SAVE THE DATE!
April 5–18, 2027
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
UCF Celebrates the Arts is an immersive and dynamic cultural extravaganza that fuses creativity, innovation and community engagement. This annual festival showcases the artistic prowess of UCF’s faculty and students and invites the broader community to enjoy performances, exhibitions, presentations and interactive experiences. With a focus on accessibility, partnership and diverse offerings, UCF Celebrates the Arts is a unique opportunity for the community to experience the creative side of UCF’s innovative spirit.
Fantastic possibilities lie ahead at UCF Celebrates the Arts 2027!
Scheduled Events
Full schedule coming soon!
Schedule subject to change. View program notes within each individual event.
Ongoing Events & Exhibits
Lobby Hours
April 1: 5:30–10 p.m.
April 2: 5:30–10 p.m.
April 3: 7:30–2 p.m.; 5:30–10 p.m.
April 4: noon–10 p.m.
April 6: 6–10 p.m.
April 7: 9 a.m.–1:30 p.m.; 5–10 p.m.
April 8: 7:30 a.m.–9 p.m.
April 10: 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
April 11: 9:30 a.m.–10 p.m.
April 12: 11:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
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Ongoing • Dr. Phillips Center Lobby - Tier 1 Center
United in Creativity
"United in Creativity" showcases the depth and expressive talents of the University of Central Florida’s College of Arts and Humanities.
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Ongoing • Dr. Phillips Center Lobby - Tier 3 North
Nebula: Photos from Robinson Observatory
See the photos from UCF’s Robinson Observatory that inspired this year’s design for UCF Celebrates the Arts.
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Ongoing • Dr. Phillips Center Lobby - Tier 3 North Center
Alumni Hub
Pick up some UCF swag and meet up with other UCF alumni in this area designated for UCF grads from any major.
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Ongoing • Dr. Phillips Center Lobby - Tier 2 Center
UCF CREATE: Innovation in Motion
UCF’s Center for Research and Education in Arts, Technology and Entertainment (CREATE) will be presenting three exhibits including animation reels from CREATE’s Pre-College Summer Animation Intensives and two immersive VR experiences.
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Ongoing • Lobbies and public spaces throughout the center
Rain Barrels from OUC’s Water Color Project
Rain barrels designed by local students as part of OUC’s Water Color Project, which teaches the importance of water conservation through art, will be on display throughout the center.
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Ongoing • Dr. Phillips Center Lobby - Tier 1 South
Encore! Encore!: Costumes Take Another Bow
Costume shops have long embraced reuse as both a practical necessity and an artistic challenge.
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Ongoing • Dr. Phillips Center Lobby - Tier 1 Center
The Creative Side of Holoportation Technology at UCF
See how UCF’s holoportation technology works through appearances by community members, artists and health professionals.
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Ongoing • Dr. Phillips Center Lobby - Tier 2 North
Artful Moments from SVAD
Explore a selection of curated clips, interviews, photos, exhibitions, events and more from the School of Visual Arts and Design.
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Ongoing • Dr. Phillips Center Lobby - Tier 1 Center
Character Animation Posters
Explore the creative journey of 3D animation through the work of UCF SVAD students.
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Ongoing • Harvey & Carol Massey Family Grand Staircase
Interstellar Towers
A sculptural art installation inspired by interstellar imagery of the space programs throughout history.
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Ongoing • Dr. Phillips Center Lobby - Tier 2 South
ART & AUTISM
ART & AUTISM highlights unexpected artistic perspectives from artists with the UCF Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (UCF CARD), with support from Providing Autism Links and Support (PALS), during World Autism Acceptance Month.
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Ongoing • Dr. Phillips Center Lobby - Tier 2 North
Graduate Studio Art Exhibit
The School of Visual Arts and Design’s MFA Studio Art and Design students present innovative and unique works at UCF Celebrates the Arts 2026.
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Ongoing • Dr. Phillips Center Lobby - Tier 3 South
Creative Clash Exhibit
Explore the pieces created at UCF Celebrates the Arts 2026 on display in the lobby throughout the festival!
