Playing is as universal as anything in the human experience.
We play as children to learn cultural norms, social bonds and how to handle life’s ups and downs. We play as adults for recreation, passion and competition. We play at any age to add richness and joy to our lives. Whether simple or complex, alone or together, playing is ubiquitous.
This fall, the College of Humanities will explore Play as the theme of the annual Tucson Humanities Festival.
With the World Cup capturing the attention of sports fans globally all summer, 2026 is the perfect year to think about all the ways in which playing is intertwined with human cultures, said Alain-Philippe Durand, Dorrance Dean of the College of Humanities. Durand, who attended three of France’s matches, said soccer will be among the many topics discussed at the festival.
“All around the world, you can’t escape it. You go to the stadium because it’s your team, it’s your nation. It’s something everybody can enjoy together. Sports, and soccer in particular, can definitely unite people,” Durand said. “But beyond that, the Tucson Humanities Festival will dive into many aspects of what it means to play. We’ll examine global perspectives on the worlds of comics, cosplay, video games, improvisational music and dance, and the wide world of online play.”
The festival will feature a conversation with Wildcat legend (and College of Humanities alumnus) Steve Kerr and Head Coach Tommy Lloyd, moderated by Durand, about the impact of a global mindset and how it has shaped their coaching and leadership styles, a salon featuring faculty from across the college presenting on their research and teaching, a panel about the intersections of sports and society, and more.
Coinciding with National Arts & Humanities Month, the Tucson Humanities Festival began in 2009 as Humanities Week and has grown into a monthlong series of guest speakers and special events.
“Playing is at the heart of human culture and meaning. It’s what adds joy to our lives, so what could be more enjoyable as a theme for the Humanities Festival?” Durand said. “The humanities can provide insight into every aspect of the way we live and this year, we wanted to shine a light on something that crosses all boundaries and can put smiles on everyone’s faces.”
TUCSON HUMANITIES FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Steve Kerr & Tommy Lloyd: Lessons from Around the World
Friday, Sept. 18, 6 p.m.
Bear Down Building
Join Wildcat legend Steve Kerr and Head Coach Tommy Lloyd, fresh off a Final Four season and National Coach of the Year honors, for a wide-ranging conversation about the impact of a global mindset and how it has shaped their coaching and leadership styles. Born in Beirut, Kerr lived in the Middle East and Europe for much of his childhood, which sparked a curiosity about the world, a love of travel and a lifelong embrace of cultural diversity. Lloyd, who played professionally in Australia and Germany, celebrated his honeymoon backpacking around the world before developing a reputation as the leading international recruiter in college basketball. Dorrance Dean Alain-Philippe Durand will moderate a discussion about how experiences around the world have impacted their lives, on and off the court.
Tickets start from $25 and support the Kerr Family Endowment for Humanities Abroad, which provides study abroad scholarships for humanities students.
Straight to the Goal: The Intersections of Sports and Humanities
Tuesday, Oct. 6, 6 p.m.
Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine
Look no further than the pride and fever of fandom that spread around the globe during this summer’s World Cup competition to see just how impactful sports can be on culture. From the perspective of the humanities, sports and games are connected to numerous aspects of our societies. Sports carry hopes and dreams and find their way to the core of civic or even national identity. Moderated by Dorrance Dean Alain-Philippe Durand, the panelists will share their perspectives on the interdisciplinary connections that can be found between sports, the humanities and a variety of other disciplines.
Panelists: Fabrizio Conti, Lecturer in History, John Cabot University; Anastasiya Ghosh, Associate Dean, Partnerships, Eller College of Management; and Lazz Kinnamon, Lecturer, Interdisciplinary Studies
A Global Playground: Humanities Abroad Fair & Café
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
U of A Mall
A humanities education is a passport to the world! Drop by for activities and information about the world of possibilities at the College of Humanities. Learn about faculty-led study abroad programs in destinations across the globe – and the variety of scholarships available for humanities students to make those trips possible. Meet our faculty, advisors and student ambassadors and enjoy free beverages and snacks.
The Game at the End of the World: A Reading with Francisco Cantú and Juan Villaro
Thursday, Oct. 15, 7 p.m.
U of A Poetry Center
Celebrated Mexican author Juan Villoro’s new book explores soccer (football, fútbol, fußball) through the elements that make it the world’s favorite pastime: its ancient origins, mythic players, exhilarating matches, endemic rivalries, and the unlikely moments in which football has changed history. Through the work of translator Francisco Cantú, the book’s reach, like the sport itself, expands across borders and languages. An award-winning journalist, Villoro is the author of more than 40 books. Cantú is the author of The Line Becomes a River, a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award.
The Range of Play: Humanities Faculty Salon
Thursday, Oct. 22, 5:30 p.m.
U of A Poetry Center
Faculty members from across the College of Humanities will give brief presentations discussing games and play from a variety of perspectives. Come explore the global perspectives on the worlds of comics, cosplay, video games, improvisational music and dance, and the wide world of online play. After presentations, guests will have an opportunity to mingle and engage in dynamic conversations with these faculty and others who are at the top of their field. Meet the scholars who are global leaders in innovative humanities teaching and research!
Featuring: Ken McAllister, Associate Dean, Research & Program Innovation; Manuela Luengas Solano, Assistant Professor, Spanish & Portuguese; Reneé Reynolds, Associate Professor of Practice, Public & Applied Humanities; Martin Sheehan, Department Head, German Studies; Sunyoung Yang, Associate Professor, East Asian Studies; and Praise Zenenga, Department Head, Africana Studies.
Homerathon & the Odyssey: Toying with Tradition
Wednesday, Nov. 4, 6 p.m.
U of A Poetry Center
Presented by the Classics program and the Classics Club, the annual day-long reading of a Homeric epic will feature a series of faculty mini-lectures at 6 p.m., highlighting the way the Odyssey plays with Greek myths and the way later adaptations play with the Odyssey. The earliest pieces of literature in Europe, the Iliad and the Odyssey have inspired countless works of art and literature from ancient statues to Hollywood blockbusters. The timeless themes of cleverness, honor, family what it means to be civilized, and the hero’s journey explore the nature of our shared humanity across boundaries of time, space and culture.
The marathon reading begins at 8 a.m. in the Poetry Center Hillman Odeum. Drop in anytime throughout the day as we read aloud the entirety of the Odyssey. The reading will pause at 6 p.m. for the lecture, and will resume afterwards until we finish the poem around 10 p.m.