UCF’s signature two‑week event features a dynamic lineup of performances, exhibitions, and interdisciplinary experiences at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
Orlando, FL — The University of Central Florida invites the Central Florida community to UCF Celebrates the Arts 2026, a multidisciplinary festival that transforms Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts into a dynamic hub of creativity. This annual celebration showcases UCF’s artistic excellence through performances, exhibitions, and interdisciplinary experiences rooted in accessibility and community partnership.
With a production of Legally Blonde in the Walt Disney Theater, concerts and dance, plus the public lobby spaces, the 2026 lineup highlights the creative depth and range of UCF students, faculty, alumni, and community partners. The event is hosted by the College of Arts and Humanities.
Spanning two weeks of performances, exhibitions and interactive experiences, the festival offers something for every arts enthusiast, from Broadway-style musical theatre and classical masterworks to cutting-edge digital installations and family-friendly events.
Festival Highlights
National Young Composers Challenge – March 15, 2026
Note: due to the holiday schedule, this annual event will occur in advance of UCF’s residency at the center. Top young composers from across the country convene to workshop their winning works with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and maestro Christopher Wilkins. This “Composium” blends performance with live educational insight. Patrons are welcome to attend all or part of the event; a free ticket is required to enter the center.
Legally Blonde – April 9–12
Theatre UCF’s season culminates in five performances of the high‑energy musical Legally Blonde, presented in the Walt Disney Theater. This Broadway hit based on the beloved movie follows Elle Woods as she defies expectations on her journey from sorority sister to Harvard Law standout. The production brings humor, heart, and the embodiment of UCF’s unwavering spirit to the festival stage – priced so you can bring your friends to “bend and snap” alongside you!
Classical music
UCF’s music ensembles shine on Dr. Phillips Center’s world-class stages. New for 2026, on eight evenings of the festival, smaller ensembles are offering free pre-show concerts in the lobby. (Either an event ticket or free registration is required to enter the center.)
- UCF Symphony Orchestra: Lifted to the Stars (April 3) UCF orchestra and choirs perform Mendelssohn’s Elijah and The Hebrides in Steinmetz Hall.
- UCF Opera Presents: A Double Bill of Fun (April 4) A lively pair of operas – Mozart’s The Impresario and John Duke’s Captain Lovelock – staged in the Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater.
- UCF Bands Concert: Voyage Through the Galaxy (April 8) The Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band take audiences on a galactic musical journey, including “Jupiter” from Holst’s The Planets and music from Star Wars.
- Choirs
- Choir Invitational (April 10) Florida high school choirs collaborate with UCF conductors in a day of workshops, rehearsals, and a mass choir finale.
- UCF in Concert: A Journey of Voice & Soul (April 11) Major choral ensembles join forces with the Wind Ensemble, exploring music from classical traditions to vibrant Gospel rhythms.
- UCF Choral Showcase: Music of Hope and Light (April 12) A spotlight on UCF’s choral program featuring student ensembles and contemporary vocal works.
- Trombonist Alejandro Cantos Presents Insights (April 11) In partnership with the Spanish Embassy Visiting Artist Program, the principal trombone of the Spanish Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra performs with UCF faculty members.
Contemporary and popular
New music supports emerging composers and engages the community with fresh, relevant art.
- Flying Horse Big Band (April 4) Fresh off a performance at Lincoln Center, UCF’s premier jazz ensemble delivers a high-energy program that pays tribute to hometown Orlando. The centerpiece of the program is an original piece, An Artist’s Frame for Orlando, that depicts several eras and areas from Orlando’s unique history, composed by ensemble director Jeff Rupert.
- UCF Percussion Ensemble featuring Sympatico Percussion Group (April 6) This rhythm-driven concert of traditional and contemporary works features a new arrangement by Jeff Moore, dean of the UCF College of Arts and Humanities.
- New Music presents Zodiac (April 9) UCF’s New Music Ensemble performs a suite of new music from students in UCF’s composition studio, each movement aligned with a sign of the zodiac.
Set the Scene
In addition to Legally Blonde, audiences can enjoy a wide range of theatrical offerings from Theatre UCF and partner organizations.
