"2026 CMU Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival" at Carnegie Mellon University, September 25.

The Department of Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics’ Chinese Studies program at Carnegie Mellon University and Pittsburgh’s Organization of Chinese Americans will present the 2026 CMU Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival on September 25.

The Mid-Autumn Festival — Zhongqiu Jie (中秋节) in Chinese — is also called the Mooncake Festival or the Moon Festival, and is the second most important festival in China after Chinese New Year.

In Chinese culture, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a reunion time for families, celebrated by gathering for dinners, worshiping the moon, lighting paper lanterns, eating moon cakes, etc.

Join LCAL and the Chinese studies program as we celebrate this special holiday with food and drink, arts and performances, and being together as a community!

The event runs from 7:00 to 9:00 pm in the Cohon University Center's Rangos Ballroom on the Carnegie Mellon campus in Oakland (map), and is free and open to the public.

Mid-Autumn Festival with Pitt's Asian Studies Center, September 14.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will hold its annual Mid-Autumn Festival on September 14.

Join ASC for our Mid-Autumn Festival! We will play Pitch Pot and enjoy free snacks!!

It runs from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm in the Global Hub on the first floor of Posvar Hall (map), and is free and open to the public.

1988 Japanese animated film Akira (アキラ) stays in Pittsburgh through (at least) September 16.

The 1988 Japanese animated film Akira (アキラ), which opened in Pittsburgh on September 3 in both standard format and a 4K re-release, will continue here in standard format through (at least) September 16.

In 1988 the Japanese government drops an atomic bomb on Tokyo after ESP experiments on children go awry. In 2019, 31 years after nuking the city, Kaneda, a bike gang leader, tries to save his friend Tetsuo from a secret government project. He battles against anti-government activists, greedy politicians, irresponsible scientists and a powerful military leader until Tetsuo's supernatural power suddenly manifest. A final battle is fought in Tokyo Olympiad exposing the experiment's secrets.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

Jasmine M. Cho's The K-pop Kitchen book launch event, with Kpop dance workshop and Random Play Dance, October 9.

Join local artist and author Jasmine M. Cho for the launch of her new book The K-pop Kitchen on October 9 at Level Up Studios, followed by a Kpop dance workshop and a Random Play Dance party. The event runs from 6:00 to 9:00 pm, including a book signing from 6:00 to 7:00 pm, a Kpop Dance Workshop from 7:00 to 8:00 pm, and a Random Play Dance Kpop Dance Party from 8:00 to 9:00 pm. And, each purchase of the book, either at the event or pre-ordered, enters you into an entry for one dozen custom cookies made by Jasmine. (More details are available at her social media post.) RSVP required. Level Up Studios is a dance studio located at 4836 Penn Ave. in Bloomfield (map).

More about the book, from Jasmine's website:

Korean Recipes and Idol Fun Facts for Fans of Kpop Demon Hunters, BLACKPINK, BTS, and More

I wrote this cookbook for fans of K-pop who want to learn more about Korean culture and its food <3

Loaded with delicious Korean dishes that K-pop groups like BTS, TWICE, H.O.T., and HUNTR/X would enjoy on and off the stage, The K-pop Kitchen presents recipes for delicious Korean snacks, meals, and treats that define the most iconic elements of South Korean culture.

Slurp up some delicious preshow ramyeon, heat up some voice-soothing samgyetang, or explore the lineage of K-pop with recipes from the Joseon Dynasty. For a quick snack inspired by street food from Seoul, learn how to make gimbap, tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), or Korean corn dogs. And don’t forget a treat: From hotteok (Korean sweet pancakes) to bingsu (Korean shaved ice), this book will transport you backstage as you make delicious meals at home.

Bilingual Chinese-English Story Hours at Carnegie Libraries in Squirrel Hill and Oakland this fall.

The Chinese Library for Children will present Bilingual Story Hour monthly this fall at the Carnegie Library in Squirrel Hill, representing a return of Chinese-English storytimes that were frequent pre-COVID.

Join us for stories, songs, movement and hands-on activities–designed to introduce children to language and culture through play and shared reading.

