Daily
Santa Barbara
Sunday, January 25th, 2026
Good morning, Santa Barbara. Here's your local news at a glance for Sunday, the 25th of January.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Downtown Santa Barbara Improvement Association invites proposals for creative activations on State Street in 2026 and will award up to 10 mini-grants of $250–$1,000. Local artists, nonprofits, and small businesses must submit their proposals by midnight, Feb. 9 with review scheduled on Feb. 13. Edhat
- ➤ SpaceX is set to launch a Falcon 9 carrying 25 Starlink satellites today from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Its first stage booster (its sixth flight after Sentinel-6B, Twilight, and three Starlink missions) will land on a droneship, and residents in nearby counties may hear sonic booms based on weather conditions. Edhat
- ➤ Santa Barbara Foundation has opened nominations for the 83rd Person of the Year Awards to honor outstanding local service and philanthropy. Nominations (open until Feb. 18 at 11:59 p.m.) will lead to up to two awardees celebrated at the luncheon on April 29 at the Santa Barbara Hilton Beachfront Rotunda. Edhat
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Hotel Santa Barbara kicked off its centennial year today on State Street with a ribbon-cutting hosted by the South Coast Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce. The event showcased a renovated lobby, updated guest rooms, and a new 1926 bar offering craft cocktails and specialty coffee drinks. Edhat
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ A memorial service for photographer Paul Liebhardt was held at the Unitarian Society as local students and friends celebrated his long legacy in photography and travel. A former NASA worker, Liebhardt (86) inspired his Brooks Institute and Semester at Sea classes with a unique approach to capturing human connection. KEYT
- ➤ Kyle Abello has been appointed Santa Barbara Strings' first executive director to support quality training for young string musicians. He will work with founder Mary Beth Woodruff to expand the organization’s programs. Noozhawk
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation will open online registration for 15 summer camps for children ages 5 to 17 at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 4 (offering half-day and full-day sessions in art, business, and sports) and parents are encouraged to set up accounts in advance as spots may fill. Edhat
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ County Health officials announced Friday that after a month-long closure from a sewage spill caused by a pump bypass failure during holiday rainstorms, East Beach ocean water is now safe for recreational use near the Mission Creek outfall in Santa Barbara. KEYT
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ UCSB men’s tennis won 4-1 today against No. 10 UCLA at the ITA Kickoff Weekend in Westwood (improving to 3-0) in a historic win. The team will face South Florida on Feb. 1 at 12 p.m. in its first Big Six match. KEYT
- ➤ San Marcos High boys' basketball team staged a comeback to secure a 43-41 win over Oxnard on Friday night, with Koji Hefner leading with 20 points (after a game-clinching steal). Bishop Diego clinched a Tri-Valley League title share with a 56-40 victory and Rio Mesa won 52-37 in a contest. Santa Barbara Independent
- ➤ Westmont Women’s Basketball completed a three-game sweep during their Hawaiian road trip with a 93-44 win over Chaminade as Molly Garnand recorded 35 points and 15 rebounds (career highs) in the win. The Warriors now head home and will begin five straight home games on Thursday, Jan. 29. Noozhawk
- ➤ Westmont men's basketball ended a four-game win streak with a 90-78 loss to Chaminade during their away game. The Warriors will fly home Sunday morning before starting their Thursday homestand at Murchison Gym in Santa Barbara. Noozhawk
- ➤ UCSB won 74-71 at the Pyramid on Saturday when freshman C.J. Shaw (struggling earlier) made two key baskets with 2:24 remaining and Aidan Mahaney led with 21 points (tying the team for second in the Big West). Noozhawk
- ➤ San Marcos High girls water polo beat Oaks Christian 11 to 8 at Newport Elite Tournament to finish third, while Dos Pueblos ended sixth and Santa Barbara won two games at Los Altos Tournament. Key plays came from Charlotte Raisin + Jad Pattison and local standout Jules Horton. KEYT
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Outstanding Performer of the Year Award for Michael B. Jordan
8 PM – 2 AM — Arlington Theatre — $35 General Admission, $100 Priority Seating — Celebrate the incredible achievements of Michael B. Jordan at this prestigious film festival event.
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Sunday Yin Chill
7-8 p.m. — Yoga Soup — Entry fee not specified — Experience a restorative yoga class focused on connecting breath and body in a slow-paced environment.
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Candlelight: Tribute to Taylor Swift
6:15-7:14 p.m. — Music Academy of the West — Ticketed event — Experience Taylor Swift's hits performed by Vapour String Quartet in a magical candlelight setting.
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Open Season Lucha Libre Pro Wrestling
7 PM — Franklin Elementary School — Tickets available — Experience high-energy lucha libre with renowned luchadores from Tijuana.
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Sunday Yin Chill
7-8 p.m. — Yoga Soup — Cost not specified — Unwind with a restorative Yin class focused on breath and relaxation.
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Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour
7-10 p.m. — Arlington Theatre — $26 General Public / $18 Youth / $15 UCSB students — Experience thrilling outdoor adventure films at a larger-than-life scale, showcasing the best mountain adventures.
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No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
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