UCLA - University of California - Los Angeles
05/01/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 05/01/2026 11:18
Traditions, spirit and communities will be celebrated during May’s AANHPI Heritage Month at UCLA
Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month will feature celebrations of film, dance, education and the many diverse communities across the United States and around the globe.
This calendar is just a sample of the programming the Bruin community has to offer throughout the year. Be sure to check out campus units such as the Asian American Studies Center, Asian American Studies department, Center for India and South Asia and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Data Policy Lab as well as their affiliated faculty, for even more research, events and opportunities.
May 2, 7:00 p.m.
Chinese American Culture Night
Celebrate Chinese American culture at this annual show featuring a student-written play and a combination of theater, dance and other performances. The UCLA Wushu club and the Association of Chinese Americans open-style dance team will also contribute to this 37th annual production honoring Chinese culture at UCLA.
This performance will take place at Royce Hall. Admission is free, but tickets are required.
May 3, 6:00 p.m.
"Lotus Steps": Chinese cultural dance performance
The Chinese Cultural Dance Club at UCLA presents "Lotus Steps: Embroidered by a Single Thread." This student performance celebrates the diversity of Chinese traditions, history and heritage and emphasizes the shared stories that connect to a larger identity.
This performance will take place at Schoenberg Hall. Tickets are free. Options remain for a stanby line or waitlist.
May 5, 6:00 p.m.
'The Bengali': An evening of film and shared histories
"The Bengali" tells the story of the ties made between South Asians and African Americans in the United States. The film focuses on Fatima Shaik, an African American writer who travels from New Orleans, the city of her birth, to look for her grandfather's descendants in India. The event will feature director Kavery Kaul alongside Creative Visions CEO Pat Chandler and writer/producer/journalist Linda Burstyn with moderator Maikiko James of Women in Film.
The screening and reception takes place at the Darren Star Screening Room in Melnitz Hall. An RSVP is required.
May 7, 1:00 p.m.
Exhibition walk-through: "Mountain Spirits"
Join a guided walk-through of "Mountain Spirits," an exhibition exploring the sacred landscapes and cultural traditions of the Ifugao people of the Philippines through carved guardians, ritual bowls, woven blankets and farming tools. The tour will be led by Fowler Museum curator and researcher Gassia Armenian, who co-curated the exhibit.
The event will take place at the Fowler Museum at UCLA. Admission is free, but registration is required.
May 8, 6:30 p.m.
UCLA TFT API Film Night
Check out a night of film screenings featuring projects created by current students, graduates and alumni of UCLA Theater, film and Television. Five films will be screened, followed by a Q&A moderated by scholar Nancy Wang Yuen.
The event takes place at the James Bridges Theater in Melnitz Hall. The event is free, but registration is required.
May 9, 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Symposium: Asian American and Pacific Islander multimedia textbook
Join a celebratory gathering for the official launch of "Foundations and Futures," a multimedia textbook developed by the UCLA Asian American Studies Center that highlights over 20 Asian American and Pacific Islander communities across the U.S. The program presented by the David and Tina Nishida Symposium and the Luskin Lecture for Thought Leadership will feature conversations and performances, as well as a keynote address by Dr. Maya Soetoro from the University of Hawaiʻi, Mānoa, about the power of peace education.
The event will take place at the UCLA Meyer and Renee Luskin Conference Center. Tickets are required.
May 9, 12:30 p.m.
Join the UCLA Hawaii Club at their 41st annual lūʻau, a traditional Hawaiian feast that features music and cultural performances.
This event will take place at the UCLA Ackerman Grand Ballroom. Tickets are required.
May 10, Noon
Directed by Gamin Kang, this performance brings together student ensembles from UCLA's Music of Korea and Intercultural Improvisation: Cultures in Musical Dialogue courses in a celebration of Korean musical heritage. The concert will showcase traditional folk music and cross-cultural creativity to create a dynamic musical dialogue.
The concert will take place in Lani Hall at the UCLA Schoenberg Music Building. Admission is free.
May 21, 4:00 p.m.
The UCLA Center for Korean Studies will present a conversation with Dustin Kim, the chief financial officer for the American branch of South Korean entertainment company HYBE. The UCLA alumnus will share his thoughts on how to define the global phenomenon of K-pop music beyond a music genre, as well as the latest trends and business strategies within the industry.
The event will take place at Royce Hall, room 314. Registration is required.
May 21, 6:00 p.m.
Asian American Pacific Islander art gallery opening ceremony
The UCLA Cultural Affairs Commission will host an opening ceremony for an art exhibit celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander and South West Asian and North African artists, culture, history and community. The exhibit will be open from May 18 to May 22.
The ceremony and exhibit will be located in the Kerckhoff Art Gallery.
May 27 6:00 p.m.
The Fowler Museum at UCLA concert series hosts Tinig Choral, a student-initiated a cappella choir that welcomes members of all backgrounds and experience levels who love to sing. Tinig's mission is to cultivate a space for connection through musical expression and to celebrate and share Filipino culture traditions.
This concert takes place in the museum's outdoor amphitheater. Registration is requested.
May 31, 10:00 a.m.
Sing-a-thon: Celebrating Filipino culture
Join UCLA's Pilipino Alumni Association in celebrating and sharing Filipino culture through musical expression.
The event will take place at the James West Alumni Center. Admission is free and not ticketed.
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