Two women smile and enjoy themselves indoors near the Segerstrom Performing Arts Center Costa Mesa; one in a red jacket looks to the side, while the other, in a black hat and denim jacket, holds up a phone to capture the moment with trees visible outside.

Art happens here. Everywhere.

Arts & Culture in Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa turns every turn into a creative moment. From massive murals and interactive public art to inventive gallery spaces and local exhibitions, the city’s culture is impossible to ignore. Explore at your own pace, stumble into surprises, and see how art in Costa Mesa is meant to be felt, not just viewed.

See. Do. Discover. Repeat.

Ready for a little bit of everything, all in one city? Tap through to find the spots that make Costa Mesa the City of the Arts^®, from exhibitions to performances, public art to hidden gems.

The Segerstrom Performing Arts Center Costa Mesa features a modern concert hall with curved glass walls, illuminated at night alongside a brightly lit fountain in the foreground and downtown buildings in the background.

Costa Mesa, City of the Arts^®

We didn’t stumble into the title “City of the Arts^®”—we earned it. Costa Mesa is what happens when the arts are a priority. Creativity isn’t on the sidelines here: it’s the city’s beating heart.

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Three people sit indoors by a large window at the Segerstrom Performing Arts Center Costa Mesa. One woman takes a photo with her phone, another smiles and looks right, while a man looks up. Trees and sky are visible outside.

The Artful Side of Costa Mesa

Discover Costa Mesa, the City of the Arts^®, where creativity leads the way. Wander your way through walkable streets filled with little shops, performing arts, and inspiration at every turn.

A conductor in a dark suit stands on a podium, leading an orchestra during a performance at the Segerstrom Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa. Musicians with instruments and music stands surround him as he gestures expressively.

Pacific Symphony Appoints New Artistic & Music Director

Costa Mesa welcomes a new era of musical artistry as Alexander Shelley takes the podium as Pacific Symphony’s Artistic and Music Director, bringing global experience, fresh energy, and a passion for connecting communities through music.

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Where the stage comes alive.

Costa Mesa’s performing arts pulse through world-class productions, compelling concerts, and unforgettable nights under the spotlight. Segerstrom Center for the Arts presents Broadway favorites, orchestras, dance, and more.

Night view of Segerstrom Hall and the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at the Segerstrom Performing Arts Center Costa Mesa, showcasing modern architecture, large glass windows, tall banners, and a vibrant, lit fountain in a lively plaza.

Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

A modern circular reflecting pool with a metallic edge sits in front of light-colored contemporary buildings and trees near the Samueli Theater in Costa Mesa, under a clear blue sky.

Samueli Theater

A tall white metal sculpture with the letters SCR stands in front of trees and a modern glass building under a blue sky at the Segerstrom Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa.

South Coast Repertory

A modern building, Segerstrom Hall in Orange County, features a large circular cutout and illuminated fountain in front, surrounded by palm trees and city lights, photographed at dusk.

Segerstrom Hall and Judy Morr Theater

Costa Mesa Playhouse

Streets that draw you in.

Costa Mesa doesn’t wait for you to find the art—it finds you. Public art like murals, interactive sculptures, and quirky outdoor installations pop up around every corner, turning streets, parks, and outside spaces into a playground for curiosity.

Fire Bird

A large, abstract yellow sculpture shaped like a spiral stands outdoors on a concrete plaza along the Costa Mesa Art Walk, surrounded by grass, trees, and modern glass buildings under a partly cloudy sky.

The Ram

A modern outdoor courtyard in Costa Mesa, California, features large stone slabs, scattered boulders, a shallow stream, and minimal landscaping, all enclosed by high white walls under a bright sky with scattered clouds.

California Scenario (Noguchi Garden)

Connector

FEATURED

Your walk, your gallery.

Stroll through Costa Mesa’s Art Walk and discover over 20 public murals and interactive sculptures. Follow the free audio tour and see the city in a whole new way.

