Welcome to Arts Fest (formerly ARTS FIRST), Harvard University’s Arts Festival! Produced by the Office for the Arts at Harvard, this annual campus-wide event takes place May 1-4 and showcases the expansive creativity and innovation of Harvard students, staff, alums and faculty. Enjoy the dynamic imagination and cultural expression at the heart of this festival by visiting many of the university’s iconic indoor and outdoor spaces transformed by artmaking and open for all to explore. Year after year, Arts Fest draws 5,000+ audience members who are entertained, delighted and inspired by the many art forms on display on outdoor and indoor stages, in Harvard’s museums, galleries and classrooms, and in the green spaces of Harvard Yard. Can’t get to campus? Watch selected events livestreamed at HarvardArts on YouTube.

Highlights include an Afro-Cuban jazz concert led by Yosvany Terry, a performance and conversation with 2025 Harvard Arts Medalist and operatic bass-baritone Davòne Tines ‘09, an interdisciplinary a concert of pop music hits arranged for jazz orchestra, a Performance Fair of short interdisciplinary performances taking place simultaneously on 11 stages throughout the day, family-friendly artmaking activities, and much more.

The festival is open to all, family-friendly and mostly free. (Some ticketed events charge for admission.) The Office for the Arts invites everyone to join us!