The
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) announces its Grand Opening
Weekend, a community celebration of the new David Geffen Galleries. On
June 18–22, the museum will host an array of dynamic programming,
including a free, campus-wide Block Party, The Genesis Talks: Thelma
Golden in conversation with Michael Govan, and SPIRITS Summer Solstice
Dance with Richie Hawtin and john gerrard, and more.
On Saturday, June 20,
the Block Party will offer free museum admission, family-
friendly
art activities, live music and DJ sets, and a hand-selected restaurant
showcase across the museum’s campus. Designed for all ages, the day-long
Block Party will be capped by the first Los Angeles edition of The Art
Parade, in
collaboration with art dealer and curator Jeffrey Deitch,
activating Wilshire Boulevard in front of the museum. The Block Party
and The Art Parade are presented by East West Bank Foundation, which is
committed to expanding access to arts, education,
and cultural engagement.
Michael Govan, LACMA CEO and Wallis Annenberg Director, said, “With the
completion of the David Geffen Galleries and the expansion of our campus, LACMA
has added acres of street-level space where we can install public artworks and
engage the entire community. We felt the occasion called for a celebratory summer
Block Party—and we look forward to welcoming everyone.”
The LACMA Block Party will offer:
Free Gallery Access (10 am–7 pm)
Free tickets to the new 110,000-square-foot David Geffen Galleries as well as the
Resnick Pavilion and BCAM, where nine special exhibitions are on view, including
Fashioning Chinese Women: Empire to Modernity, which opens on June 14.
The Art Parade (6 pm)Conceived
two decades ago in New York by Jeffrey Deitch, The Art Parade brings
together more than 1,000 artists in a creative procession that
transforms the streets into a living gallery. This first Los Angeles
edition of The Art Parade, in collaboration with Deitch, will showcase
mobile sculptures, costumes, banners, inflatables, music,
and
movement-based works that activate public space through collective
artistic expression, and underscores LACMA’s longstanding commitment to
celebrating artists and presenting art in public spaces.
Music (10 am–6 pm | DJ sets and music performances; 6 pm | Latin Sounds)
Highlighting Los Angeles as a hub of world-class musical artists, the Block Party will
feature live music and DJs beginning at 10 am, continuing throughout the day. As part
of LACMA’s Latin Sounds concert series, Los Angeles’s own Roosevelt Cordova,
known worldwide as “El Presidente de la Salsa,” will perform at 6 pm.
NexGenLA Zone: Art-Making Activities (10 am–3 pm)
The whole family is invited to explore the joy of art-making through free, hands-on
creative workshops and activities taking place across LACMA’s campus, including a
Pop-Up Workshop at the Boone Children's Gallery, located inside the W.M. Keck
Education Center, LACMA's new home for hands-on learning. LACMA’s Maya Mobile
will also be open for tours. Families can create keepsakes, discover new ways to
make art together, and take a little piece of the museum home with them.
Food
Los Angeles food and culture platform MAMA has curated a roster of 15 vendors for
the Block Party, representing the global spectrum of L.A.’s cuisine, including Fuegos,
Heng Heng Chicken Rice, Riviera Seafood Club, Bridgetown Roti, and many more.
On Sunday, June 21, LACMA will continue the weekend’s events by hosting the next
installment of The Genesis Talks. Thelma Golden, Studio Museum in Harlem director
and chief curator, and Michael Govan, LACMA CEO and Wallis Annenberg Director,
will discuss the role of museums in shaping public narratives and consider how
exhibitions and programs can respond to the urgent issues of our time. (5 pm, $10 /
$8 members)
At 6:30 pm, LACMA will host a free summer solstice dance party, SPIRITS Summer
Solstice Dance, featuring a DJ performance by pioneering electronic artist Richie
Hawtin (aka Plastikman) in celebration of the cycle of john gerrard’s solar artwork
SPIRITS, presented by LACMA’s Art+Technology Lab. The evening will include a
large-scale installation and live performance of
SPIRITS.
Other programming for the weekend includes a talk with celebrated photographer
Annie Liebovitz on June 18, Jazz at LACMA on June 19, a special site-specific
performance by L.A. Dance Project’s City of Dance on June 21, soccer watch parties
on June 18 and June 21, a soccer juggling and accuracy workshop on June 21, and
mindfulness programs on June 22. For more information, visit lacma.org/third-
weekends.
Go Metro. The D Line now brings you directly to LACMA (Wilshire/Fairfax Station).
Tour Metro Art at the station and explore the Metro Art Bus during the Block Party.
Plan your trip at metro.net.
June 19-21, 2026 3 PM-11 PM
Santa Anita Park Arcadia, CA
$8
Experience 626 Night Market, the original Asian night market in the U.S., with iconic street food, handcrafted merch, and live performances.
Anaheim GardenWalk
Free
Stroll through a spring inspired setting filled with festive dรฉcor, music, and fun activities for all ages. Enjoy interactive games, cultural moments, and plenty of photo worthy spots that capture the spirit of sakura season. Treat yourself with a mouthwatering selection of Japanese food and seasonal sweets from savory ramen and street food favorites to delicate spring inspired desserts, perfect for sharing with family and friends. Gather your loved ones, make lasting memories, and celebrate renewal, culture, and community at Taste of Japan’s Sakura Spring Fest.
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES PIZZERIA GRAND OPENING
Saturday, June 20, 11AM
3rd Street Promenade 1444 3rd Street Promenade Santa Monica
Cowabunga! It's finally gonna open, the TMNT theme pizzeria is set to give us the pizza lovin' turtrles fav.
