2026 Arts & Sciences Guide to UW Family Weekend

The College of Arts & Sciences welcomes students and their families to connect with faculty and staff, learn about a variety of topics, and explore our spaces throughout UW Family Weekend! Join your Husky for two fun-filled days on campus on Friday, November 6–Saturday, November 7, 2026.

College of Arts & Sciences: Paws for Fun & Networking Pop-Up

Friday, November 6, 2026
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
HUB Second Floor South Prefunction Space, adjacent to the South Ballroom entrance and South Lounge.
As you check in at the HUB for Family Weekend, join the College of Arts & Sciences community of faculty, students and staff! Snap a family photo; explore hands-on displays, experiments and activities; grab snacks; get tips and resources to help your Husky make the most of the UW; discover all that’s happening across Arts & Sciences during Family Weekend; and pick up swag while it lasts: Bandanas! Totes! And stickers!

And in honor of the upcoming National First-Generation College Celebration, we'll be handing out pins to students who are first-generation!

• College of Arts & Sciences: 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
• C21/Gesture: 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Learn about the College's early career lab helping students transition from student to professional! 
• Applied Mathematics: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 
• Art + Art History + Design: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. - There will be foam block printing!
• Asian Languages & Literature: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - There will be ink and brush calligraphy demos and practice with an instructor!
• Biology: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 
• Chemistry: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
• Communication: 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. 
• Economics: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 
• Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 
• German Studies: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 
• Henry Art Gallery: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Art button-making and more!
• History: 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. 
• Jackson School for International Studies: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 
• Language Learning Center (LLC): 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 
• Linguistics: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. 
• Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures (MELC): 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. 
• Music: 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - It is possible that there will be a student performance! 
• Philosophy: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Take the Philosophy Challenge! Answer a philosophical question for fun and earn a small prize! 
• Physics: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 
• Political Science: 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. 
• Sociology: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. 
• Speech and Hearing Sciences: 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. 

Henry Art Gallery Bingo

Friday, November 6, 2026
Drop in: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Henry Art Gallery
Drop in anytime for a self-guided art bingo activity that will help you explore the contemporary art and ideas at the Henry — Washington state’s first art museum, located right on campus.

Burke Museum: Free Admission

Friday, November 6, 2026
Drop in: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Burke Museum
Learn and be inspired with a visit to the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture — with working labs you can see into and one-of-a-kind objects all around, from dinosaur bones to Northwest Native art, plant and animal collections and cultural pieces from around the globe. You'll get free admission to the Burke Museum on Friday and Saturday with a UW Family Weekend event badge. 

AI, Metacognition and the Future of Learning: What Families Should Know 

Friday, November 6, 2026
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
HUB South Ballroom
Join Professor Anis Bawarshi (English/Center for 21st Century Liberal Learning) and Professor Ian Schnee (Philosophy) for a discussion about how AI is reshaping teaching and learning. An audience Q&A will follow. 

Biology Greenhouse: Docent-Led Tours

Friday, November 6, 2026
Drop in: 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Biology Greenhouse, Life Sciences Building lower lobby level, southwest side, off BG Trail, 3737 W. Stevens Way NE
See and learn about an amazing diversity of plants from around the world — including carnivorous plants, orchids and rare specimens — across four collection rooms.

Henry Art Gallery: Drop-In Printmaking Workshop

Friday, November 6, 2026
11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Henry Art Gallery
Join local artist Anneke Wilder for this all-ages drop-in printmaking workshop inspired by the exhibitions on view at the Henry. 

Law, Societies & Justice: Student Engagement Council Community Event 

Friday, November 6, 2026
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
HUB Room 332
Meet the 2026–27 Law, Societies & Justice Student Engagement Council, and learn about the department’s upcoming programming and how to get involved.

Global Literary Studies Program Open House 

Friday, November 6, 2026
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Denny Hall 257
Interested in literature from around the world and across history? Enjoy snacks and conversation about opportunities in the Global Literary Studies Program at this open house.

Classics Open House

Friday, November 6, 2026
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Denny Hall 257
Join the Department of Classics for conversation and opportunities to explore Greek and Roman art and literature, and enjoy snacks and the popular free-book giveaway table.

Planetarium Shows 

Friday, November 6, 2026
Showtimes: 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00p.m., 6:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m.
Physics/Astronomy Auditorium, Room A220
Astronomy Ph.D. and undergrad students will present a 4K planetarium show covering the solar system, constellations, galaxies, the origin of the universe and the latest James Webb Space Telescope images. Each showing is 50 minutes long. 

