The LA Summer Bucket List 2026 Edition

35 things worth leaving the house for this summer. What's new, what's open, and what's actually worth your time.

By Mark Stampfly

Happening This Week

Hidden Gems

A record shop behind an unmarked door, a speakeasy reached through something else, and the stairways only locals climb.

The jaw-dropping views, murals, and photogenic hideouts across the San Fernando Valley worth the drive.

The secret stories behind the city's most famous landmarks: history hiding in plain sight.

Hollywood's iconic dome and the former ArcLight complex return, with restoration starting in August and doors reopening in early 2028.

Two days, 60-plus bands, no headliner. The Warped format takes over the Shoreline.

The open-air center returns after a major restoration, with the Bay Theatre reopening as a Netflix-run cinema.

A 320-foot landscaped pedestrian and bike crossing of the LA River by design firm OLIN, funded and heading into final design, expected around 2030.

43 Korean beauty and lifestyle brands across two floors, free to the public, in a government-backed showcase.

A 10-month immersive exhibition, September 2026 through July 2027, built around horror’s biggest films.

A restored 1930s building turned high-design sports bar, with a James Beard chef and a star-studded investor list.