Story Hours are scheduled from 10:30 to 11:30 am on September 12, October 10, and November 14 at the Squirrel Hill branch at 5801 Forbes Ave. (map), and September 26, October 31, and November 28 at the Oakland (Main) branch at 4400 Forbes Ave. (map). Both branches are accessible by a number of city buses.  The Chinese Library for Children is

a community-grown nonprofit initiative that supports children’s access to Chinese-language reading through shared resources and local collaboration.

2026 Korean movie Hope (호프) in Pittsburgh, from September 9.

The 2026 Korean movie Hope (호프) will play in Pittsburgh from September 9.

A police chief, a policewoman and a group of hunters try to track down and kill a mysterious creature that's laying waste to a Korean village.

It plays locally at many area theaters, including: Squirrel Hill Manor, AMC Loews Waterfront, AMC Westmoreland in Greensburg, Chartiers Valley Luxury 14 + PTX, and the Cinemark theater in Robinson. Tickets are available online.

"We Learn" Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Korean classes resume at Carnegie Library in Oakland, Saturdays from September 12.

via the Republic of Korea's Flickr page.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branch in Oakland will resume its free "We Learn" Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Korean classes Saturdays from September 12 through November 14, after its current session concluded on August 29. 

2026 Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival, October 10 in Creighton.

The 2026 Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival will be held on October 10 at Pittsburgh Brewing Company in Creighton.

The 8th Annual Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival will take place on Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 8:30am-3:30 pm at Pittsburgh Brewing Company in Creighton, PA. Hosted by Pittsburgh Hearts of Steel, this event helps support Breast Cancer Survivors in Pittsburgh and surrounding areas. This festival brings together the exciting sport of dragon boat racing, entertainment, food, and fun family activities. The event is free for spectators and we are still registering teams, sponsors, vendors, etc.

2026 Korean film Colony (군체) in McKees Rocks, September 12.

The 2026 Korean film Colony (군체) will once again play in the Pittsburgh area on September 12, as the second installment of the Parkway Theater's Asian Movie Madness series this month.

Biotechnology professor Kwon Se-jeong (Jun Ji-hyun) attends a conference at the Doongwoori Building, which spirals into chaos when a rapidly mutating virus is unleashed. Unlike traditional slow zombies, the infected individuals move with insect-like coordination, functioning similarly to a giant hive mind.

Tickets are $10 at the door. The theater is located at 644 Broadway Ave. in McKees Rocks (map).

4K restoration of 1993 Japanese animated film Ninja Scroll (獣兵衛忍風帖) in Pittsburgh, October 4 and 7.

A new 4K restoration of 1993 Japanese animated film Ninja Scroll (獣兵衛忍風帖) will play at the Row House Hollywood on October 4 and 7.

Jubei is a masterless ninja who travels the land alone, lending his services to those with gold—or a worthy cause. His fearsome abilities have served him well, but a plot to overthrow the government threatens to end his wandering ways—and possibly his life.

There are five shows in total and tickets are available online. The Row House Hollywood is located at 1449 Potomac Ave. (map), one block south of the Potomac T Station.

Documentary Always Lalisa in Pittsburgh area, October 14 and 17.

An upcoming documentary Always Lalisa, following Blackpink's Lisa, will play in the Pittsburgh area on October 14 and 17.

Always Lalisa is a feature-length documentary following global superstar LISA during a transformative year away from Blackpink, the K-pop phenomenon that made her one of the world's most recognizable performers. As the group pauses activities, LISA embarks on the first true chapter of her solo career, confronting the question of who she is beyond Blackpink. The film follows LISA as she writes, records, and releases her debut solo album, Alter Ego, makes her acting debut in the third season of The White Lotus, and prepares for her first major solo performance at the 2025 Coachella Music Festival. Born and raised in Thailand, LISA left home at fourteen to train in South Korea's demanding K-pop system, ultimately rising to global superstardom. But forging her own path, particularly in the Western music market, brings new pressures, relentless scrutiny, and the challenge of redefining herself on her own terms. Intimate, emotional, and revealing, Always Lalisa captures an artist at a crossroads, documenting a year of risk, reinvention, and self-discovery as LISA begins to define not only her next chapter, but the woman and artist she wants to become.

