Look, I’ll be honest with you. If you’re looking at a Los Angeles events calendar and thinking you can just wing it when you land at LAX, you're probably going to end up sitting in a three-hour Uber crawl on the 405 while the event of the year starts without you.
2026 isn't just another year in L.A. It’s basically the beginning of a "mega-event decade." Between the FIFA World Cup 26 matches kicking off at SoFi Stadium and the NBA All-Star Game making its debut at the brand-new Intuit Dome, the city is feeling a bit... crowded. But in a good way. Sorta.
The Massive 2026 Sports Pivot
Most people think of L.A. as just Hollywood and beaches. Wrong. This year, the sports scene is actually eclipsing the film industry for a few months.
The biggest thing on the radar? FIFA World Cup 26. It officially touches down in Inglewood on June 12, 2026, for the USMNT opening match. If you haven't looked at the schedule yet, SoFi Stadium is hosting eight matches total, including a quarterfinal on July 10. The vibe in the city during those weeks is going to be electric, but also, the traffic will be a literal nightmare.
Before the soccer fans arrive, we’ve got the NBA All-Star Weekend from February 13–15, 2026. Steve Ballmer’s "basketball mecca," the Intuit Dome, is the main stage here. They’re even trying a new format—Team USA vs. Team World—to actually make it competitive again.
Why the Location Matters (A Lot)
You've gotta understand that "Los Angeles" is a loose term. If you’re going to the U.S. Women’s Open Championship (June 4–7 at the Riviera Country Club), don't stay in Downtown. You’ll spend half your life in the car. Stay in Santa Monica or Pacific Palisades.
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- NBA All-Star / World Cup: Stay in Inglewood or Culver City.
- Rose Parade / Rose Bowl: Pasadena is its own world. Stay there.
- Concerts at the Bowl: Stay in Hollywood or West Hollywood.
The Cultural Heavy Hitters
If you’re more into art than athletes, the Los Angeles events calendar still has you covered. The LA Art Show just wrapped its 31st edition at the Convention Center in early January, but the "new" stuff is what people are whispering about.
DATALAND, the world’s first Museum of AI Arts, is slated to open this Spring at The Grand LA. It’s a Frank Gehry building, so you know it’s going to look like a crumpled piece of silver paper (in the best way possible).
Then there’s the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Exposition Park. George Lucas has been working on this thing forever. It’s supposed to open sometime in 2026, housing everything from Norman Rockwell paintings to Star Wars concept art. Basically, it’s a billion-dollar love letter to storytelling.
A Month-by-Month Cheat Sheet
I'm not going to give you a boring table. Let's just walk through the highlights of how the year is actually shaping up.
Winter: Awards and Hoops
January and February are high-stakes. You’ve got the Golden Globes and the Grammys (Feb 1st this year). Honestly, unless you have a seat inside the Crypto.com Arena, avoid that area during the Grammys. It’s a locked-down fortress.
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Dine LA Restaurant Week also runs from January 23 to February 6. It’s the best time to hit places like Eataly or those fancy Michelin-starred spots without paying the "I’m a tourist" tax.
Spring: Festivals and Fairways
March brings the Oscars (March 15). If you want to see the red carpet, you basically have to be a seat-filler or a ghost.
April is when the music starts. Coachella (April 10-12 and 17-19) is technically in Indio, but the "Coachella parties" in L.A. are often better than the actual festival. Plus, the LA Marathon celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, running from Dodger Stadium all the way to Century City.
Summer: The Big One
June and July are dominated by the World Cup. But don't sleep on LA Pride in Hollywood on June 14 or WeHo Pride (June 5–7). These are some of the largest celebrations in the world.
Anime Expo also takes over the Fourth of July weekend at the Convention Center. If you see thousands of people in 90-degree heat wearing full-body foam armor, now you know why.
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Fall: The Cool Down
By September, the Primetime Emmy Awards roll around. The weather is actually at its best here—hot but not "I'm melting" hot. Jack Johnson is playing the Hollywood Bowl on October 10 for his SURFILMUSIC tour, which is basically the peak L.A. autumn experience.
Real Talk: The Logistics Nobody Mentions
You’re probably seeing a lot of "Official" calendars. Here is the stuff they don't tell you.
- The LAX Automated People Mover: It’s finally supposed to be fully functional in 2026. This is a game-changer. No more "LAX horseshoe" traffic hell. You take a train to a rental car hub. Use it.
- The "Hidden" Event Tax: Hotel prices in Inglewood and Santa Monica are spiking 300% during World Cup weeks. If you see a "cheap" hotel during those dates, check for bedbugs. Honestly.
- Public Transit is actually... okay? For the World Cup and NBA All-Star, the city is pushing the "Bus Only" lanes and Metro expansions. Use the E Line (formerly Expo) to get from Downtown to Santa Monica. It’s faster than driving.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Trip
Stop looking at the generic Los Angeles events calendar on page 10 of Google and do these three things instead:
- Download the Metro Tap App: Even if you think you’ll Uber everywhere, you’ll want the option to hop on a train when the traffic hits "Level 10."
- Book Your "Big" Dinner Now: If you're coming for the World Cup in June, popular spots in Culver City and Manhattan Beach are already taking block bookings.
- Check Venue Bags Policies: SoFi Stadium and the Intuit Dome have strict clear-bag policies. Don't be the person crying at the gate because your Gucci bag isn't "see-through."
The 2026 calendar is packed, and the city is changing fast. If you plan around the clusters—Inglewood for sports, Downtown for art, and Hollywood for the glitz—you’ll actually survive the experience with your sanity intact.