at penn Calendar January 2026
Print Calendar At Penn Deadlines Download latest month's PDF Download prior month's PDF14 First day of classes (Monday classes).
19 MLK, Jr. Day observed (no classes).
27 Course Selection Period ends.
17 Up Late with the Sphinx; an evening filled with family-friendly games and gallery activities; drop into a hands-on workshop and make something special to take home, then finish your evening with a flashlight tour through the museum; 5-10 p.m.; Penn Museum; tickets: $35/general, $30/members; register: https://www.penn.museum/calendar/775/up-late-with-the-sphinx (Penn Museum).
16 Pollutants and Policy in the Built Environment; will explore how environmental law, landscape architecture, and city and regional planning can address issues of environmental justice in Philadelphia’s urban landscapes; 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; room 100, Golkin Hall; register: https://tinyurl.com/law-conf-jan-16 (Penn Carey Law; Weitzman School of Design).
29 Adventive America: Follow the Plants; will explore the stories of collectors, collections, and global botanical exchanges between the United States, Indigenous nations, Britain, Spain, Japan, and China, from the early American republic to the present day; 6:30-8 p.m.; Kleinman Energy Forum, Fisher Fine Arts Library; register: https://www.design.upenn.edu/events/adventive-america (Landscape Architecture). Also January 30, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Upcoming
14 Nursing the Revolution; challenges the widespread belief that nursing began in the 19th century with Florence Nightingale by displaying rare evidence of a world of nursing and caretaking that thrived before, during, and after the American Revolution; floor 2U, Claire Fagin Hall. Through November 20, 2026.
Re/Make History: Crafting the Past with 21st-Century Technologies; demonstrates how technologies in the Education Commons and the Bollinger Digital Fabrication Lab can be used to investigate and/or draw creative inspiration from the rare books of the Museum Library and artifacts from the Penn Museum; Penn Museum Library.
28 Collecting the New Irascibles: Art in the 1980s; contemporary critics described the avant-garde art of the 1980s and ‘90s as Postmodernist appropriation, Neo-Expressionism, Neo-Geometric Conceptualism, and Post-Graffiti; these movements signaled a decisive break from past expectations and a full-force tilt toward the “new”; Arthur Ross Gallery. Through April 12, 2026. Opening reception: January 30, 5-7 p.m.
Now
Postigo Express: Documenting the Basque Conflict in San Sebastián, 1977-2003; a collection of acclaimed Basque photographer Fernando Postigo’s photos documenting Spain’s transition to democracy following Franco’s death in 1975, the implementation of the new Spanish Constitution in 1978, and, most significantly, the Basque struggle for autonomy; Arthur Ross Gallery. Through January 4, 2026.
Reinventing Aristotle; using the rich and varied Aristotelian materials held in the Penn Libraries’ collections, this exhibit explores how perceptions of Aristotle have evolved over the centuries—across cultures, disciplines, and imaginations; Goldstein Gallery, Van Pelt Library. Through January 16, 2026.
Penn in the Field: Student Fieldwork Photography; experience fieldwork and research travel of current undergraduate and graduate students as documented through their own lenses; Penn Museum Library. Through August 30, 2026.
Mavis Pusey: Mobile Images; the first major museum survey dedicated to the work and life of Jamaican-born artist Mavis Pusey (1928-2019), an important figure in geometric abstraction, featuring over 60 artworks from her prolific 50-year career; Institute of Contemporary Art. Through December 2026.
6 Working Dog Center Tour; see firsthand what it takes to train leading detection dogs; watch as the Working Dog Center staff explains the step-by-step process to preparing a dog to serve in explosive detection, search & rescue, cancer detection, and more; 10 a.m.; Penn Working Dog Center; register: pvwdcoutreach@vet.upenn.edu (Penn Vet). Also January 22.
The Deep Dig: Power and Propaganda in Ancient Rome; in this four-week virtual course, led by world-renowned archaeologist C. Brian Rose, participants will explore how images, monuments, and mythmaking helped build one of history’s most influential and enduring empires; 6:30 p.m.; online webinars; registration: $180/general, $130/members; register: https://www.penn.museum/calendar/906/the-deep-dig (Penn Museum). Weekly through January 27.
