Your August 2026 Los Angeles Events Guide

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August in LA stacks up fast. One weekend you're watching a movie inside a historic cemetery; the next you're eating your way through 250 food stalls until midnight. Here are ten worth building a trip around. 

Jazz Takes Over the Whole City 

Los Angeles Jazz Festival August 8–23, 2026 

Most festivals own one venue. This one owns the city. Free concerts run throughout LA's neighborhoods, from parks to clubs to community spaces across all 15 council districts, before the weekend closer lands on Dockweiler Beach with John Legend, Janelle Monáe and Parliament Funkadelic. Three-quarters of all programming is free; only the beach weekend requires a ticket. 

K-Pop, K-Beauty, K-Food — All in One Weekend 

KCON LA 2026 August 14–16, 2026 

The world's largest K-pop festival takes over downtown LA for three days at Crypto.com Arena and the Los Angeles Convention Center. NCT 127, Tomorrow X Together and ZEROBASEONE headline the M Countdown stage, with 16 acts total across the weekend. Beyond the concerts, the convention floor runs panels, K-beauty booths, food experiences and fan meet-and-greets throughout the day. 

Indie Rock's Best Lineup in Years 

Just Like Heaven Festival August 22, 2026 

The Strokes and LCD Soundsystem headlining on the same bill, with Feist, Chromeo, TV Girl, The Rapture and more below them. The Rose Bowl grounds give you room to actually move between stages. Gates open at noon; the venue runs until 11 p.m. 

Movies That Hit Different in a Cemetery 

Cinespia at Hollywood Forever Select Saturdays in August (Aug. 8, 15, 22, 29) 

Screenings on the lawn of a working cemetery, and somehow that makes the films feel more alive. The August slate runs The Mummy (Aug. 8), a Mia Goth double feature of X and Pearl (Aug. 15), Coming to America (Aug. 22) and Labyrinth (Aug. 29). Bring a blanket, pack a picnic, get there early enough to find your spot before the screen lights up. 

A Festival That Sounds Like Nowhere Else 

Head in the Clouds August 8, 2026 

Organized by 88rising, the longest-running Asian-centric music festival in the US. The 2026 lineup spans K-pop, hip-hop, R&B and electronic music from Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and the US, with KATSEYE headlining their first appearance here. The food vendors and art installations are worth arriving early for. Doors at 1 p.m.; curfew at 11 p.m. 

A Summer Night at the Bowl Is Its Own Thing 

Hollywood Bowl Summer Concerts Throughout August 2026 

St. Vincent performing with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra on Aug. 2 is the kind of booking that justifies owning a picnic blanket. The August calendar also runs Foo Fighters with the LA Philharmonic, Santana with The Doobie Brothers and How to Train Your Dragon in concert. Pick a night, pack food, and let the hills do the rest. 

250 Food Stalls and Not Enough Time 

626 Night Market August 14–16, 2026 

Eight dollars gets you into the largest night market in the United States, open 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. each day. Stinky tofu, ramen burgers, pho tacos, grilled skewers, live DJs and a vendor floor with 250-plus stalls. Come with a plan, abandon it immediately. 

Halloween Came Early and It's Better Than Halloween 

Midsummer Scream August 7–9, 2026 

Over 60,000 people show up for this. The Hall of Shadows runs haunted walk-throughs built by SoCal's best home and pro haunters. This year's theme is Horror Musicals; celebrity guests include Matthew Lillard, Barry Bostwick and Skeet Ulrich. Friday runs 6 to 10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

One Street, No Schedule, No Rush 

Los Feliz Art & Music Block Party + Mural Festival August 15, 2026 

Hollywood Boulevard closes to traffic for live mural painting, local musicians and independent businesses in the street. This year's artists include Shepard Fairey and Nychos, painting in real time. Free and all-ages, with no fixed schedule. 

Ceramics and Paintings With a View of the Pacific 

Art on Ocean August 8, 2026, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Ocean Avenue closes to cars for a free, all-ages outdoor arts festival above the Pacific. Over 100 artists show original paintings, photography, ceramics, sculpture and jewelry. Free kids' workshops run throughout the day; food and wine are available on-site. A free outdoor movie screening follows at dusk in Palisades Park right after. 

The hard part isn't finding something to do. It's choosing what to skip.