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the Cinemark theaters in McCandless and Monroeville, and tickets are available online.

2025 Japanese animated film cocoon – One Summer of Girlhood (cocoon 〜ある夏の少女たちより〜) in Pittsburgh, from September 3.

The 2025 Japanese animated film cocoon – One Summer of Girlhood (cocoon 〜ある夏の少女たちより〜) will play in Pittsburgh from September 3. A synopsis from the distributor GKIDS:

San and Mayu attend an all-girls school on a warm and tranquil island. When war reaches their shores, they are ordered to help nurse the wounded in a military hospital hidden away in a cave. Amidst escalating death and brutality, the friends struggle to find solace in their fragile lives.

Based on the manga by Machiko Kyo, cocoon – One Summer of Girlhood is the debut feature from Yukimitsu Ina and animation studio SASAYURI, founded by former Studio Ghibli animator Hitomi Tateno. The project brings together legendary veteran animators like Akihiko Yamashita and Shinji Otsuka, known for their work on PRINCESS MONONOKE and THE BOY AND THE HERON, with a new, young generation of animating talent. Featuring a stirring score from kensuke ushio (A Silent Voice, Chainsaw Man), the film is a devastating yet beautiful plea for peace.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront (tickets here) and the Row House Hollywood from the 4th, (tickets here). The Row House Hollywood is located at 1449 Potomac Ave. (map), one block south of the Potomac T Station.

2023 movie Past Lives at Northland Public Library, September 16.

The 2023 movie Past Lives will play at Northland Public Library on September 16, this month's installment of the Movie Matinee series.

After Nora and Hae-Sung meet at twelve years of age, Nora moves away. Not until twentyfour years later do they meet again. In Korea “inyeon” means destined to be together whether it’s in the now, the past or the future. He just wants to see her one last time. Can she say goodbye?

he movie will play at Northland from 1:30 pm, and the library is located off of McKnight Road and Rt. 19 in McCandless Township (map). It is free and open to the public.

1988 Japanese animated film Akira (アキラ) in Pittsburgh, in standard format and a 4K re-release, from September 3.

The 1988 Japanese animated film Akira (アキラ) will play in Pittsburgh, in both standard format and a 4K re-release, from September 3.

In 1988 the Japanese government drops an atomic bomb on Tokyo after ESP experiments on children go awry. In 2019, 31 years after nuking the city, Kaneda, a bike gang leader, tries to save his friend Tetsuo from a secret government project. He battles against anti-government activists, greedy politicians, irresponsible scientists and a powerful military leader until Tetsuo's supernatural power suddenly manifest. A final battle is fought in Tokyo Olympiad exposing the experiment's secrets.

The 4K re-release screens at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theater in Robinson, while the standard format plays at the AMC Loews Waterfront. Tickets are available online.

New Chinese computer-animated film All Wishes Come True (八仙) stays in Pittsburgh through (at least) September 9.

The Chinese computer-animated film All Wishes Come True (八仙), which opened in Pittsburgh on August 28, will remain in the area through (at least) September 9.

On a wondrous island where mortals and Immortals dwell as one, a legendary vault holds a fortune beyond dreaming. Lü Dongbin and Zhongli Quan have a plan. To crack that vault, these two mortals will pull off the impossible: pose as Immortals themselves. They gather six more misfits along the way: He Xiangu, Tieguai Li, Han Xiangzi, Cao Guojiu, Lan Caihe, and Zhang Guolao. Eight ordinary souls, one extraordinary heist, and death waiting for anyone caught trying to outsmart the heavens. But something far worse is already closing in: a shadow conspiracy that could undo the balance of all things. And our eight bumbling schemers stand right in its path. Inspired by the beloved Chinese legend of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, All Wishes Come True! opens in theaters this summer.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

Two performances of KPOP WARRIORS LIVE at Kelly Strayhorn Theater, September 12.

Kelly Strayhorn Theater will host two performances of KPOP WARRIORS LIVE on September 12.

