California Institute of the Arts

The big day has arrived. 🎓🎉 Let’s hear it for the CalArts Class of 2026! Congratulations to all of our graduates. We’re delighted to welcome friends, families, colleagues, and supporters to campus for this momentous day. We’re especially eager to hear each of the student-selected soundtracks as each graduate crosses the stage. It’s a tradition that never gets old. Here’s the schedule for the day: • 3 pm: CalArts Pop-Up Store opens in the ExBox, plus leis and flowers are available for purchase at the Main Lobby. • 4 pm: President’s reception begins in the Main Gallery and the Balinese Gamelan Ensemble performs in the Main Entrance. • 5 pm: Graduation Courtyard opens for seating and the livestream begins. • 6:15 pm: Ceremony starts with an invocation from Tataviam Elder Dennis Garcia and a Welcome Address. • 9:45 pm: Graduation celebration reception kicks off with the African Music and Dance Ensemble in the Main Gallery. Can't be here in person? Watch the festivities from our livestream, linked in bio. #CalArts #ClassOf2026 #GradSeason

Throwing it back to our 2024 graduation, where honorary degree recipient, Keanu Reeves, shared wise words on the key to artmaking. Tomorrow’s the day we get to celebrate the Class of 2026—see you soon in Graduation Courtyard. #CalArts #ClassOf2026 #GradSeason

Fresh drops and old faves have arrived at the CalArts store. Swing by our pop-up this Friday at Graduation from 3–6 pm to grab your swag! 🫶 Props to our featured students: Del’Kyra Williams @delkyra Shivi Garg @shivis.designs Jules Granger @padazzl Daniel Pope @daniel_manning_pope 🎞 @nicolas.savignano

Gorgeous grads, good food, and great music at last night’s annual Grad dinner.  Special thanks to Quinto Sabroso for the live performance that lit up the room. @quintosabrosomusic Now we’re ready for the main event: Graduation, this Friday. Let’s go! Photos by @2071photo → Send us a DM to get tagged.  #CalArts #ClassOf2026

Take two 🎬: On Wednesday, we returned to the Directors Guild America for the Experimental Animation showcase! The evening included works by: • Olivia Porrill @livssketch • Xiaofeng Guo @sunrises00 • Kay Liu @spellslotz • Jiajing Ling @hugeling0 • Eaven Harrington @soups_on_eav • Yuxin Yang @ayang_anima • Nandini Sarkar @nandinisarkar_ • Angus Oakes @an.gusoakes • Madeline Babuka Black @madelineb.b • Jonah Linz • Shiyu (Shino) Tang @_shiyu_tang • Jooyoun Lee @jooyounlee_ • Sano Yang @sanooo_yy • Maggie McKelvey @maggiispacepanda_draws Congratulations to all the students on their outstanding dedication and creative vision in bringing their films to life. We are so grateful for all of the faculty, staff, donors, and supporters who helped make this evening happen. → Send us a DM to get tagged! Photos by @anndrea.999

Another one for the books! We are so grateful to everyone who joined us for the 2026 Character Animation Producers Show at the Directors Guild of America this week. Congratulations to all of our students on their hard work and creativity, and a round of applause to those who brought home awards: • Ben Knight earned The Walter and Gracie Lantz Animation Prize for Excellence in Animation for the film DOUBLE CLICK. @knightowl_art • Zechen Wang won the 2026 Procreate Award for Creativity in Animated Filmmaking for the film LAST FLIGHT. @zechen_conner_wang @procreate • Chun Kit Fong received the 2026 Peers' Pick Award for the film DRIVE ON, MR OTTER! @ckuuart Plus, a big thank you to Character Animation alum Daniel Chong for joining us as our special guest of honor and sharing inspiring words. Finally, sincere thanks and appreciation to all of the faculty, staff, donors, and supporters who made this night possible. Head over to 24700 to get the full story on the night (linked in bio), and stay tuned for the full playlist of shorts from this year’s Character Animation cohort, which will be available to watch on the Official CalArts Character Animation YouTube. → Send us a DM to get tagged! Photos @2071photo #CalArts #CharacterAnimation #Filmmaking

Experimental Animation BFA 4 Final Projects Screening intro video made by faculty member Wendell Mc Shine! Don’t miss it during Bijou Festival next Thursday from 2:00 to 4:30 PM!🍿✨🎞️🌟📽️💫🎬 We are pleased to kick off the Bijou Festival this Monday, May 11th, running through Friday, May 15th. The Bijou Festival is the School of Film/Video’s end-of-year week long film festival that screens work submitted and made by Film/Video students during the academic school year. See you there!

