UC Merced Arts Season Opens With Merced Symphony's Side-by-Side Concert

UC Merced Aerial Picture
September 23, 2026
Graphic promoting the UC Merced Arts 2026-27 season, featuring a collage of musicians, performers and artwork surrounding the UC Merced Arts logo.
The 2026-27 UC Merced Arts season brings a diverse lineup of music, visual art, literary events and cultural programming to campus and the Merced community.

UC Merced Arts has announced its season of concerts, exhibitions, festivals and programs, beginning with the Merced Symphony's annual Side-by-Side Concert.

The Season Opening Celebration begins Thursday, Sept. 24 at the Wallace-Dutra Amphitheater at UC Merced. This special performance brings together professional musicians from the Merced Symphony with student musicians from UC Merced and Merced College, creating an opportunity for emerging musicians to perform alongside professional artists while introducing audiences to the scale and energy of live symphonic music. Tickets start at $20 for adults. The concert is free for children and all college students with an ID.

The Season Opening Celebration continues in the Downtown Merced Arts & Culture District on Sept. 25 and 26 with the 2026 Merced LitFest, bringing writers, readers, students and community members together for two days of literary programs and conversations.

This year's festival will feature acclaimed poet Natalie Scenters-Zapico as the keynote speaker on Friday, Sept. 25 at the Merced Multicultural Arts Center. The festival is free and open to the public.

"Opening our season with the third annual Merced Symphony Side-by-Side Concert and Merced LitFest allows us to celebrate two very different art forms while highlighting something central to our work: bringing the university and the broader Merced community together for exceptional artistic experiences," said Collin Lewis, UC Merced's executive director for the arts.

The 2026-27 season continues that commitment with artists and projects that explore music, visual art, cultural history, environmental storytelling and community engagement. Events will be held at UC Merced and across the broader Merced community.

Highlights include:

  • Oct. 16 - Latin Grammy-winning all-women mariachi ensemble Flor de Toloache

  • Nov. 4 - The return of No-No Boy, whose folk music explores histories of immigration, identity, and belonging

  • Feb. 25 - Electric Root: Let Love Lead, bringing together acclaimed Black singers with the Merced College Community Chorus for a celebration of Black music

  • April 22 - Thai-Swedish artist Sirintip and her multidisciplinary project MYCELIUM, connecting music, technology and climate research during Earth Week

  • May 13 - The return of Las Cafeteras with Ritchie Forever, a celebration of the life and legacy of Ritchie Valens

The season also includes a new year of exhibitions at La Galería, beginning with "Permanent Collection: Abstractions," on view through Oct. 3.

Tickets for events and performances are available at the UC Merced Arts Box Office website. Season flex passes are available for audiences interested in discounted access to multiple performances throughout the season.