Arts events not to miss this Summer 2025

FIFA Club World Cup Screening at UBC

June 27 – July 13 | Game times vary | Norman MacKenzie Square, Wesbrook Village
Free

Catch the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup live on the big screen in the heart of Wesbrook Village. Bring a chair, grab something to eat, and cheer on your favourite teams with friends and neighbours.

BranchingOUT: UBC Botanical Garden’s Signature Pride Celebration

Thursday, July 17 | 6:00 – 9:00 PM | UBC Botanical Garden
Tickets: $5

Celebrate Pride at the UBC Botanical Garden with garden tours, treetop views, and quiet moments beneath the canopy. This evening brings together 2SLGBTQIA+ adults and allies to connect, explore, and support UBC CampOUT!, which helps create safer, more inclusive spaces for queer, trans, and Two-Spirit youth.

UBC Blueberry Fest

July 23–25 | 8:30 AM–1:00 PM | UBC Bookstore Plaza
Free to attend

Celebrate the 15th anniversary of UBC’s sweetest summer tradition. Come for the blueberry pancakes and baked goods, stay for live music (including the Faculty of Arts Staff Choir), local chef demos, and a taste of summer at UBC.

National Youth Orchestra of Canada: Smyth, Debussy, Shostakovich

Saturday, July 26 | 7:30 PM | Chan Shun Concert Hall
Tickets: $30

Celebrate 65 years of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada with a powerful evening of classical music. Featuring 91 of the country’s most gifted young musicians, this performance brings together bold, evocative works by Smyth, Debussy, and Shostakovich—including local talent from Vancouver and the West Coast.

Recurring Events:

UBC Farm Wednesday Bookstore Market

Wednesdays | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM | UBC Bookstore Plaza
Free to attend

Looking for a quick mid-week grocery stop? The Wednesday Bookstore Market brings fresh, organic produce from the UBC Farm right to the heart of campus. Drop by between classes or errands to browse seasonal options and enjoy a little outdoor break.

Summer Sounds at UBC

Thursdays to Saturdays | 12:00 – 3:00 PM | University Boulevard & Wesbrook Village
Free

Summer Sounds keeps things going this July with live sets from local artists. Swing by University Boulevard or Wesbrook Village, grab lunch, and settle in for a laid-back afternoon of tunes, time with friends, and summer energy.

Beyond Your B.A.

Wednesdays until June 25 | 12:00 – 1:00 PM | Online
Free

Just graduated? Beyond Your B.A. is a weekly career development series designed especially for recent Arts grads, helping you navigate the transition from university to your next chapter.

Join Arts Career Strategist Robyn Stalkie and a team of experts for practical workshops and drop-in sessions each week in June. From job searching to networking, you’ll get tools, guidance, and a resource guide tailored to recent grads.

UBC Farm Wednesday Bookstore Market

Wednesdays in June | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM | UBC Bookstore Plaza
Free to attend

Looking for a quick mid-week grocery stop? The Wednesday Bookstore Market brings fresh, organic produce from the UBC Farm right to the heart of campus. Drop by between classes or errands to browse seasonal options and enjoy a little outdoor break.

Summer Sounds at UBC

Thursdays to Saturdays in June | 12:00 – 3:00 PM | University Boulevard & Wesbrook Village
Free

Summer Sounds is back — and it’s bigger, brighter, and better than ever. Every weekend in June, local musicians bring live music to your sunny afternoons on campus. Catch the beats on University Boulevard (near Body Energy Club) or in Wesbrook Village, grab lunch, and hang out with friends. The lineup may shift, but the good vibes are here to stay.

All the Lonely People: The Search for Belonging in an Uncertain World

Wednesday, June 4 | 6:00 – 9:00 PM | UBC Robson Square Theatre
Free

Loneliness is more than a personal feeling — it's a growing public health concern. At this UBC Connects event, researchers from various disciplines, including Arts professors in Creative Writing, Philosophy, and Economics, explore the deeper roots of social isolation. The evening features shared insights, open discussion, audience Q&A, and a post-event reception.

World Refugee Day Symposium — Afghan Women: Resisting, Redefining, and Reclaiming

Friday, June 20 | 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM | Online
Free

This World Refugee Day, join a symposium hosted by UBC’s Centre for Migration Studies and the Faculty of Education, focusing on the resilience and agency of Afghan women. Through conversations on displacement, identity, and education, the event highlights lived experiences and challenges dominant narratives.

Navigating Life After Graduation Successfully

Tuesday, June 24 | 12:00 – 1:00 PM | Online
Free

Life after graduation comes with big questions and new possibilities. In this webinar, Arts alumni Kieran Davey (BA’18) and Savanah Knockwood (BA’15) share real-world strategies for moving from university into the working world. Together, they’ll explore how to navigate uncertainty, set career goals, and step confidently into your next chapter.

2025 Federal Election: What’s next for Canada?

Thursday, May 1 | 12:00 – 1:15 PM | Online
Free

The votes are in, but what happens next? In this post-election session, UBC experts will break down the results of the 2025 federal election and explore how they could shape Canada’s economy, policy priorities, and place in the world. Moderated by Arts alum Robin Gill (BA’93), this timely conversation offers fresh insights into where we go from here.

Impos(s)able Impositions: Master of Fine Arts Graduate Exhibition

Friday, May 2 – Sunday, June 1 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery
Free

Explore bold new work from five emerging artists in UBC’s Master of Fine Arts program. Impos(s)able Impositions showcases the culmination of two years of studio research, experimentation, and collaboration. Featuring painting, photography, installation, and more, this exhibition invites viewers to engage with themes of identity, place, memory, and power.

In Search of Light: Hong Kong x Taiwan Documentary Short Films

Tuesday, May 6 | 7:00 – 9:00 PM | AERL 120
Free

Celebrate the final event of this year’s UBC Asian Independent Cinema Showcase with two acclaimed documentary shorts from Hong Kong and Taiwan. Cyclone and Colour Ideology Sampling.mov explore memory, resilience, and political symbolism through striking visual storytelling. A virtual Q&A with all three directors will follow the screening.

Arts Career Design Studio

May 7–8 | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | UBC Robson Square
Free

This two-day, in-person intensive is designed for Arts undergrads (including those about to graduate!) You'll clarify your career direction, build job search skills, and connect your degree to what comes next. You'll also practice telling your story in resumes, interviews, and networking settings, and meet professionals working in a range of industries.

Remembering Tadmor: Exploring the Use of Digital Conservation After Destruction

Saturday, May 10 | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM | UBC Robson Square Theatre C400/420
Free

Join UBC Arts researchers for a conversation and hands-on workshop exploring how technologies like 3D printing and digital archiving are being used to protect cultural heritage. Learn about the ancient Syrian site of Palmyra, enjoy Syrian cuisine, and share your perspective on how cultural memory should be preserved for future generations.

Echo: Memories of the World

Saturday, May 31 | 7:30 PM | Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
Tickets: $16–$70

Blending music, storytelling, and film, Echo is a powerful multimedia concert that explores memory, erasure, and resilience. Created by Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists, the performance features Gryphon Trio, mezzo-soprano Marion Newman Nege’ga, and narrator Cheri Maracle. Through works by composers past and present, Echo honours those who have resisted oppression and invites reflection on how we carry history forward.