Coming Soon: The Best Events in LA (Dec. 15-21, 2025)

From cultural events to superstar concerts, exciting nightlife and world-class sports, Discover LA is your go-to source for the latest and greatest in LA. Find more events and nearby hotels at the DiscoverLA.com Events Calendar.

Come for the show, stay for the weekend.

Los Angeles is home to a world-class collection of museums and cultural attractions. Best of all, you can view masterpieces at LA museums for free! From automotive to natural history museums, read our guide to more than 20 of the best museums in LA with free admission.

"The Nutcracker" - Dolby Theatre (Dec. 19-28)
After a weekend of performances at Royce Hall, Los Angeles Ballet’s Southern California-centric take on The Nutcracker will head to Hollywood for a run at the Dolby Theatre from December 19 to December 28.

Chanticleer - Walt Disney Concert Hall (Dec. 15)
San Francisco-based vocal ensemble Chanticleer heads to Los Angeles on December 15 for a Monday night performance at Walt Disney Concert Hall that will bring together centuries of Christmas music with a cappella arrangements.

Holiday Brass - Walt Disney Concert Hall (Dec. 16)
The LA Phil’s brass players bring holiday cheer to Walt Disney Concert Hall on Tuesday, December 16. The program for Holiday Brass includes traditional carols, Handel’s “Joy to the World,” Anthony DiLorenzo’s adaptation of ’Twas the Night Before Christmas and more seasonal delights.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation - Alamo Drafthouse (Dec. 16 & 21)
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation gets the Alamo Drafthouse Movie Party treatment at 7:20pm on Tuesday, December 16 and Sunday, December 21 (11:30am). See the holiday classic in this interactive setting with props, themed menu items and more.

It’s Princemas! - Vidiots (Dec. 16)
The Museum of Home Video hosts Princemas!, a BYORB (Bring Your Own Raspberry Beret) Prince party at Vidiots on Tuesday, December 16. Featuring music videos, live performance, themed beverages and karaoke, this multimedia event is a night of guaranteed fun for Prince fans.

Ellington’s Nutcracker and Tchaikovsky’s “Winter Dreams” - Walt Disney Concert Hall (Dec. 18)
Thomas Wilkins conducts the LA Phil in a performance of Duke Ellington’s 1960 take on The Nutcracker Suite. This holiday program at Walt Disney Concert Hall, which opens on Thursday, December 18 and runs through the weekend, will also include Carlos Simon’s Four Black American Dances and Tchaikovsky’s “Winter Dreams.”

Lightstruck: Happy Holidays from George Kuchar - 2220 Arts + Archives (Dec. 18)
Experimental film screening series Lightstruck gets festive on December 18 at 2220 Arts + Archives with Happy Holidays from George Kuchar, a presentation of shorts from the late, underground film and video artist that includes Frigid Escapades, Migration of the Blubberoids, Xmas 1986 and Fill Thy Crack with Whiteness.

"Santa Claus vs. The Devil" - Philosophical Research Society (Dec. 19)
Philosophical Research Society’s film series 7th House teams up with El Cine for a special screening of the Santa Claus vs. The Devil, the 1959 Spanish language cult classic from Mexican director René Cordova. This event will also be El Cine’s holiday toy drive benefiting the non-profit Border Kindness. Tickets at Eventbrite.

Handel’s "Messiah" - Walt Disney Concert Hall (Dec. 21)
Grant Gershon conducts the Los Angeles Master Chorale in a performance of Handel’s Messiah on December 21. Want to learn more about the music? Attend the lecture scheduled to precede the Sunday evening concert.

Yuletide Cinemaland: The Santa Clause - Heritage Square (Dec. 21)
Yuletide Cinemaland brings a Santa Clause double feature to Heritage Square on Sunday, December 21. The holiday film series presented by Street Food Cinema and TIL Events includes a tour of the Victorian homes of Heritage Square, a twinkling light tunnel, ugly sweater contest and more activities. Plus, food trucks and a bar will be on site.

Fight off that live music FOMO with a show-centric trip to one of the world’s great music capitals! Whether it's historic theatres like The Greek and The Ford; or cozier venues like the Moroccan Lounge and Catalina Jazz Club, there's a concert for every genre on any night in LA.

DECEMBER 2025

• New Year's Eve with The Roots - Walt Disney Concert Hall (Dec. 31)

JANUARY 2026

• Mike Sherm - Hollywood Palladium (Jan. 3)
• Galantis - Hollywood Palladium (Jan. 9-10)
• Calibash - Crypto.com Arena (Jan. 17)
• iHeartRadio Alter Ego '26 - Kia Forum (Jan. 17)
• Whether - Hollywood Palladium (Jan. 24)

War & Tower of Power - YouTube Theater (Dec. 20)
California funk and soul will be the vibe on Saturday, December 20, when War and Tower of Power headline YouTube Theater at L.A. LIVE. The Pancho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band opens the show and Cypress Hill’s DJ Muggs will be your host for this night of West Coast jams.

