TENWEST EXPERIENCES
Where the Festival Comes to Life
TENWEST Experiences are the high-energy, culture-forward moments that bring the festival beyond the conference rooms and into the heart of Downtown Tucson.
From live music and immersive theatre to improv comedy, film premieres, and Arizona’s longest-running pitch competition, TENWEST xEvents are designed to spark connection, celebrate creativity, and create unforgettable shared experiences.
All TENWEST xEvents are included with TENWEST Insiders passes (capacity permitting). Events are also available for individual ticket purchase through our venue partners.
Presented in Partnership with
FEATURED EVENT:
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Special Thank You to our Venue Sponsor Pima County Economic Development
March 25, 27, 28 | Multiple Showtimes
📍 Roy Place, Downtown Tucson
A cutting-edge immersive theatre experience from Mallorca blending live physical performance with smartphone technology.
Created by La Mecànica and powered by La Fura dels Baus’ Kalliópê app, Teen Odyssey transforms audience members into active participants. Through movement, sound, and digital interaction, the performance explores identity, belonging, and intergenerational connection.
Designed to captivate both teens and adults, this intimate production is limited to 50 audience members per performance. TENWEST Insiders may RSVP for the performance of their choice on a first-come, first-served basis.
All performances are available in English or Spanish via the app. Tickets and additional details available via Arizona Arts Live.
FULL TENWEST EXPERIENCE LINEUP:
March 24 | 5:00–7:30 PM
📍 Highwire & The Grand (TENWEST HQ)
The official kickoff of the TENWEST Festival.
The TENWEST Mega-Mixer brings together founders, creatives, technologists, artists, investors, and community leaders from across Southern Arizona to launch the week together.
Designed to spark real collisions — not awkward networking — this opening night sets the tone for meaningful connection and collaboration.
TENWEST passholders may also pick up their festival badge at HQ during the event.
Access available to TENWEST Insiders, All-Conference and Day pass-holders, and invited partner organizations. Food and drinks available for purchase.
March 25 | 6:00 - 7:30 PM
📍 Hotel Congress - The Club
Some of the best founder stories never make it into a pitch deck.
At TENWEST Unscripted, founders share their funniest, wildest, and most “how did that actually happen?” moments — the failures, mistakes, near-misses, and unexpected lessons learned along the way. Then Tucson Improv Movement turns those true stories into live, on-the-spot improv comedy.
Three local founders take the stage, with a fourth story drawn live from volunteer founders in the audience.
No scripts. No pitches. Just real stories and big laughs.
Included with TENWEST Insiders passes. Tucson Improv Movement’s Soapbox will be the performing team, they perform regularly on Fridays at 7:30pm.
March 26 | 7:00 - 9:30 PM
📍 Live at the Rialto Theatre
Southern Arizona’s longest-running live startup pitch event.
Finalists from across Arizona take the stage at the historic Rialto Theatre to pitch their ventures in front of expert judges and a live audience, competing for $50,000+ in cash prizes and community awards.
Presented by the Arizona Commerce Authority and hosted by Startup Tucson and the University of Arizona Center for Innovation, the IdeaFunding Pitch Showcase is one of the most electric nights of the festival.
Included with TENWEST Insiders passes, All-Conference passes, and Thursday Day passes.
March 27 | 7:00 Doors
📍 La Rosa 🔞 21+
Featuring Pijama Piyama | DJ Humblelianess | DJ Q
A high-energy night of sound, movement, and community. SONIDO ROSA brings together rhythm, global influences, and dance-floor energy for one of the most vibrant nights of TENWEST.
Presented in partnership with Arizona Arts Live and La Rosa, this event transforms the evening into a celebration of music and shared experience.
Included with TENWEST Insiders passes. Individual tickets and reservations available through La Rosa.
March 29 | 6:00 PM
📍 Marroney Theatre, University of Arizona
ARIZONA PREMIERE
Film Fest Tucson and Arizona Arts Live present the Arizona premiere of Cabali and the Tiki Mug Obsession, with TENWEST joining as a festival partner.
Following its world premiere at the Newport Film Festival in October 2025, this documentary makes its Arizona debut in Tucson before heading to the Vero Beach Film Festival in April. The film explores the history of Tiki culture through its iconic collectible mugs, tracing how a nearly forgotten art form was revived by a passionate global community.
At the heart of the film is a local story. It follows Fini, an obsessive Tiki mug collector whose dedication inspired Cabali — a modernist speakeasy Tiki bar located in Oro Valley, AZ. The screening will be followed by a post-film conversation with members of the filmmaking team and featured voices from the film.
This screening is part of the TENWEST festival experience and is included with TENWEST Insiders passes. Tickets and additional details available via ArizonaArtsLive.com.