Brookline Ushers in 2026 with Arts, Culture, and Community Events
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Brookline, Massachusetts, is poised to welcome 2026 with a diverse array of events catering to a wide range of interests, from film enthusiasts and yoga practitioners to families and music lovers. The town’s offerings, spanning from December 29, 2025, through January 4, 2026, promise a vibrant start to the new year.
A Cinematic Start to the New Year
Coolidge Corner Theatre is central to Brookline’s cultural celebrations. From Monday, December 29, 2025, through Thursday, January 1, 2026, the theater will showcase films as part of its “Spotlight on Women” program, highlighting female talent both in front of and behind the camera. Featured is “Hamnet,” an untold love story inspiring Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, and directed by Academy Award winner Chloé Zhao. Showings will run frequently, from 11:15 a.m. to 10:05 p.m., with tickets priced between $14 and $15.
For late-night moviegoers, the “After Midnite” series continues on Friday, January 2, 2026, with a screening of “In Cold Blood (1967),” followed by “The House with Laughing Windows” on Saturday, January 3, 2026. These screenings begin at 11:59 p.m. and cost $17 per ticket.
Community and Wellness Offerings
Beyond the silver screen, Brookline residents can embrace the new year with a focus on wellness and community. On Wednesday, December 31, 2025, Shawna Lemelman will host “Ring Out the Old, Ring In the Ohm,” a spirited vinyasa yoga class at the Down Under School of Yoga. The class, priced at $40 and running from 10:30 p.m. to 11:59 p.m., aims to provide a revitalizing experience as attendees transition into 2026.
Family-Friendly Fun and Cultural Enrichment
The new year also brings a wealth of activities for families. From Thursday, January 1, 2026, through Sunday, January 4, 2026, the Puppet Showplace Theater will present “Vacation Week Palooza: Peter Rabbit,” a modern adaptation of the classic tale featuring hand puppets, live voices, and audience participation. Tickets are $18 for showings at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
On Friday, January 2, 2026, children and families can enjoy a free magic show concert with Bonaparte the Magician at the Coolidge Corner Library, starting at 2:00 p.m. Tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 1:30 p.m.
Music, Conversation, and Continued Community Engagement
Brookline’s cultural scene extends beyond performances. POSTunderground, a live jazz club, will reopen this Friday and remain open every Friday in January, offering a venue for local musicians and jazz enthusiasts. Admission is free.
Throughout the week, residents can also participate in a free Italian conversation group at the Coolidge Corner Library on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at 1:30 p.m., and a community choral music discussion and participatory singing event on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at 361 Washington Street. A Taiwanese storytime event, filled with songs and stories, will also be held at the Coolidge Corner Library on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at 10:30 a.m.
Finally, on Sunday, January 4, 2026, the Brookline Indigenous Peoples Celebration Committee will host a bi-monthly Indigenous Authors Book Club over Zoom, focusing on Joy Harjo’s “Weaving Sundown in a Scarlet Light.” The event will run from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and is free to attend.
These diverse offerings underscore Brookline’s commitment to fostering a vibrant and inclusive community as it steps into 2026.
