Events Newsletter 2026 - 27

This Week at Columbia: Events & Opportunities 8/25 - 9/18

August 25, 2026
University Life, Events & Opportunities text on a pink background

Dear Students,

We’re excited to welcome you back to campus and hope you had a summer filled with opportunities to relax, recharge, and enjoy the season. While we are counting down the days until the first day of classes, we invite you to take a look at the exciting Welcome Week lineup below and sign up for what interests you most!

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

  • University Life Resource Fair (In-Person). Visit Butler Lawn for the annual University Life Resource Fair to explore campus resources, meet new people, and discover ways to get involved from day one. Tuesday, September 8, 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Learn more about the University Life Resource Fair. 
  • Speed Friending: Endless Summer Social (In-Person). Hold on to summer just a little longer at this fun-filled mixer. Make new friends, enjoy seasonal treats, and complete a beach-themed scavenger hunt for some interactive activities and connection-building. Tuesday, September 8, 5:00 - 7:30 p.m. Register for Speed Friending: Endless Summer Social. 
  • Religious Life Activities Fair (In-Person). Interested in spiritual life at Columbia? Come to St. Paul's Chapel plaza to learn about resources, connect with student groups, and meet different faith leaders on campus. Wednesday, September 9, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Learn more about the Religious Life Activities Fair. 
  • Arts in New York: MoMA Scavenger Hunt (In-Person). Explore the iconic Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and discover new favorites, new friendships, and fun facts through a scavenger hunt. Friday, September 11, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Register for the Arts in New York: MoMA Scavenger Hunt.
  • Columbia Serves: Fort Tryon Cleanup (In-Person). Help keep Fort Tryon beautiful alongside the Fort Tryon Park volunteer organization for a morning spent giving back to the community. Afterward, enjoy a meal together with new friends! Saturday, September 12, 9:45 - 11:30 a.m. Register here for the Columbia Serves: Fort Tryon Cleanup. 
  • Find a Friend: Threaded Together (In-Person). Interested in the fiber arts (knitting, crocheting, sewing, you name it!) and looking to meet new friends? Head to Earl Hall Auditorium and bring your latest project or try your hand at one of ours, and stitch together new connections. Monday, September 14, 4:00 - 6:30 p.m. Register here for the Find a Friend: Threaded Together.
  • Religious Life Information Session (In-Person). Head to Earl Hall for dinner, easy conversation, and an introduction to Religious Life at Columbia. Learn about student groups, prayer and meditation spaces, interfaith programs, campus faith leaders, and more! Tuesday, September 15, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Register here for the Religious Life Information Session. 
  • Find a Friend: Film Fanatics (In-Person). Swap Letterboxd recommendations and discuss your favorites with fellow film-lovers. Decorate your own popcorn bucket, enjoy movie snacks, and test your film knowledge with trivia featuring cult classics, recent releases, international cinema, and iconic movie quotes. Wednesday, September 16, 5:00 - 7:30 p.m. Register here for Find a Friend: Film Fanatics.
  • Grad Networking: Lattes and Creative Connections (In-Person). No matter where you are in your Columbia journey, you’re invited to Dear Mama Cafe to meet graduate students from across the University whose work is shaped by creativity, innovation, and new ways of thinking. Through guided conversations, explore how ideas and perspectives from one discipline might spark possibilities in another. Thursday, September 17, 5:00 - 7:30 p.m. Register here for Grad Networking: Lattes and Creative Connections.
  • Sacred Music at Columbia (In-Person). Join Religious Life at St. Paul’s Chapel for this free, weekly concert series featuring artists and musicians from across the globe. Thursday, September 17, 6:00 p.m. Learn more about Sacred Music at Columbia. 
  • Wind Down Weekdays: Paddling Pals - A Kayak Excursion (In-Person). Looking to explore NYC’s outdoors? Join us and Manhattan Kayak at the Pier 84 Boathouse for a watery excursion on the Hudson River. Friday, September 18, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Register here for Wind Down Weekdays: Paddling Pals - A Kayak Excursion .
  • Student Parents: Come Connect and Celebrate! (In-Person). Connect with the Center for Student Success and Intervention (CSSI) for an opportunity to meet fellow student-parents who are navigating the unique experience of balancing academics, family, and campus life while building a supportive community. Friday, September 18, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. Register here for Student Parents: Come Connect and Celebrate!. 
  • Volunteer with University Life this Year! Get involved with University Life through a variety of volunteering opportunities this year, including: staffing and supporting events, sharing in focus groups, participating in campaigns and videos, and more. With no minimum time commitment, this is a great way to try something new and to engage with the broader Columbia community. Sign up here to Volunteer with University Life. 
     

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

  • Butler Library Lobby Welcome Tabling (In-Person). Get acquainted with the library systems and Columbia librarians the week before classes start and the first week of classes. Learn about research tools, study spots, and other helpful resources. 
    • Wednesday, September 2 - Thursday, September 3, 11:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. Learn more. 
    • Tuesday, September 8 - Friday, September 11, 11:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. Learn more. 
  • Learn how to Make the Most of Your Libraries in 15 Minutes (In-Person). Drop in for a 15-minute introduction about how to use your libraries. Offered at the start of every hour with time for questions.
    • Wednesday, September 2 - Thursday, September 3, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Learn more. 
    • Tuesday, September 8 - Friday, September 11, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Learn more. 
  • Fall 2026 Fitness Pass (In-Person). Fitness Pass classes are now FREE to all students with Dodge Fitness Center access. Participate in unlimited group fitness, indoor cycling, functional fitness, and yoga all semester. September 8 - December 4. Learn more about the Fall 2026 Fitness Pass. 
  • Crafts on the Corner: Sketch Sessions (In-Person). Spend some time drawing in a relaxed space. All materials provided and no previous experience needed. Wednesday, September 9, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. Learn more about Crafts on the Corner: Sketch Sessions. 
  • Get Started with Health Insurance (Online). Get familiar with the Columbia University Student Health Insurance Plan and how to make the most of it in this 20 minute session. Q&A to follow. Thursday, September 10, 2:00 - 2:30 p.m. Register here for Get Started with Health Insurance. 
  • Meet iGrad: Your Customized Financial Wellness Resource (Online). This session will provide an overview of iGrad: a free, web-based financial literacy resource that provides lifetime, personalized financial wellness education and loan management resources. Wednesday, September 16, 12:30 - 1:00 p.m. Register here for Meet iGrad: Your Customized Financial Wellness Resource. 
  • Pet Therapy (In-Person). Join Student Health on Haven and Zoe the lab from the Good Dog Foundation at Hammer Health Sciences Knowledge Center, Room 101, for a pet therapy session! All Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) students are welcome to drop-in throughout the session. Friday, September 18, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Learn more about Pet Therapy. 
  • Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training (In-Person). Are you interested in getting an MHFA certification? Similar to CPR training, MHFA teaches you the basics of how to identify, understand, and respond to common signs of mental illness and substance use disorders. *In-person components of the training will be held on the CUIMC campus for CUIMC students only, and you must attend both sessions to become certified. Friday, September 18 and Friday, September 25, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Register here for Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training. 
     

Campus Resources to Support You

  • Sign up with Wellhub! Columbia has partnered with Wellhub 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 Sign up with Wellhub. 
  • Spot the Phish Before You Bite. All Columbia students have access to the University’s security awareness training, which is powered by Arctic Wolf. This service provides introductory 5-minute modules that cover topics under social engineering, including phishing, scams, and other general awareness tips to help you practice digital safety. Learn more about digital safety. 
     

We're excited to start the fall semester with you and hope to see you soon at an upcoming event.

Wishing you all the best, 
University Life