Your Passport to Success in International Studies

Friday, November 6, 2026
1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
HUB 214
Meet Jackson School of International Studies faculty, staff and students, and learn about Jackson School programs and resources.

Henry Art Gallery: Student Film Showcase 

Friday, November 6, 2026
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Henry Art Gallery
See films made by students — documentaries, comedies, dramas and music videos — and chat with Cinema & Media Studies faculty and students afterward. Assisted listening devices and AI live captioning will be provided. 

Performance: “Phèdre” 

Friday, November 6, 2026
7:30 p.m.
Meany Studio Theatre
A forbidden love tests a royal family on a path toward ruin in this contemporary adaptation of Racine’s classic tragedy. UW School of Drama presents “Phèdre,” written by Jean Racine, translated by Ted Hughes and directed by MFA directing student Sebastián Bravo Montenegro. This is a ticketed event. Family Weekend registrants may attend with advance registration; all others will pay general admission. Capacity is limited. 

Other events happening on campus: 

DXFEST
Friday, November 6, 2026
6:00 p.m.
Meany Center for the Performing Arts
DXFEST, a three-day festival showcasing artworks and music by artists of the Department of Digital Arts and Experimental Media (DXARTS) at the University of Washington, featuring a digital art exhibition and electronic music performances. The music works will be presented at the Katharyn Alvord Gerlich Theater using the DXARTS Ambisonics Audio System, a state-of-the-art multi-channel system designed to provide immersive spatial audio experiences. Artworks by DXARTS artists will be on display in the theater’s lobby prior to the concerts and during intermissions.

School of Music Presentation & Open House

Saturday, November 7, 2026
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Music Building Room 101 (Fishbowl)
Join the School of Music for an information session for prospective first-years, transfer students and current UW undergrads that will cover admissions, auditions and life as a School of Music student. 

Henry Art Gallery Bingo

Friday, November 6, 2026
Drop in: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Henry Art Gallery
Drop in anytime for a self-guided art bingo activity that will help you explore the contemporary art and ideas at the Henry — Washington state’s first art museum, located right on campus.

Biology Greenhouse: Docent-Led Tours

Saturday, November 7, 2026
Drop in: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Biology Greenhouse, Life Sciences Building lower lobby level, southwest side, off BG Trail, 3737 W. Stevens Way NE
See and learn about an amazing diversity of plants from around the world — including carnivorous plants, orchids and rare specimens — across four collection rooms.

Burke Museum: Free Admission

Saturday, November 7, 2026
Drop in: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Burke Museum
Learn and be inspired with a visit to the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture — with working labs you can see into and one-of-a-kind objects all around, from dinosaur bones to Northwest Native art, plant and animal collections and cultural pieces from around the globe. You'll get free admission to the Burke Museum on Friday and Saturday with a UW Family Weekend event badge. 

Performance: “Phèdre” 

Friday, November 6, 2026
7:30 p.m.
Meany Studio Theatre
A forbidden love tests a royal family on a path toward ruin in this contemporary adaptation of Racine’s classic tragedy. UW School of Drama presents “Phèdre,” written by Jean Racine, translated by Ted Hughes and directed by MFA directing student Sebastián Bravo Montenegro. This is a ticketed event. Family Weekend registrants may attend with advance registration; all others will pay general admission. Capacity is limited. 

Other events happening on campus: 

DXFEST
Saturday, November 7, 2026
6:00 p.m.
Meany Center for the Performing Arts
DXFEST, a three-day festival showcasing artworks and music by artists of the Department of Digital Arts and Experimental Media (DXARTS) at the University of Washington, featuring a digital art exhibition and electronic music performances. The music works will be presented at the Katharyn Alvord Gerlich Theater using the DXARTS Ambisonics Audio System, a state-of-the-art multi-channel system designed to provide immersive spatial audio experiences. Artworks by DXARTS artists will be on display in the theater’s lobby prior to the concerts and during intermissions.

Exhibition closing: I will carry you over on my back – 2026 Fall MFA Show
Saturday, November 7, 2026
Jacob Lawrence Gallery
Noon - 5:00 p.m.
The annual fall MFA show mediates on accumulation, the underground, labor & capacity, and the movement of systems and objects toward loss, disrepair, and failure. Spanning performance, installation, sound art, and found object sculpture, see the works of Jayden Dukes, Gaeun Kim, Cameron McGaff, and Skye Amber O’Brien.