7 Mind and Mood Recharge Powered by Penn Medicine; an uplifting array of health-centric happenings during a popular after-hours wellness series; 5-8 p.m.; Penn Museum; free with museum admission; register: https://www.penn.museum/calendar/870/mind-and-mood-recharge (Penn Medicine, Penn Museum).
10 Ancient Alcohol: A Taste of Bygone Booze: Tour & Tasting; take an unconventional (and boozy) journey back in time to discover what people of the past thought about alcohol, from how they made it to its role in society; 2 p.m.; Penn Museum; tickets: $41/general, $37/members; register: https://www.penn.museum/calendar/843/ancient-alcohol-a-taste-of-bygone-booze (Penn Museum). Also January 11.
23 Summer Opportunities and Funding Resources Fair; a “one-stop shop” for undergraduate students interested in learning more about summer opportunities provided through Penn entities, including internships, research experiences, or funding to support expenses associated with low-paid or unpaid opportunities; 2-4 p.m.; Hall of Flags, Houston Hall (Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships).
College of Liberal & Professional Studies
Online webinars. Info and to register: https://www.lps.upenn.edu/about/events.
5 Penn LPS Online Certificates: Meet Us Monday; 12:30 p.m.
6 Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences Virtual Information Session; noon. Also January 20, 6 p.m.
Master of Environmental Studies Virtual Drop-in Hour; noon.
Pre-Health Post-Baccalaureate Programs Virtual Information Session; 4 p.m.
7 Master of Liberal Arts Virtual Information Session; noon.
8 Master of Behavioral and Decision Sciences Virtual Café; 10 a.m.
Admissions Event: Fels Executive MPA Meet & Greet; noon.
13 Fels Institute of Government Virtual Information Session; noon.
Pre-Health Programs Virtual Application Completion Session; 12:30 p.m.
14 Global Master of Public Administration Virtual Information Session; noon.
15 Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences Virtual Application Completion Session; 12:30 p.m. Also January 29.
21 Master of Applied Positive Psychology Virtual Alumni Panel; 5:30 p.m.
22 Master of Chemical Sciences Virtual Information Session; 9:30 a.m.
28 Penn Employee Virtual Information Session; 12:30 p.m.
Graduate School of Education
Online webinars. Info: https://www.gse.upenn.edu/news-and-events/events-calendar.
14 Medical Education, MSEd Virtual Information Session; noon.
Mid-Career Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership, EdD Virtual Information Session; 7 p.m.
15 Education Entrepreneurship, MSEd Virtual Information Session; noon.
20 Executive Doctorate in Higher Education Management, EdD Virtual Information Session; noon.
22 Introduction to Negotiations–Virtual Workshop; all day. Through January 23.
Human Resources
For Penn faculty and staff. Unless noted, online webinars. Info and to register: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/.
5 30-Minute Chair Yoga Plus Core; noon. Also January 12, 26.
7 Lunchtime Chair Yoga; noon. Also January 21.
8 Group Fitness: HR Strength; noon.
9 30-Minute Guided Meditation; noon. Also January 16, 23, 30.
13 Job Architecture Webinar; 1 p.m. Also January 29.
14 January Wellness Walk; noon; the Palestra.
15 MetLife Workshop: Be an Investor—Tips on Ways Your Money Can Work For You; noon.
22 Time and Energy Management; 12:30 p.m.
28 Moving Your 2026 Resolutions Forward; noon.
Morris Arboretum & Gardens
In-person events at Morris Arboretum & Gardens. Info and to register: https://www.morrisarboretum.org/.
10 Winter Wellness Walks: Nature Watch; walk that will explore wintry aspects of the arboretum, like tree bark color/texture, tree silhouettes, buds, and winter-blooming plants;10:30 a.m.
Bare Naked Trees Tour; join an experienced guide to explore the beauty of “bare naked trees”, which reveal a variety of shapes and patterns during the winter; 11 a.m.
