front of you. No tickets required for one of the only home regattas of the season.
MARCH 6 | 7 P.M.
It’s lonely at the top. Seriously. Being the only team ranked No. 1 for weeks can be, well, isolating. If someone has to shoulder that role, it might as well be the Bruins. But there’s still some solace in times like these: The Bruins can enter their rivalry match knowing the Trojans sit as the lowly No. 4 in the nation. Nevertheless, the Bruins are obviously going to deliver world-class gameplay and yet another decisive victory. Wear your blue, pack Pauley Pavilion — and get your tickets here.
MARCH 7 | 1 P.M.
Women’s Water Polo vs. Stanford
The Bruins are making quite a splash this season. (Sorry, we couldn’t resist.) Just months after the men’s squad won the national NCAA title, the women’s water polo team is on fire. The squad has won every one of its matches, decisively, and has climbed in the rankings to No. 2 in the nation. The top team? The Stanford University Cardinals. Obviously, this won’t last. Take part in the action, for free, at Spieker Aquatics Center to witness yet another Bruin team become the best in the nation.
MARCH 13–15
Buy yourself some peanuts, Cracker Jacks and a ticket to UCLA baseball’s series against the Michigan Wolverines. Come to Jackie Robinson Stadium for the Big Ten Opening Weekend to watch UCLA hit it out of the park, literally — if you didn’t know, the Bruins are the best in the NCAA. UCLA Alumni can receive up to four free tickets all weekend, and each game has surprise giveaways. And, as always, kids get to run the bases post-game. We mean, post-win! Tickets here.
MARCH 14 | 7:30 P.M.
I’m not crying. You are. It’s the final home meet of the season for the Bruins and the last match ever for our seniors, including the fierce Olympic Champion, Jordan Chiles. Come early for Bruin Bash at the James West Alumni Center and then flood Pauley Pavilion. Be ready to cheer the Bruins on to even more perfect 10s, write a fan appreciation letter to a UCLA gymnast and take a photo in Pauley’s photo booth. Tickets here.
THROUGH MARCH
Nothing is a better accompaniment to watching the Bruins on the big screen than other Bruins. UCLA Watch Parties are the perfect way to connect with other Bruin faithful at bars, restaurants and other venues to cheer on the blue and gold, especially during March Madness. Visit the Bruin Watch Party page to find a gathering near you and come root for your favorite team alongside other like-minded fans.
THROUGH MARCH
Coming to campus for a UCLA sporting event? Stop by Bruin Bash — the official pregame party for UCLA alumni. Bruin Bash events are designed for alumni, fans and friends to gather and celebrate the Bruin spirit before entering the game. Family-friendly and nostalgic, the events cater to all ages and include a slew of activities and plenty of food and drink. Whether you’re a first-time Bruin fan or a lifelong supporter, sign up for a fun way to beat the traffic by arriving early and enjoying a pregame meal.
MARCH 6–8
Alumni Association Appreciation Days: Softball vs. Wisconsin
Being a UCLA alum is always special — and even more so during the alumni appreciation sporting events! UCLA alumni get special perks and discounted tickets for certain events, like this softball series against the University of Wisconsin Badgers. Alumni Appreciation tickets are 50% off, and alums can receive up to 8 discounted tickets online or at the box office. Bruin softball, which plays at Easton Stadium right on campus, is one of the top 10 teams in the nation. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last on game day.
MARCH 17 | 5 P.M.
Dr. Tunstall’s Welcome Reception
We are pleased to share that UCLA has officially announced the appointment of Jonli Tunstall as the director of the Academic Advancement Program (AAP), which serves over 5,500 low-income, first-generation and historically underrepresented undergraduates and ensures their graduation. Tunstall’s appointment marks a historic milestone: she is the first woman and first African American to lead AAP in its more than 50-year history. In celebration of this important moment for the AAP community, we are inviting campus partners and alumni to join us in welcoming her to this role and celebrating this new chapter for AAP.
Come to the James West Alumni Center for this free celebration of Tunstall and the Academic Advancement Program. There will be food, drink and networking alongside a few words from Tunstall and other Academic Advancement Program leaders. No RSVP needed.
MARCH 25 | NOON
Seminar: Cultivating a Healthy Work/Life Balance
Sometimes it feels impossible. But it is possible to build a life that feels both successful and sane, professionally and personally. If you ever feel like there’s too much to do, at work and at home, and are seeking more balance, the Alumni Association’s workshop on “Cultivating a Healthy Work/Life Balance” is for you. Led by Holly Hoeksema, a career engagement specialist at UC Santa Cruz, this workshop challenges the notion of a “perfect” work-life balance and creates space for you to consider your personal and professional priorities. Hoeksema brings more than 25 years of experience in leadership development, team building and executive coaching to this workshop, and you’ll walk away with the tools you need to to create a life that feels grounded, enjoyable and fulfilling. RSVP for this free Zoom workshop and contact alumni@ucsc.edu with any questions.
