A short film about a serial bike thief slinking around the streets of Davis doesn’t seamlessly transition into meditations on how technology may hinder modern life, but no two films at the 2026 Film Festival at UC Davis could be thought of as alike, save for their resolve to serve as recognizable representations of our present-day world.
Need a break from the summer heat? Looking for free things to do in Davis? Want to take in some culture? From Native American art to student murals and contemporary sculpture, here are five free exhibits to explore at UC Davis this summer. Pro tip? Parking is FREE on campus during weekends!
Renowned performance artist Cassils has been appointed to the Maria Manetti Shrem Endowed Chair in the Maria Manetti Shrem Art Studio Program at the University of California, Davis. Cassils is a Canadian transgender artist who makes their own body the material and protagonist of powerful performances that examine the histories of LGBTQI+ violence, representation and struggle while illuminating narratives of resilience and empowerment.
A wall on the first floor of Shields Library has become the canvas for a new mural created by UC Davis undergraduates that emphasizes the importance of keeping knowledge accessible, visible and honest through collective storytelling.
“Folklore and Fairytales: the Literary Words of Taylor Swift” is a one-unit first-year seminar that treats Swift’s songwriting as a serious object of literary study, incorporating readings, discussions, creative analysis, and, of course, listening sessions. The course is open to all undergraduates, with preference given to first-years, and is offered through the Office of Undergraduate Education.
The Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art at University of California, Davis, will celebrate its 10th anniversary through a yearlong series of special exhibitions featuring new works, events and initiatives that look to the museum’s future and engage both visitors and the university community.
Four students were honored with awards, including three art purchase prizes. In all, 20 Master of Fine Arts, Master of Arts and doctoral students from the College of Letters and Science at UC Davis participated in the event. The design and art studio work will be exhibited at the museum through June 20.
In his newly released documentary film, Umbria Jazz Feast, UC Davis Professor of Music Pierpaolo Polzonetti investigates the perceptions and identities of jazz as it intersects with the cuisine, art, and culture of locals and visitors in Perugia, a medieval town in central Italy. A musicologist specializing in music and food, Polzonetti focused on how the festival enabled a synesthetic experience; that is, one in which different senses are simultaneously engaged.
What if you could talk Shakespeare’s Macbeth out of violence? A new UC Davis-developed game lets players do just that, using AI to simulate dialogue and teach real-world conflict de-escalation skills through interactive storytelling rooted in some of the greatest dramas in the English language.
The Imagining America (IA) consortium brings together scholars, artists, designers, humanists and organizers to imagine, study and enact a more just and liberatory ‘America’ and world. It is currently open to participation proposals for its 2026 IA National Gathering in October, the last to be held in Davis before the consortium moves to a new host campus next year.