17 Winter Wellness Family Walk; a joyful family stroll where families can feel free to walk at their own pace and use strollers; 10:30 a.m.
25 Winter Wellness Walk: Nature’s Nurture; get moving, get outdoors, and get connected to nature and others during a brisk walk with stimulating conversation; 10:30 a.m.
Penn Libraries
Various locations. Info and to register: https://www.library.upenn.edu/events.
9 Open Studio Session: Time in the Revolutionary Era; learn how to print your own copy of a broadside about how the pace of time impacted life in the Revolutionary era; 2-4 p.m.; Common Press, Fisher Fine Arts Library.
16 Reinterpreting the Declaration: A Creative Typesetting Workshop; in this creative typesetting workshop, the Declaration text will be split amongst registered participants, and each participant will have the freedom to choose to include, edit, or redact the words in their segment; noon-5 p.m.; Common Press, Fisher Fine Arts Library.
20 Reimagining Illumination: Light in Artists’ Books; look at the many ways that modern artists make use of light in their book creations—including transparencies, reflections, and electric light; 2-4 p.m.; room 623, Van Pelt Library.
21 Manuscript Studies Interest Group: Recipes; a regular meeting for people who want to get up close and personal with a variety of handwritten artifacts in the libraries’ collections; 2 p.m.; room 623, Van Pelt Library.
24 Isaiah Collier & Keyon Harrold; performance by an innovative trumpeter whose expressive sound blends jazz, Afrobeat, rock, blues, and hip-hop, together on a bill with saxophonist and jazz prodigy Isaiah Collier; 7:30 p.m.; Zellerbach Theater, Annenberg Center; tickets: $41-$93; register: https://tickets.pennlivearts.org/0/97810 (Penn Live Arts).
29 Ruckus with Davóne Tines: What is Your Hand in This?; intrepid early music ensemble Ruckus and singer Davóne Tines deliver the bite of America’s earliest revolutionary music, time-traveling through four centuries of reimagined songs, hymns and dance tunes; 7 p.m.; Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, 19 S 38th Street; tickets: $55; register: https://tickets.pennlivearts.org/0/97820 (Penn Live Arts).
16 Dance Theatre of Harlem; a dynamic force in the dance world brings unprecedented relevance to classical ballet with cutting-edge new works and timeless masterpieces performed by exceptionally trained dancers; 7:30 p.m.; Zellerbach Theatre, Annenberg Center; tickets: $59-$119; register: https://tickets.pennlivearts.org/0/97790 (Penn Live Arts). Also January 17, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; January 18, 2 p.m.
23 Alcoléa & Cie: Right in the Eye; celebration of Georges Méliès, a pioneer of the cinema and inventor of special effects, that adds an original, multi-layered score to complement and interpret twelve of his otherwise silent films; 7:30 p.m.; Harold Prince Theatre, Annenberg Center; tickets: $57; register: https://tickets.pennlivearts.org/0/97736 (Penn Live Arts).
Kelly Writers House
In-person events at Kelly Writers House. Info and to register: https://writing.upenn.edu/wh/calendar/0126.php.
22 Mind of Winter; homemade soups and stews followed by winter-themed readings selected by KWH community members; 5:30 p.m.
26 Live at the Writers House; monthly radio show produced at the KWH in collaboration with WXPN; 6:30 p.m.
27 New Poems for the New Year; a reading by members of Suppose an Eyes, a poetry workshop sponsored by the Kelly Writers House; 6 p.m.
28 Speakeasy Open Mic Night; student-run open mic night that welcomes all kinds of readings and performances; 7 p.m.
29 The Classroom and the Crowd; Al Filreis, English; 6 p.m.
31 CultureFest! Lunar New Year; experience vibrant Asian traditions during a full day of festivities, including storytelling, artmaking, live music and dance performances, and a traditional Lion Dance finale; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Penn Museum; included with museum admission; register: https://www.penn.museum/calendar/888/culturefest (Penn Museum).