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Ongoing • Dr. Phillips Center Lobby - Tier 1 North Center
Poetry in the Mundane: Undergraduate Advanced Painting Exhibition
The School of Visual Arts and Design’s Advanced Painting students create unique works for UCF Celebrates the Arts 2026.
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Ongoing • Dr. Phillips Center Lobby - Tier 1 North
2+2+2 Architecture Exhibit
A showcase featuring student work from the 2+2+2 Architecture Program, highlighting the talent of students from UCF, UF and Valencia College.
Pop-Up Events
The following activities are not ticketed. If you don’t have a ticket for another event, reserve a lobby pass for entry to Dr. Phillips Center.
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Thursday, April 2, 2026, 6:30 p.m. • Lobbies and public spaces throughout the center
Pegasus String Quartet
Led by accomplished violinist and UCF professor Ayako Yonetani, the Pegasus String Quartet is a graduate ensemble that performs the highest caliber of string music.
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Friday, April 3, 2026, 6:30 p.m. • Lobbies and public spaces throughout the center
Amadinda Ensemble
The Amadinda Ensemble, made up of personnel from the UCF Percussion Studio and Percussion Ensemble, will perform traditional Ugandan melodies and rhythms for the Amadinda, a primitive African keyboard percussion instrument. The performance will also incorporate contemporary music by Steve Reich, which has been directly influenced by traditional African percussion music.
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Saturday, April 4, 2026, 6:30 p.m. • Lobbies and public spaces throughout the center
Saxophone Ensemble
The UCF Saxophone Ensemble will be performing original music written for the saxophone quartet as well as transcriptions from the Baroque and Classical periods.
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Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 6:00 p.m. • Lobbies and public spaces throughout the center
UCF Flute Knights and Clarinet Ensemble
Led by Nora Lee Garcia, professor of flute, UCF's Flute Knights showcase the flute studio’s performance repertoire, including solos, duets, flute choir music and more. UCF's Clarinet Ensemble, led by Rie Suzuki, associate professor of clarinet, showcases the artistry of the UCF clarinet studio through dynamic performances of chamber repertoire from the 20th and 21st centuries. From Gershwin to newly composed works by Harberg, the ensemble highlights the versatility, color and expressive range of the modern clarinet.
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Thursday, April 9, 2026, 6:00 p.m. • Lobbies and public spaces throughout the center
Jazz Workshop
Taught by Per Danielsson, Jazz workshop comprises junior and senior student musicians who focus on jazz improvisation, jazz repertoire and performance. The class serves as a workshop space, where course work taught in other classes such as applied lessons and jazz theory are performed live during class time and in concerts. Come experience a culminating jazz performance that showcases the students' hard work!
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Friday, April 10, 2026, 6:00 p.m. • Lobbies and public spaces throughout the center
Trombone Studio
Led by Luis Fred, associate professor of trombone, the UCF Trombone Choir performs a wide repertoire of chamber music and frequently performs in concerts throughout Florida.
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Saturday, April 11, 2026, 6:00 p.m. • Lobbies and public spaces throughout the center
Black Steel
Led by Kirk Gay, associate instructor of percussion, Black Steel is UCF’s steel drum ensemble.
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Sunday, April 12, 2026, 12:00 p.m. • Lobbies and public spaces throughout the center
Brass Ensemble
Led by Ben Lieser, hornist and professor, UCF's brass ensemble includes student musicians from the horn, trumpet, trombone, and tuba and euphonium studios. Each ensemble brings a unique sound that enriches the audience experience, from the low rich sounds of the euphonium to the bright sounds of the trumpet.
About the Festival
UCF Celebrates the Arts is an annual event that serves as a testament to the university’s commitment to fostering creativity and innovation. By bringing together artists and the Central Florida community, we aim to inspire a collective celebration of the arts.
Thank You to Our Festival Partners
- Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
- National Young Composers Challenge
- Orlando Family Stage
- Orlando Shakes
- Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra
- UCF Alumni