A New Season is Upon Us

Between conversations, croquettes, and glasses of bubbly, a crowd gathered for the UCSB Arts & Lectures 2026-2027 Season Reveal party at the Hotel Californian. After a touch of cavorting outside, the guests moved into the Alhambra Ballroom to see what is in store for the world-class set of performances and speakers that audiences have come to expect from A&L. 

New this season is a presale window exclusively for Producers Circle members, giving Arts & Lectures’ most dedicated supporters an early crack at coveted seats before subscriptions open to the public. The season also leans heavily into commissions and milestone performances, including a major new work from Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra during Marsalis’ final tour as artistic director, plus a co-commissioned composition by Reena Esmail performed by violin superstar Hilary Hahn. Several acclaimed artists make their Arts & Lectures debuts, among them Serbian violinist Nemanja Radulović and Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes, while audiences will also have the chance to witness artistic farewells, including the final international tour of the Akram Khan Company and the last work of legendary Butoh choreographer Ushio Amagatsu. Returning favorites remain at the heart of the season, from the beloved Great Performances and Word of Mouth series to the always-popular Americana, Jazz and Family Time offerings, proving that Arts & Lectures continues to balance tradition with discovery.

The Great Performances series once again serves as the season’s crown jewel, bringing together some of the world’s most celebrated classical musicians. Audiences can look forward to appearances by Lang Lang, Yuja Wang, and Leif Ove Andsnes, while Wynton Marsalis’ highly anticipated commission promises one of the season’s defining cultural moments.

For listeners who prefer conversations to concertos (or perhaps enjoy both), the Word of Mouth series assembles a remarkable lineup of public thinkers and cultural commentators. Scott Galloway opens the season with his signature blend of candor and humor, while Anne Applebaum, Christopher Wray, Kara Swisher, and astrophysicist Hakeem Oluseyi tackle topics ranging from democracy and national security to technology and humanity’s place in the universe. Think of it as a front-row seat to some of today’s most fascinating dinner-party conversations.

The Americana and Jazz series continue to celebrate musical exploration. Punch Brothers, Lyle Lovett, and Rosanne Cash carry the torch for roots music, while jazz fans can journey from Terrace Martin’s genre-bending Los Angeles soundscape to Stanley Clarke and Hiromi’s tribute to Chick Corea. Don Was even brings a jazz-infused reimagining of the Grateful Dead’s Blues for Allah, proving that no musical road map is too strange or too fun to follow.

Elsewhere, the Dance series offers everything from contemporary movement to breathtaking ballet, including two programs from the Joffrey Ballet, the final international tour of Akram Khan Company’s GIGENIS: The generation of the Earth and Ushio Amagatsu’s final work with Sankai Juku, KŌSA – Between Two Mirrors. The Global Sounds series spans continents and traditions with performances by the Silkroad Ensemble, founded by Yo-Yo Ma, and the electrifying Serbian violinist Nemanja Radulovićand his ensemble Double Sens. Hear & Now introduces audiences to rising stars in more intimate settings, including acclaimed pianist Clayton Stephenson and violinist Randall Goosby. Speaking with Pico pairs celebrated guests with the endlessly curious Pico Iyer, while Vanguard showcases boundary-pushing theatrical experiences such as Manual Cinema’s Frankenstein. Family Time invites younger audiences—and the young at heart – to enjoy imaginative adventures like Ada Twist, Scientist, and the gravity-defying acrobatics of Cirque Kalabanté. Taken as a beautifully indefinable whole, the season forms a cultural buffet where curiosity is the only requirement, and there is always something unexpected waiting on the next plate.

As Miller McCune Executive Director Meghan Bush gave her introduction to the crowd, she stated: “At its heart, this work is about an invitation to gather to listen, to be surprised, and to experience things together that we might not encounter anywhere else.” The audience then got to watch a sizzle reel with the upcoming season’s highlights garnering oohs and aahs from the room (especially at the announcement of Margaret Atwood speaking with Pico). 

Judging by the reactions in the room, the season’s mix of household names, artistic risk-taking, and cultural conversation has already struck a chord. And if Bush’s invitation is accepted, the coming year promises no shortage of opportunities to gather, be surprised, and discover something entirely unexpected along the way.  

Subscriptions are already on sale for Producers Circle members, with the general sale beginning June 15. Single tickets available beginning August 7. Visit https://artsandlectures.ucsb.edu