Edhat Staff
UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L), the Central Coast’s premier arts presenting organization, has announced its highly anticipated 2025-2026 season, promising a stellar lineup of over 50 events, including seven evenings featuring newly co-commissioned works that form part of a national celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
The announcement was made Tuesday at the Montecito Club by A&L Director Celesta Billeci, marking her final programming announcement before her retirement at the end of the 2024-2025 season. Billeci, who has guided Arts & Lectures through 25 transformative years, reflected on her tenure saying, “This season stands as a reflection of everything I’ve cherished about leading Arts & Lectures. It’s been shaped by a deep belief in the power of live events to inspire, connect and transform.”
U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal attended the announcement, praising Billeci’s legacy and presenting her with a commemorative plate from the U.S. House of Representatives in recognition of her contributions.
A Season of Iconic Performances and Transformative Ideas
The upcoming season features a dazzling array of performances and lectures, including world-renowned artists, acclaimed ensembles, and thought-provoking speakers. Highlights include:
- Yo-Yo Ma in recital performing three newly commissioned pieces.
- Boz Scaggs in an evening of timeless soul music.
- Jerome Robbins Ballet Festival, curated by and featuring New York City Ballet star Tiler Peck in two nights of distinct programming.
- International dance performances by Sutra featuring the Shaolin Monks, Ballet Preljocaj, and Compagnie Hervé KOUBI.
- A new Keyboard Virtuosos Series featuring megastars Daniil Trifonov, Víkingur Ólafsson, and Bruce Liu.
- Concerts from luminaries such as Yuja Wang & the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Itzhak Perlman, Danish String Quartet, and mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato.
Other notable events include performances of Germán Cornejo’s Tango After Dark, jazz sets by Samara Joy, Terence Blanchard, and Ravi Coltrane, and lectures by bestselling authors Elizabeth Gilbert and Miranda July, as well as political commentators Fareed Zakaria and Ezra Klein.
Honoring America’s 250th Anniversary
A hallmark of the season is its celebration of independent thought and freedom of expression through five newly commissioned works. These projects, created in collaboration with iconic artists, resonate with the ideals that have shaped America’s history and contribute to its 250th-anniversary celebrations.
Special Series and Educational Initiatives
Arts & Lectures will also deepen community engagement through its Access for ALL education programs, serving UCSB students, K-12 schools, and lifelong learners, along with workshops, screenings, roundtables, and events under its Thematic Learning Initiative and Justice for All programming.
The season kicks off with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria delivering the inaugural Roman Baratiak Endowed Lecture on Thursday, October 16, at the Arlington Theatre.
Tickets and Subscriptions
Series subscriptions for the 2025-2026 season go on sale Wednesday, June 18, at 10 a.m. Single tickets will be available starting Tuesday, August 19, at 10 a.m.
This extraordinary season exemplifies A&L’s mission to bring world-class cultural experiences to Santa Barbara, featuring returning favorites, rising stars, and groundbreaking premieres. As Celesta Billeci prepares to pass the torch, her farewell season stands as a testament to the transformative power of live performance and thought-provoking programming.
For more information, visit artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.
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