World Soccer Community Watch Parties, Performances, and Cultural Engagements

City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs Presents 

World Soccer Community Watch Parties, Performances, and Cultural Engagements

Explore the intersection of sports, culture, and art through a series of free performances, and community arts and cultural celebrations organized around 2026 soccer tournament matches. With activities taking place at DCA Arts Centers, parks, and program partner sites, this initiative advances Los Angeles’s momentum toward the 2028 Cultural Program for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Schedule of Events:

Summer of Soccer Backyard Bash!

DCA Arts Centers and community partners host World Soccer 2026 Community Watch Parties. Friends, neighbors and soccer supporters are invited to enjoy drop-in art workshops, performances, games, activities, giveaways, and more. 

(Backyard Bash! logo is based on original artwork by Rachel Curry. Learn more about her work at the bottom of this page.)

Event details below:

Lincoln Heights Youth Arts Center

2911 Altura St, Los Angeles, CA 90031 

Saturday, July 11, 2026
4:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Match begins at 6:00 p.m.: Quarterfinal

SUMMER OF SOCCER IS HERE!

Lincoln Heights Youth Arts Center is bringing the world to your backyard in Lincoln Heights!

The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) is proud to present the Summer of Soccer – Backyard Bash! in partnership with the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. Join us for an unforgettable evening of music, culture, and community as we gather to watch the World Cup 2026 Quarterfinal Match. Enjoy live performances, high-energy entertainment, backyard sports games, immersive arts experiences, and fun for the whole family leading up to the match on the big screen.

Free • Family-Friendly • All Ages

Music and Master of Ceremonies: DJ TossTones

Featuring performances by:

  • Versa-Style Street Dance Company
  • Pro Fútbol Freestyler Janella Hernandez
  • Lincoln High School Cheer and Royal Storm Elite Cheer
  • Mariachi Los Arrieros de Wilson High School
  • El Sereno Middle School Mariachi

Activities include:

  • Food
  • Soccer-themed games
  • Water slide
  • Live mural painting and art workshops
  • Free giveaways

Bring your friends, family, blankets, and lawn chairs, and experience an unforgettable summer celebration. We'll see you there!

Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory

2130 E. 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033

(Street festival will place take on streets Breed to St. Louis) 

Boyle Heights Youth Fest: For Youth By Youth
Saturday, June 6, 2026
3:00 to 7:00 p.m.

A street festival featuring community booths, resources, food, entertainment, games, a photo booth, a skate park and much more. Enjoy a special performance by Rangoo and an appearance by the Lone Lobos. Stop by DCA's booth to create a personalized art project inspired by the tournament in Los Angeles. 

Sun Valley Youth Arts Center

8642 Sunland Blvd, Sun Valley, CA 91352 

Thursday, June 11, 2026
11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
(Game begins at noon)

Programming includes a youth mini soccer game featuring jumbo soccer balls and a Soccer Family Art Workshop.

DCA’s Backyard Bash community watch parties are part of the Arts x Sports literary arts initiative. (Backyard bash logo based on original artwork by Rachel Curry (@currycheeks). Read more about her at the bottom of this page.

Kick it in the Park: Spirit of Sports Curated Music, Dance, and Performance Series

The DCA presents Spirit of Sports, a series of live cultural activations celebrating the global traditions and artistic expressions represented throughout the soccer tournament.

Featuring performances by lion dancers, taiko drummers, Afro-Peruvian artists, Korean traditional musicians, stilt walkers, roaming performers, and local cultural groups, the series transforms community gathering spaces into vibrant celebrations of international culture and artistic exchange.

These gatherings unfold as more than moments of spectatorship; they are invitations into rhythm, connection, and shared joy. Through this series, DCA cultivates spaces where the world meets Los Angeles in movement, sound, and spirit.

Spirit of Sports are curated experiences through 5 community viewing parties as part of the City of Los Angeles’s “Kick it in the Park” watch party series.

Dates and Locations

Echo Park Lake
751 Echo Park Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026 
Thursday, June 11, 2026
First match at noon: Mexico vs. South Africa
Come join us near the swan pedal boats for internationally themed performances, interactive arts programming, and youth arts education opportunities.

Jackie Tatum Harvard Recreation Center
1535 W. 62nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90047
Friday, June 12, 2026
Programming and activities starting at 5:00 p.m.: USA vs. Paraguay match at 6:00 p.m. 
Saturday, June 27, 2026
First match at 2:00 p.m.
Teams TBD
Come join us for internationally themed performances, interactive arts programming, and youth arts education opportunities.

Whitsett Soccer Field
6952 Whitsett Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91605 
Thursday, June 18, 2026
First match at 9:00 a.m.: Czechia vs. South Africa
Additional performing arts programming will take place prior to the Mexico vs. South Korea match at 6:00 p.m.
Come join us for performances by Mariachi 1000 Amores, Los Angeles Taiko Collective, Ballet Folklorico Alma De Oro Carson, Korean Classical Music & Dance Company, Zebra Entertainment, interactive arts programming, and youth arts education opportunities.

Westwood Recreation Center
1350 S Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025 
Sunday, July 19, 2026
Final Game at noon
Teams TBD
Come join us for internationally themed performances, interactive arts programming, and youth arts education opportunities.

Come celebrate the beautiful game through art, play, and community. Explore free and immersive activities taking place throughout Los Angeles. 

Whitsett Soccer Field
6952 Whitsett Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91605  
Friday, July 3, 2026
3:00 to 8:00 p.m. 
Come join us for interactive arts programming and youth arts education opportunities.

Westwood Recreation Center 
1350 S Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025  
Saturday, July 4, 2026
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 
Come join us for interactive arts programming and youth arts education opportunities.

Northridge Recreation Center 
18300 Lemarsh St, Northridge, CA 91324  
Sunday, July 5, 2026
Noon to 2:00 p.m. 
Come join us for interactive arts programming and youth arts education opportunities.

Echo Park Lake 
701 Echo Park Lake, Los Angeles, CA 90026  
Monday, July 6, 2026
Noon to 6:00 p.m. 
Come join us for interactive arts programming and youth arts education opportunities.

MacArthur Park 
2230 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90057  
Friday, July 10, 2026
Noon to 5:00 p.m. 
Come join us for interactive arts programming and youth arts education opportunities.

Backyard Bash! Artist

Rachel Curry (she/her)
currybookarts.com
@currycheeks

Rachel Curry is a multidisciplinary artist and educator from Los Angeles who grew up in a family full of artists. Rachel explores themes of queer identity, social justice, and nostalgia through her work and her pieces are housed in special collections and archives nationwide. She works across mediums such as letterpress, fiber arts, zine-making, drawing, installation, and collage.

Rachel’s love for community has inspired her to teach art across Los Angeles at museums such as the Huntington Library, Craft Contemporary, and Norton Simon Museum, and she has taught every age from toddlers to senior citizens through her work as a teaching artist and an elementary school art teacher in LAUSD. Rachel’s practice as an artist and an educator is informed by the DIY punk scene, and her teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that art is for everyone and that it is possible to build a better world through creative expression.

The original artwork was handmade by Rachel Curry for DCA's community arts program, the 2026 Backyard Bash! to celebrate the soccer tournament in Los Angeles. The artwork highlights iconic landmarks including the Los Angeles River and the historic bridge, alongside an open book representing the program’s educational focus. A DJ turntable captures the city’s creativity and urban culture, while a soccer ball soaring above the downtown skyline symbolizes energy, movement, and community spirit. View the original artwork below: