Events Newsletter 2025-26

This Week at Columbia: Events & Opportunities 1/27 - 2/6

January 27, 2026
University Life Events & Opportunities on a pink background

Dear Students,

We hope your semester is off to a great start. Welcome Week is still in full swing, and we hope to see you at one or more of the events below! 

University Life Events
All events listed below are in Eastern Time (ET), free, and open to all students across all schools and campuses.

  • Game Night (CUIMC) (In-Person). Bring a partner or come solo, pull up a chair, and try your hand at a few easygoing board games on the CUIMC campus. TODAY, January 27, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Register here.
  • Warm Up with Chai & Colors (In-Person). Warm up from the January cold with a cup of chai and watercolor painting at this cozy and creative get-together designed to support relaxation. Wednesday, January 28, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. Register Here. 
  • Reset & Reimagine: A New Year Vision Board Event (In-Person). Set the tone for 2026 by creating a vision board full of inspiration, goals, and dreams. Thursday, January 29, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Register here. 
  • Grad Networking: Matcha & Mingle (In-Person). Meet fellow graduate students, grow your network, and enjoy a delicious cup of matcha with The Graduate Initiative. Thursday, January 29, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Register here.
  • Make One, Take One: A Tiny Gift Exchange (In-Person). Brighten someone’s day by joining The Graduate Initiative for a cozy, creative gathering where you can make small handmade items to leave as a gift for another student or take a surprise creation in return. Friday, January 30, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. Register here. 
  • Open Write Night (In-Person). Share the words that mean the most to you in a relaxed space. Short stories, poetry, anecdotes, songs, and other reflective pieces are welcome. Friday, January 30, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. Register here. 
  • Community Connections: Letter to My Future Self (BHM Celebration) (In-Person). Join this creative, contemplative space to write a letter to your future self. Reflect on your lived experiences, identity, and future aspirations, while looking ahead to what’s still to come. All students are welcome. Wednesday, February 4, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. Register here. 
  • Make Space: A Self-Care Crafting Series – Wooble & Unwind (In-Person). Kick off our Make Space series by letting your stress unravel with beginner-friendly Wooble Crochet Kits! Come hang out, grab a snack, and enjoy a new hobby. Wednesday, February 4, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Register here. 
  • Success Workshop: Navigating Disability Disclosure Conversations (In-Person). Join The Graduate Initiative and Disability Services, for an interactive discussion on navigating disability disclosure conversations, led by Michele McGrath and Daryl Axelrod. This workshop offers practical strategies, tools, and language to help you approach conversations with faculty, employers, and other professional settings with confidence and clarity. Thursday, February 5, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. Register here. 
     

University Life Opportunities

  • Yoga Class (In-Person). Take a break to relax and refresh with yoga in Earl Hall. Please bring your own mat and arrive 10 minutes early to sign in and set up. There is a 5 minute late policy; doors close at 6:35 p.m. Thursday, January 29, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Register here. 
  • Coffee, Conversations, and Spirituality (In-Person). Join Religious Life for coffee, breakfast, and exploration of big questions about life, meaning, and purpose. No beliefs required, just bring your sense of connection and curiosity. Friday, January 30, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Register here. 
     

More Events and Opportunities Happening Around Campus
The events below are only some of the free, University-wide events open to all students. For a full list of events, visit the University Events Calendar.

  • Dine Across NYC (In-Person). Join other students across the city in small, casual dinner settings hosted by alumni in their homes, favorite restaurants, or other venues. Learn from Columbia alumni experiences, make connections, and enjoy a complimentary meal. Monday, February 2 - Friday, February 6. Times Vary. Register here. 
  • Pop-Up Concerts: Trinket Ensemble (In-Person). Experience the debut of Trinket Ensemble, a vibrant new voice in the contemporary chamber music scene. Doors open at 5:30, onstage seating is first-come, first-served. Tuesday, January 27, 6:00 p.m. Learn more. 
  • Crafts on the Corner (In-Person). Unwind, meet more of our community, and practice your drawing skills at the Lee C. Bollinger Forum in Manhattanville. All materials provided and all students are welcome. Wednesday, January 28, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Register here. 
  • Creative Writing Lecture with Ghassan Zeineddine (In-Person). Listen to author and professor Ghassan Zeineddine, whose acclaimed book Dearborn has been internationally celebrated, and learn more about craft, storytelling, and the power of sharing lived experience. Wednesday, January 28, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. Register here. 
  • Screening of The Count of Monte Cristo (In-Person). Don’t miss this free screening of Alexander Dumas’ classic work Le Comte de Monte-Cristo, courtesy of Albertine Cinémathèque. Seating is first come, first served. Thursday, January 29, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Register here. 
  • Insurance after Graduation (Virtual). If you’re a recent graduate or graduating this semester, join this 20-minute information session to get the essentials on staying covered after the Columbia Plan ends. Q&A to follow. Thursday, January 29, 2:00 - 2:30 p.m. Register here. 
  • Learn How to Learn to Code: Python (In-Person). Try your hand with this hands-on Python workshop. Learn the basics, code along with the instructor, and leave ready to continue your programming journey. Friday, January 30, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Register here.
  • "Hubert Harrison: Forbidden Genius of Black Radicalism," A Book Talk (In-Person). Please join the Herbert Lehman Center for American History and the Institute for Research in African-American Studies for a discussion with Brian Kwoba of his biography of Hubert H. Harrison, a long-forgotten founder of Black radical thought. The conversation will be moderated by Brent Hayes Edwards. Monday, February 2, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Register here. 
     

Campus Resources to Support You

  • Stay Warm During the Winter Weather. This week’s temperatures are icy, so now is the perfect time to make sure you have the essentials prepared in case of ice, snow, and wind with this practical guide to managing New York City’s winter. Explore tips to help you stay cozy, safe, and make the most of the season. Learn more. 
  • Sign up with WellHub. Columbia has partnered with the Wellhub app to bring you discounted access to a wide variety of health-related apps, gyms, and workout classes near campus or home. Register with your Columbia email address to unlock your access and explore plans that fit your budget (including free and low-cost options!). Learn more. 
     

Wishing you all the best, 
University Life