The university regularly presents a rich variety of cultural programs for education and entertainment. Whether you enjoy Beethoven symphonies and traditional Japanese gardens or prefer 80s metal and avant-garde performance art—there’s sure to be something for you in Champaign-Urbana.

Krannert Center for the Performing Arts presents the world’s finest dance, music and theater alongside performances by emerging artists. Ellie McGrath, former education editor of Time described Krannert Center as having "arguably the best performing arts facilities in the nation." The facility has four indoor theaters and an open-air amphitheater. Over 350 performances are presented annually.

The Assembly Hall presents popular performers and shows—recent events include Broadway performances of Rent, and Miss Saigon, concerts by Kenny Chesney, Cher, Evanescence, and Ludacris, the Barnum and Bailey Circus, and monster trucks—all under the world’s largest edge-supported dome. The Illini Union presents smaller bands and nationally recognized comedians.

The campus’s main museums are the Krannert Art Museum, second only to the Art Institute of Chicago in size and value of collections among museums in Illinois, and the Spurlock Museum, housing collections of artifacts from cities and civilizations from all parts of the world. A diversity of cultural perspectives is provided by Japan House, La Casa Cultural Latina, the African-American Cultural Program, and many other campus units.