Explore the Art Walk

A woman and man take a selfie in front of a colorful mural near Segerstrom Performing Arts Center Costa Mesa, featuring a large portrait of a smiling blonde woman in a sparkling blue outfit, surrounded by bright flowers and birds.

Orange text reads CA in the center, with ORANGE curved above and COUNTY curved below, forming a circular stamp-like design on a white background, inspired by the vibrant culture near Segerstrom Performing Arts Center Costa Mesa.

Museum days, but make them legendary.

From contemporary galleries at UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art to hands-on science at the OCC Planetarium, Costa Mesa turns a museum visit into an adventure. Explore, stumble, and let curiosity take the lead. Learning has never been this fun.

A woman in a floral skirt walks outside a modern building with white, geometric architecture, large windows, and a staircase on the left side of the image.

UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art

Bowers Museum

A modern building with bold, colorful wave patterns on its exterior walls, tall glass entrance, and geometric shapes, surrounded by palm trees and landscaping under a clear sky.

Discovery Cube Orange County

A paved walkway lined with pillars and flags leads to a tan building with a green roof near the Segerstrom Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, surrounded by palm trees. A sign reads Orange County Walk of Honor beneath a slightly overcast sky.

Heroes Hall Museum

A person in a black outfit stands in an art gallery at the Segerstrom Performing Arts Center Costa Mesa, looking at colorful abstract paintings and photographs displayed on a white wall with a wooden floor.

Laguna Art Museum

A vintage silver biplane with a wooden propeller is displayed in a brightly lit Costa Mesa hangar. The aircraft’s exposed engine and landing gear are visible, with other planes showcased in the background.

Lyon Air Museum

The exterior of the well-lit Segerstrom Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa showcases grand columns, large glass doors, and steps leading up, all beautifully illuminated at night with reflections shimmering on the wet ground.

Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum

Vibrant purple flowers in the foreground with a circular fountain and water jets in the background, surrounded by a garden.

Sherman Library & Gardens

A red Ferrari sports car is parked indoors next to a yellow Ferrari and other cars, with posters on the white walls and a glossy concrete floor reflecting the vehicles.

Marconi Automotive Museum

Where the beats drop. Again and again.

From local bands to world-class concerts, Costa Mesa’s music scene offers something for every ear and every mood. Tap your toes to intimate performances, catch a headline show, or wander between venues discovering the city’s rhythm.

A conductor in a tuxedo stands on stage at the Segerstrom Performing Arts Center Costa Mesa, leading an orchestra. Musicians with sheet music sit before him, while the dimly lit concert hall hosts an attentive audience in the background.

Pacific Symphony

A conductor and a pianist stand in front of a grand piano on stage at Segerstrom Performing Arts Center Costa Mesa, holding hands as they acknowledge the audience. Orchestra members stand behind them with their instruments, smiling and clapping.

Philharmonic Society of Orange County

A large choir stands on risers in a concert hall, all wearing black outfits and holding sheet music, while a conductor leads them from the front at the Segerstrom Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa.

Pacific Chorale

Explore what’s happening around town.

September 19, 2026–October 18, 2026

Into the Woods

A person with long hair and a red hat smiles while holding a cheeseburger with toppings, shown up close in a casual indoor setting.

September 20, 2026–September 26, 2026

Orange County Burger Week

A person in dark clothing holds a rectangular white plate with several small appetizers made of crispy potato chips, garnished with chopped chives.

October 2, 2026–October 4, 2026

Relish: A Food, Wine and Spirits Experience

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Three women pose and smile in front of a large mural with handwritten text about art, perfect for a Costa Mesa travel blog. Another person with curly hair faces them, possibly taking a photo. The mural is on a tan wall with greenery above.

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Two women sit on outdoor steps, chatting near the Orange County Museum of Art—a modern, angular building with large windows and a unique architectural design—under a bright blue sky with wispy clouds.

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