Home games only. Info and tickets: https://pennathletics.com/calendar.
3 Women’s Basketball vs. Princeton; 2 p.m.; the Palestra.
10 Men’s Swimming vs. Yale; 11 a.m.; Sheerr Pool.
Men’s Swimming vs. Dartmouth; 11 a.m.; Sheerr Pool.
Women’s Swimming vs. Yale; 11 a.m.; Sheerr Pool.
Women’s Swimming vs. Dartmouth; 11 a.m.; Sheerr Pool.
Men’s Basketball vs. Brown; 2 p.m.; the Palestra.
17 Women’s Basketball vs. Harvard; 2 p.m.; the Palestra.
19 Women’s Basketball vs. Dartmouth; 2 p.m.; the Palestra.
22 Men’s Swimming vs. La Salle; 5 p.m.; Sheerr Pool.
24 Men’s Basketball vs. Yale; 2 p.m.; the Palestra.
25 Wrestling vs. Columbia; 1 p.m.; the Palestra.
30 Women’s Basketball vs. Cornell; 6 p.m.; the Palestra.
31 Women’s Basketball vs. Columbia; 5 p.m.; the Palestra.
7 Archaeology in Action: Revealing Hidden History; Jason Herrmann, anthropology; 7 p.m.; online webinar; tickets: $15/general, $9/members; register: https://www.penn.museum/calendar/877/archaeology-in-action (Penn Museum).
8 Informative Ordeals in Healthcare: Prior Authorization of Drugs in Medicaid; LJ Ristovska, University of Texas-Austin; 10 a.m.; room 1104, Blockley Hall, and Zoom webinar; join: https://upenn.zoom.us/j/95740259034 (Medical Ethics & Health Policy).
12 Establishment of Malaria Infection: Exploring Transmission Dynamics and Host-Parasite Interactions at the Inoculation Site; Photini Sinnis, Johns Hopkins University; noon; room 132, Hill Pavilion, and Zoom webinar; join: https://upenn.zoom.us/j/91485597704 (Penn Vet).
13 A Demographic Future Without Children? Hans-Peter Kohler, sociology; noon; room 473, McNeil Building, and Zoom webinar; register: https://tinyurl.com/kohler-talk-jan-13 (Penn Association of Senior & Emeritus Faculty).
Research Issues Arising in Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Dementias; Jason Karlawish, medicine and medical ethics & health policy; noon; room B102AB, Richards Building, and Zoom webinar; register: https://tinyurl.com/karlawish-talk-jan-13 (Medical Ethics & Health Policy).
Stress Testing Markets for Cardiac Care; Yashaswini Singh, Brown University; noon; auditorium, Colonial Penn Center; register: https://ldi.upenn.edu/events/research-seminar-with-yashaswini-singh-phd/ (Leonard Davis Institute).
15 Immune-Based therapies for HIV Cure: Understanding and Targeting the Mechanisms of HIV Persistence; Mirko Paiardini, Emory University; noon; online webinar; info: https://www.med.upenn.edu/cfar/seminar-series/ (Center for AIDS Research).
Synthetic Circuits for Recording Cell Histories; Junhong Choi, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; noon; room 109, Leidy Laboratory, and Zoom webinar; info: https://tinyurl.com/choi-talk-jan-15 (Biology).
Common Sense at 250: A Panel Discussion; Emma Hart, history; Sophia Rosenfeld, history; Duncan Watts, Stevens University professor; 5:30 p.m.; Class of 1978 Orrery Pavilion, Van Pelt Library, and Zoom webinar; register: https://tinyurl.com/global-disc-jan-15 (Penn Libraries, Global Discovery Series).
16 Drug Pricing in Trump 2.0: Where Are We and What’s Ahead? Avik Roy, Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity; Rachel Sachs, Washington University; Marta Wosinska, Brookings Institution; noon; online webinar; register: https://tinyurl.com/ldi-talk-jan-16 (Leonard Davis Institute).