Get ready for an unforgettable live experience with KPOP WARRIORS LIVE:  a high-energy, family-friendly show packed with music, dance, acrobatics, comedy, and spectacular stage performances!

Step into a colorful world inspired by the excitement of K-pop, where powerful choreography, dazzling costumes, dynamic characters, and nonstop entertainment come together in one action-packed production.

Featuring talented dancers, circus performers, interactive games, fun surprises, and audience participation, KPOP WARRIORS keeps kids and families engaged from beginning to end.

Young fans will love seeing their favorite K-pop-inspired heroes come to life on stage, while parents will enjoy a fast-paced show filled with humor, energy, and memorable moments for the whole family.

Perfect for K-pop fans, young audiences, and families looking for a unique live entertainment experience.

Don’t miss KPOP WARRIORS LIVE – music, action, comedy, and adventure all in one incredible show!

Tickets are available online. The Kelly-Strayhorn Theater's Alloy Studios is located at 5530 Penn Ave. in East Liberty (map). 

Progress slow but steady on Pittsburgh's first YangGuoFu Mala Tang, coming to Squirrel Hill.

Progress is still underway on YangGuoFu (also known as YGF Malatang), a chain of build-your-own malatang bowls, aiming to open its first Pittsburgh-area location in Squirrel Hill.

Founded in 2003 in Harbin, China, YGF Malatang began as a humble street-side stall built on one belief: great food should be fresh, flavorful, and uniquely yours. We handpicked ingredients, simmered broth daily, and let guests craft their own bowls — interactive, vibrant, and deeply personal. That founding spirit — individuality and flavor discovery — drives us today as we bring authentic Malatang to the Americas. At YGF, every bowl is crafted fresh and unmistakably yours.

It will be located at 5870 Forbes Ave. (map) in what was most recently Evelyn James Interiors. Signage first went up in November 2025, and they were initially aiming for a mid-January opening. There are over 6,000 YGF Malatang restaurants worldwide, and locations in New York, California, Georgia, Florida, Texas, and Washington. (Ownership did not respond to requests for Pittsburgh-area updates.)

Korean film Train to Busan (부산행) at Parkway Theater, September 5.

Tickets are now available for the 2016 Korean film Train to Busan (부산행) at the Parkway Theater on September 5, part of an Asian Movie Madness series this month.

Train to Busan – terrifying 10th anniversary, in a newly remastered and revived version

A workaholic father and his young daughter board a high-speed bullet train from Seoul to Busan. A catastrophic viral outbreak sweeps across South Korea during their journey. Trapped in narrow train compartments, a small group of passengers must fight off hordes of infected individuals to stay alive.

The theater is offering movie tickets for $10, sold at the door only, or movie + dinner (chicken on a stick with rice and a spring roll) for $20. The theater is located at 644 Broadway Ave. in McKees Rocks (map).

Hello Kitty Cafe Truck at Ross Park Mall, September 26.

via @HellyKittyCafeTruck

The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck will return to Ross Park Mall on Saturday, September 26.

Hello Pittsburgh! The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck is returning to Ross Park Mall on Saturday, 9/26! Come say hello to us near The Cheesecake Factory & LL Bean between 10am-7pm and pick up some supercute treats & merch, while supplies last! See you there!

More information about the truck and its tours available via Sanrio. Ross Park Mall is located in Ross Township in the North Hills, just off McKnight Road (map).

Mango Mango Dessert coming soon to Cranberry for its second Pittsburgh-area location.

Mango Mango Dessert's second Pittsburgh-area location will be in Cranberry, where work is underway at 1720 Route 228 (map). Mango Mango is a chain of Hong Kong style desserts that opened its first Pittsburgh-area spot in Squirrel Hill in 2024, during a flurry of activity when a number of national and international Asian dessert and boba chains that first took notice of Pittsburgh, including Gong Cha, Tiger Sugar, Wushiland, Kyo Matcha, and Tsaocaa. The menu includes photogenic sundaes, parfaits, ice cream, crepe cakes, and jellies, often centered around the eponymous fruit.