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.

The 10th anniversary concert tour brings the film and a live orchestra to Los Feliz on August 1.

The fastest coaster in Universal's global portfolio began technical rehearsals July 27, with ride vehicles that rotate a full 360 degrees.

The final season becomes a walkthrough of the Wheeler house, Hawkins Lab, the Upside Down and The Abyss.

Explore JPL returns October 10 and 11 for the lab's 90th anniversary. Free tickets drop August 29 and disappear in minutes.

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

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