- Knight to Shine (March 31 & April 1) This cabaret-style show features the talent of graduating musical theatre students.
- Dancing Beyond the Stars (March 31) A showcase of original choreography in contemporary, ballet, jazz, and tap, lighting up Steinmetz Hall with energy and style.
- What the Constitution Means To Me (April 10) In honor of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution, Orlando Shakes offers a staged reading of the popular play, followed by a conversation led by UCF history faculty.
- The Human in the Loop (HITL): An AI Adventure (April 12) An interactive exploration of artificial intelligence, designed for curious minds.
Learn
These interdisciplinary sessions bring together artists, scholars, and industry leaders for insightful and engaging conversations with the community.
- Write of Passage (April 1) In this celebration of the written word, creative writers on the verge of earning their MFAs read selections from their portfolios.
- Architecture Showcase & Awards (April 2) An exhibition of student and faculty projects in architecture and design, culminating in keynote address from a leading architect.
- Spaceman of Bohemia (April 6) Alumnus Jaroslav Kalfař ’11 reads from his novel Spaceman of Bohemia and talks about the experience of having his book turned into a major motion picture starring Adam Sandler and Carey Mulligan.
- Korean Arirang Festival (April 7) A celebration of Korean culture through music, dance and storytelling, highlighting traditional and contemporary artistic expressions.
- Music and the Brain (April 8) Experience the inspiring connection between music and neuroscience in this concert that brings together chamber music by the Pegasus String Quartet and insights from leading scientists.
- A.I. and Ethics (April 9) Philosophers discuss the ethical implications of artificial intelligence and its impact on society, technology and human decision-making.
- The Audacity of Creativity (April 11) This panel discussion with leaders and creatives from Universal Creative explores how creativity transforms the way we think, feel, and connect in today’s fast‑paced, attention‑driven world.
Family and K-12 Opportunities
These programs specifically designed for young audiences and student performers provide fun, learning opportunities that foster creativity, collaboration, and a love of the arts from an early age.
- Pen Pals: Theatre for the Very Young (April 7) An engaging theatre experience tailored for children ages 5-10. This is timed so families can proceed directly to Exceptional Knights.
- Exceptional Knights Concert (April 7) A sensory-friendly performance designed for all audiences, including neurodivergent and hard-of-hearing attendees, celebrating our local theme parks.
- Orlando Family Stage presents Yo, Ho, Ho! Let’s Go! (April 11) A family-friendly musical adventure featuring interactive performances that encourage children to sing, dance and participate in the storytelling experience.
- K-12 Invitationals (various dates) Middle and high school orchestras, bands, choirs, and percussion ensembles receive masterclass instruction and adjudication from UCF faculty, then in a worldclass venue.
Visual art lover
The visual arts exhibits at UCF Celebrates the Arts are a defining feature of the festival each year. UCF fills the Dr. Phillips Center with visual art experiences created by UCF students, faculty, and community members. Exhibits will be displayed throughout lobby spaces, hallways, and gathering areas, allowing audiences to encounter visual art in new and unexpected ways. Highlights include offerings from the School of Visual Arts and Design – paintings, animation prints, architecture models, and towering space-themed sculptures that adorn the Grand Staircase – as well as from other units around the college, including costume exhibits and themed experience installations.
Themed experience students showcase a UCF-themed installation they created in partnership with United Arts and Downtown Orlando as part of the POP-UP Creative Storefronts initiative, a program that transforms underused downtown storefronts into temporary galleries and interactive art spaces. These installations engage the community by bringing arts into the core of Orlando’s business district.
Timed with Autism Awareness Month in April, the UCF Center for Autism and Related Disabilities hosts an exhibition (ARTS + AUTISM) of creative works made by community members with autism, including a two-story balloon sculpture that presides over the south end of the center’s lobby.
In addition to the exhibits, several events focus on visual arts, including the Architecture Showcase (April 2), Creative Clash and Graphic Design Showcase (April 4), and Animation Showcase (April 11). All visual arts events are free.
Event Information
Dates: March 31–April 12, 2026
Location: Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
Website: arts.ucf.edu