Sep
24,
2026
By Sam Lawrence
We say this every year and we’ll keep saying it: LA doesn’t really do an “off-season.” The second the temperature drops a few degrees, the calendar somehow gets even more packed. Between a major awards show returning home, a stacked Hollywood Bowl weekend, two Pantages runs worth planning your month around, and the unofficial start of Halloween season, there’s a lot to sort through right now. So we did the sorting for you!
It’s no secret that L.A. houses some of the most anticipated music festivals and events of the year. Take, for instance, the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), filming this Sunday at the Peacock Theater in Downtown L.A. It’ll feature performances from popular artists including Madonna, Raye, Sienna Spiro and Shaboozey, and it’ll be hosted by 3-time VMA winner Snoop Dogg. This is the first time the show is back on the West Coast since 2017, and if you want to see all your favorite artists up close–check out 1iota.com for a chance to be a pit fan, red carpet fan or even a seat filler during the show!
Looking for a relaxing evening under the stars? Hollywood’s premiere outdoor venue, The Hollywood Bowl, is hosting a dynamic lineup of performances this weekend. The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA comes to the Bowl on Friday at 8:00 pm. Get ready for an unforgettable evening of songs from the legendary Swedish disco group! They’ll perform some of the group’s most famous tracks including “Mamma Mia” and “Dancing Queen.” If that’s not enough, the tribute act will be joined by MenAlive, the Orange County Gay Men’s Chorus.
Then on Saturday, the hills will truly be alive with the sound of music when Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music Sing-A-Long hits the Bowl. The evening consists of a night-time screening of the Oscar-winning film, along with a pre-show costume contest hosted by comedian Melissa Peterman. The event starts at 6 pm and the screening begins at 7:30 pm. Tickets are available online now at thehollywoodbowl.com.
Grammy-winning artist Jon Batiste gained prominence as the bandleader and musical director on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert before achieving major success through his work as a composer on the Pixar movie Soul in 2020. Just two years later, Batiste’s studio album We Are won Album of the Year at the 2022 Grammy Awards. Now, he’s bringing his signature soulful sound to the Hollywood Bowl for just one night on Sunday, Sept. 27. Prepare for an evening of songs from all different genres and musical inspirations: gospel, jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, R&B, classical music and more.
Looking for a musical experience that tells its story through costumes, set design and broadway-level stage acting? The Pantages Theater on Hollywood Boulevard is hosting two fan-favorite shows within the next two months. First, the seven-time Tony Award-nominated musical Water for Elephants is playing every night this week until Sunday, which closes out the show’s run with a 1:00 pm matinee and a 6:30 pm final performance. The musical follows a young man who jumps on a moving train, hoping to leave his old life behind. His plans of isolation are foiled when he accidentally joins the ranks of a close-knit traveling circus. The show’s description on the Pantages website says, “his adventure becomes a poignant reminder that if you choose the ride, life can begin again at any age.” Tickets are available online now!
Finally, it’s the story that defined a generation. That’s right, The Outsiders is coming to The Hollywood Pantages Theater from Sept. 30 through Oct. 18, bringing together fans of S.E. Hinton’s 1967 novel and Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic 1983 film adaptation. The music adds another dimension to the story – a full-fledged soundtrack. The show won
Best Musical at the 2024 Tony Awards, and now it’s making its Pantages debut at the end of this month. The Outsiders follows a group of teenage Greasers in 1960s Tulsa, Oklahoma, who dream of finding success in a world that doesn’t accept them. Through battles with their wealthy rivals, the Socs, the young men go on a journey of self-discovery, loss and belonging.
We covered the opening night of Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood and this year’s hauntingly creative lineup is perfect for some twisted enjoyment! The Strangers Things villains are leaving Hawkins and coming straight to California with the One Last Adventure haunted experience based on season 5. Then, take a trip down south with the brand new Sinners haunted house, based on the Academy-Award winning film starring Michael B. Jordan. Be ready for some frighteningly good jazz music, and, of course, bloodthirsty vampires. If those options don’t satisfy your zeal for fear, try out any of the other haunted houses based on Hellraiser, Ozzy Osbourne (Prince of Darkness), Evil Dead, and Killer Clowns from Outer Space. The scares don’t stay in one place – hop on the Terror Tram for a terrifying ride with the demented Art the Clown as he presents some shocking twists on Christmas classics. If the scares prove too much for your nervous system, don’t worry–some of the park’s main rides will stay open throughout the evening to keep your heart rate pumping.