Multiscale Fluid, Sediment, and Biota Interactions in Aquatic Ecosystems; Judy Yang, University of Minnesota Twin Cities; 3 p.m.; room 358, Hayden Hall (Earth & Environmental Science).
20 25th MLK Jr. Social Justice Lecture & Award; Spike Lee, actor and filmmaker; 5:30 p.m.; Zellerbach Theater, Annenberg Center; register: https://tinyurl.com/lee-talk-jan-20 (Africana Studies).
21 One Health@Penn Research Community Work in Progress Series: Vectors and Climate Change; Sara Cherry, pathology & laboratory medicine; Carol Sobotyk, Penn Vet; noon; Zoom webinar; join: https://tinyurl.com/cherry-sobotyk-jan-21 (Penn Vet).
22 From Colony to Independence: How Missionaries Influenced American Perceptions of Korea; Hannah Kim, University of Delaware; noon; suite 310, 3600 Market Street (Korean Studies).
Identity and Well-Being; Amy Hillier, SP2; DeMarcus A. Jenkins, SP2 and Annenberg School; 4:30 p.m.; room 250, PCPSE (SP2 and Andrea Mitchell Center for the Study of Democracy).
The Trouble with Buddhist Gifts: The Ethics of Ritual Care in Contemporary Japan; Paulina Kolata, Harvard University; 5:15 p.m.; room 111, Annenberg School (Center for East Asian Studies, Religious Studies).
26 Social Network Biology; Nicholas Christakis, Yale University; 3:30 p.m.; auditorium, Levin Building (Psychology).
27 Organ Diversion or Match Run Deviation? Ethical Considerations in Allocation Out of Sequence; Andrew M. Courtwright, University of Utah; noon; Zoom webinar; register: https://tinyurl.com/cartwright-talk-jan-27 (Medical Ethics & Health Policy).
SOSIP-Trimer/mRNA Combination for Novel Preventive and Therapeutic HIV-1 Vaccine Regimens; Wilton Bryan Williams, Duke University; 4 p.m.; location TBA; info: https://www.med.upenn.edu/cfar/seminar-series/ (Center for AIDS Research).
The Messiness of Independence; Emily Sneff, Declaration of Independence historian; 5:30 p.m.; Class of 1978 Orrery Pavilion, Van Pelt Library; register: www.library.upenn.edu/events/messiness-independence (Penn Libraries).
The Performance of Translation: Journeys in Afro-Diasporic Women’s Modernisms; Rosie Poku, Africana studies & comparative literature; 5:30 p.m.; room 329A, Max Kade Center; register: https://tinyurl.com/poku-talk-jan-27 (Africana Studies).
29 The Black Space Project; Charles L. Davis II, University of Texas at Austin; noon; Upper Gallery, Meyerson Hall; register: https://www.design.upenn.edu/events/black-space-project (Historic Preservation).
Disentangling Genocide from Proportionality: Understanding the Dangerous Assault on International Law; Claire Finkelstein, Penn Carey Law School; noon; Zoom webinar; register: https://tinyurl.com/finkelstein-talk-jan-29 (Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies).
Fragmented Insurance and Billing Frictions: Understanding Denied Health Insurance Claims; Riley League, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; noon; auditorium, Colonial Penn Center; register: https://ldi.upenn.edu/events/research-seminar-with-riley-league-phd/ (Leonard Davis Institute).
A “Critical Somatopolitics” of “Seal Skins from the Bottom of the Sea”? Ancient Aquatic Bodies in Modern Film Horror; Benjamin Eldon Stevens, Bryn Mawr College; 4:45 p.m.; room 402, Cohen Hall (Classical Studies).
30 Life in a Fifth-Century Greek Colonial World: Metaponto Between Narratives and Practices; Maddalena Scarperi, ancient history; noon; room 344, Fisher-Bennett Hall (Gender, Sexuality & Women’s Studies).
Labour Costs, Wage Bargaining, and Technological Change: Evidence for Skilled Work from Early Industrialising England, 1760-1840; Judy Stephenson, University College London; 2 p.m.; room 209, College Hall (History).