Arts & Lectures 2026 Summer Cinema: Mixtapes & Misfits
By Sadie Bush
As the California nights grew warmer, a gaggle of over one thousand Santa Barbara locals dusted off their lawn chairs to soak in Arts & Lectures month-and-a-half run of weekly summer films. Returning to the historic Courthouse location, A&L debuted their newest theme: Mixtapes & Misfits. From their opener, Pretty In Pink (1986), to their finale, Hairspray (2007), and all the classics in between, the UCSB-based organization certainly broke some records. Napoleon Dynamite (2004), the summer stand-out, drew over three thousand people to the sunken gardens. From the gasps that ensued during the ending of La Bamba (1987) to the communal joy brought about by Hairspray’s iconic soundtrack, this year's lineup proved that a good needle drop is the cure to any summer blues. As we say our bittersweet goodbyes to the free summer cinema, here are some reminders for next summer to stay up to date on all your summer film endeavors:
- Blanket drop begins strictly at noon. Anything placed earlier will be confiscated.
- Leashed, well-behaved dogs are always welcome!
- Lawn chairs should be low-back only. Be kind and courteous to your neighbors!
- Please pick up all trash.
Have fun and enjoy the show!
While the summer series has come to a close, Arts & Lectures has a variety of upcoming events to be on the lookout for. Their 2026-2027 season was announced in June, and is spearheaded by the recently appointed Miller McCune Executive Director, Meghan Bush. The season will feature artists such as Bernadette Peters and José González, as well as speakers like Margaret Atwood and Scott Galloway. Want more information regarding ticket pricing and dates? Head over to UCSB Arts & Lectures for more information!