Charles Lloyd Quartet - Blue Note (Dec. 15)
Renowned jazz musician Charles Lloyd plays the Blue Note on Monday, December 15, with his quartet featuring Gerald Clayton, Larry Grenadier and Kweku Sumbry. Performances at 7pm and 9:30pm.

Waterparks - The Novo (Dec. 18)
With a trio of recent singles out now and a new album on the way, a reunited Waterparks is currently on the road and will be closing out the U.S. leg of the tour at The Novo on Thursday, December 18. They’ll be joined by fellow pop-rockers Plain White T’s and Landon Barker.

Whether you’re looking for educational activities, entertainment, or just want to enjoy the great outdoors, LA has it all - and it’s at your fingertips all year long. Here’s a look at top family-friendly and super fun things to do in the City of Angels.

"How the Grinch Stole Christmas" - Andres Pico Adobe Park (Dec. 20)
My Valley Pass brings How the Grinch Stole Christmas to Andres Pico Adobe Park in Mission Hills on Saturday, December 20. The San Fernando Valley’s oldest residence will be decorated for the holidays for this outdoor event, which also includes photo ops with Santa Claus. Tickets include unlimited drinks and popcorn, but moviegoers have to bring their own seating. Gates at 5:30pm for the 7pm screening. No pets.

"A Charlie Brown Christmas" - Novo (Dec. 19)
The Peanuts gang heads to The Novo at L.A. LIVE on Friday, December 19 for A Charlie Brown Christmas, the live stage adaptation of the holiday classic that has charmed generations of TV audiences since 1965. Performances at 3pm and 6pm.

Festival of Carols - Walt Disney Concert Hall (Dec. 20)
The Los Angeles Master Chorale presents the Festival of Carols at 2pm on Saturday, December 20. This LA holiday favorite features 62 singers and a program that includes seasonal music new and old. For those with young children, the inaugural Carols for Kids at 11am is designed for those under 6 years old.

Children of the Winter Kingdom - The Actors’ Gang (Dec. 4-20)
Bringing together music and puppetry for this original holiday fairy tale, Children of the Winter Kingdom: The Bonkers Adventures of Holly and Spruce runs through December 20 at The Actors’ Gang in Culver City with a Sunday matinee on December 14 and “pay what you can” shows on Thursdays.

Carpark Records 25th Anniversary - Zebulon (Dec. 16)
Carpark Records celebrates 25 years of independent music at Zebulon on Tuesday, December 16. Dean Wareham headlines the indie label’s anniversary bash, while the lineup also includes Dent May, Jimmy Cicero and DJ Naomi Alligator. Tickets at Dice.

Hurricane Benefit for Jamaica - Teragram Ballroom (Dec. 17)
Syd, Fousheé and Empress Of are just some of the artists coming together at Teragram Ballroom on Wednesday, December 17, to raise funds for hurricane relief in Jamaica. Proceeds will benefit Jamaica Bikelife, whose volunteer network has been bringing food, water and emergency supplies to the country’s hardest hit communities.

Clinic Ugly Sweater Party - Jungle (Dec. 17)
Clinic Wednesdays hosts its annual Ugly Sweater Party on Wednesday, December 17 at Jungle in Hollywood. Locals Masha Mar and Heidi Lawden will be playing back to back for the holiday fête. RSVP at Dice for free entry between 10 and 11 p.m. VIP table reservations are also available.

Cheer on your favorite teams at LA's world-class sports venues!

LA Lakers vs. LA Clippers
The Clippers and Lakers go head-to-head at Intuit Dome on Saturday, December 20. Tip off for this crosstown rivalry game is at 7:30pm.

From local independent venues to Broadway blockbusters, there is no better city in the country to experience live theatre than Los Angeles. For a roundup of current and upcoming productions, visit the Discover LA Theatre page.

Stereophonic - The Pantages (Dec. 9, 2025 - Jan. 2, 2026)
Stereophonic, the Tony-winning play by David Adjimi with music from former Arcade Fire member Will Butler, opens for a month-long run at Hollywood’s Pantages Theatre on Tuesday, December 9. The nearly three-hour play is recommended for ages 13 and older and, in addition to evening performances, there are weekend and select weekday matinee performances through January 2.

La Bohème - Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (through Dec. 14)
LA Opera’s production of Puccini's beloved La Bohème opened on November 22 and will run through December 14 at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.