Your May 2026 Los Angeles Event Guide

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Summer is just around the corner, and Los Angeles is ready for it. May brings near-perfect weather, a packed events calendar and crowds that haven't yet hit their August peak, making it one of the best times of year to explore the city. Whether you're a longtime local or just passing through, here's what to put on your radar this month. 

BeachLife FestivalMay 1-3 

Not many festivals can claim an oceanfront stage, but BeachLife can. The Redondo Beach event has built a loyal following over the years, partly for the music and partly for the fact that you're watching a headliner with the Pacific behind them. Rock, reggae and blues across three days in early May. 

CORE Los AngelesMay 2-3 

CORE runs the same weekend as BeachLife but occupies a completely different corner of the music world. The focus is electronic, the production is dialed in and the artists on the bill pull from a global pool. It's a long weekend done right for anyone who lives for that world. Worth getting tickets early. 

Los Angeles County FairMay 7-31 

The County Fair is one of those Southern California traditions that doesn't need much updating. It shows up every year in Pomona with the same combination of rides, food, animals and live shows, and people keep coming back. If you haven't taken the drive out there, this is as good a year as any. 

California Strawberry FestivalMay 16-17 

It's a festival built around a single ingredient, and somehow it works every time. Taking place at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, the annual celebration draws big crowds for good reason: the food is great, the vibe is relaxed and it has the feel of a community event that's been done right for years. 

Yo-Yo Ma at Walt Disney Concert HallMay 28 and May 30 

Yo-Yo Ma at Walt Disney Concert Hall is exactly what it sounds like: one of the greatest living musicians performing in one of the best rooms in the country. These dates don't come around often and they tend to sell out quickly. Worth every effort to get a ticket. 

LA Lakers Playoff GamesThroughout May

There's not much that matches the atmosphere of a Lakers playoff game. Crypto.com Arena gets loud when the stakes are real, and the energy of a close postseason game is something you feel from the moment you walk in. If the Lakers are in it this May, a game is worth the ticket price. 

Netflix Is a Joke FestMay 4-10 

Comedy fans, this one is for you. The fest spreads across clubs, theaters and arenas all over Los Angeles, which means there's genuinely something for every taste and budget. The bigger shows sell out fast, but the mid-sized venue lineups are often where the most interesting nights happen. 

Ballet of Lights: Sleeping BeautyMay 2 

This production of The Sleeping Beauty leans into the visual side of things in a way that makes it worth seeing even if ballet isn't usually your thing. The illuminated costumes and updated staging give the classic story a fresh look without losing what makes it work. A good pick if you want something a little different. 

Yoko Ono: Music of the MindMay 23-31 

Whether you think you know Yoko Ono's work or not, this retrospective is worth your time. It covers a lot of ground, from her early avant-garde pieces to her music and her activism, and it does so in a way that feels thoughtful rather than just comprehensive. It runs through the end of the month, so you have time, but don't put it off too long. 

Also This Month: Miranda Priestly Is Back May 1 

The Devil Wears Prada 2 has already been making noise since its April debut, and it hits U.S. theaters on May 1. For a city that takes its moviegoing seriously, it's the theatrical event of the month and a good excuse to finally visit one of LA's iconic screening venues if you haven't already.  

As Miranda would say, that's all.