On Monday our students spent a day at LACMA with CalArts trustee and Experimental Animation alum Lyndon Barrois, Sr., who shared an intimate tour of his exhibition, FÚTBOL IS LIFE. @lacma Barrois, Sr. opened up about his process, his inspirations, and the creative decisions behind the work. We couldn’t be more grateful for his presence and generosity. @itsawrapper The students also stepped inside the new David Geffen Galleries and got the chance to view works by alums Todd Gray, Lauren Halsey, Larry Bell, Catherine Opie, Shizu Saldamando, and Sandy Rodriguez, among others. We love seeing firsthand how CalArtians are showing up and sharing their work in a place as special as LACMA. We also extend our deepest thanks to CalArts trustee emeritus Janet Dreisen Rappaport for making this inspiring day possible. Photos @2071photo

Get ready for BIG creative energy. Next Tuesday, May 12, the 2026 CalArts Expo will be taking place across our campus. This year’s event will feature projects by more than 500 artists including visual art, music, dance, film/video, installations, multidisciplinary work, lighting sculptures, architectural projection mapping, and more! For more than a decade, CalArts Expo has featured interdisciplinary creative work from across the Institute. This student-curated, daylong event highlights the renowned creativity of our community, showcasing works from students, faculty and alumni, and fosters an environment of immersive, personal, and communal spaces for exhibition and performance. This year student curators will also be leading small group tours, and industry tours will be hosted from 4–7 pm. We hope to see you there! 🎞 @nicolas.savignano #CalArts #Interdisciplinary #CreativeCommunity #PerformanceArt #VisualArts

There's a beautiful kind of chaos that happens as spring semester comes to a close, and so much worth celebrating. These end-of-year events speak to a year of genuine growth and dedication. Please join us for one (or a few) of these events. You'll be glad you came. Character Animation Producers Show: A selection of lively films made by students in the Character Animation program. 📅 Tuesday, May 5 at 6:30 pm 📍 Directors Guild of America Experimental Animation Showcase: A selection of striking films made by students in the Experimental Animation program. 📅 Wednesday, May 6 at 6:30 pm 📍 Directors Guild of America @calarts.experimental.animation Long Form Showcase: A selection of inventive student films, in both long and short formats, including animation. 📅 Thursday, May 7 at 8 pm 📍 REDCAT Film Directing Showcase: A selection of bold student directorial works from the Film Directing Program. 📅 Friday, May 8 at 8 pm 📍 REDCAT @calarts.film.directing Program in Film/Video Showcase: A selection of rich and layered student films from the Film and Video Program. 📅 Saturday, May 9 at 7 pm 📍 REDCAT @calarts.pfv CalArts Writers Showcase: A glimpse into the wild and varied work of the graduating class of CalArts’ MFA Creative Writing Program. 📅 Monday, May 11 at 3 pm 📍 REDCAT @calartscreativewriting CalArts Expo: A one-day immersive event that showcases interdisciplinary creative work from the CalArts community. 📅 Tuesday, May 12 at 2 pm 📍 CalArts Campus @calarts_expo EMERGENT FORMS: The Sharon Disney Lund School of Dance presents the choreographic and performance achievements of its 2026 undergraduate class. 📅 Wednesday, May 13 and Thursday, May 14 at 8 pm 📍 REDCAT @calartsdance Graduating Actors Showcase: The graduating company of BFA and MFA acting students take the stage for one final performance. 📅 Thursday, May 14 at 6 pm 📍 CalArts Campus @calarts.theater CalArts Reef Residency: An evening of exhibitions and performances by current artists-in-residence along with works by newly-minted graduates. 📅 Saturday, May 16 at 5 pm 📍 The Reef DTLA @calarts.reefresidency Snag your tickets & find more events on the CalArts calendar, linked in bio.

The CalArts Balinese Gamelan’s piece ‘Legong Mahawidya’ closes out the 2026 World Music and Dance Festival and caps our MAYhem weekend. Thank you to all the performers and artists—and to the community who came out to support the work of our students. 🙏

CalArts Balinese Gamelan ‘Burat Wangi’ (Fragrant Offering) onstage to close out the World Music and Dance Festival and the MAYhem Festival. The ensemble is led by longtime faculty Nyoman Wenten and Nanik Wenten.