Ring in 2026 with unparalleled theater and performing arts, thrilling sports, holiday celebrations and more.
Whether you’re in town for New Year's, Martin Luther King Jr. Day or any day in between, be sure to check out our special discounts and packages, from luxurious experiences to budget-friendly options.
Last year, the nation's capital landed on Condé Nast Traveler's "The Best Places to Go in the U.S. in 2025," the New York Times' top places to go around the world and TripAdvisor's top destinations in the U.S.
So regardless of the season, you're sure to have an unforgettable experience in the nation's capital. After you’ve read through this list, make sure to check out our things to do for the week and weekend as well as our accessibility guides to monuments and museums on the National Mall.
Ride with Metro
Discover DC with ease—tap, ride, go on Metrorail with your preferred payment card and explore the city like never before. Hop on Metrobus for a quick, affordable way to reach every corner of town and plan your trip with the Metropulse app. No wonder Metro is APTA’s 2025 Transit Agency of the Year.
Plan your trip
Ice skate in DC
Lace up some skates and triple axel 'round the District at popular ice skating rinks at the National Building Museum, the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden, Washington Harbour in Georgetown, Canal Park in Capitol Riverfront and The Wharf. Make sure to read our detailed breakdown of each spot.
Washington Capitals
Attend a Capitals, Wizards or Go-Go game
With the winter season comes incredible indoor sports action in the District. The NHL’s Washington Capitals and the NBA’s Washington Wizards play their exciting games inside Capital One Arena, while the Capital City Go-Go, part of the NBA’s developmental G-League, take to the court inside Entertainment & Sports Arena. Discounted tickets to select games for each team are available below.
Wizards Discounted Tickets (most games throughout the 2025-26 regular season; percentages vary)
Capitals Discounted Tickets (select games throughout the 2025-26 regular season; tickets purchased through the link include a free Capitals hat)
ZooLights – Through Jan. 3
Join the thousands of visitors who make ZooLights, powered by Pepco, a part of their annual holiday tradition. The event includes live music performances, tasty winter treats and plenty of opportunities for holiday shopping. Environmentally friendly LED lights and dozens of glowing animal lanterns transform the Smithsonian's National Zoo into a winter wonderland. Note that timed passes are required.
Hours & Admission
Smithsonian’s National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955-1985 – Through Jan. 4
The National Gallery of Art hosts a monumental tribute to the work of Black artists from around the world. Photography and the Black Arts Movement spans four decades and features roughly 150 pieces by more than 100 artists, including luminaries such as Gordon Parks, Carrie Mae Weems, Frank Stewart, Billy Abernathy, David C. Driskell, Lorna Simpson and many more.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
Season's Greenings – Through Jan. 4
Trade in your dreams of a white Christmas for something even better – a green Christmas. At this year's Season's Greenings exhibit at the U.S. Botanic Gardens, displays will feature not only holiday lights, but thousands of poinsettias, unbelievable plant-based sculptures of DC landmarks, a circuit of model trains and pollinators galore. The exhibit also includes a spectacular addition: a Blue Rooster model by designer Brian Sentman created in honor the famous Hahn/Cock sculpture located on the roof of the National Gallery of Art's Eats Building. Tickets are not required.
Free Admission
U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20001
Folger Shakespeare Library
Folger Frost Fair – Through Jan. 4
Inspired by frost fairs held in London from the 1600s-1800s when the River Thames would freeze over, the Folger Frost Fair (Nov. 28 through Jan. 4, 2026) is a month-long winter festival filled with holiday music, decorations, walk-up tours, seek-and-find games, holiday gift shopping, craft stations, printing press demonstrations and much more. The Folger Shakespeare Library offers free admission and pay-what-you-will timed-entry passes.
More Info
Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
Free Community Days at the National Museum of Women in the Arts – Jan. 4 & 14
The National Museum of Women in the Arts welcomes visitors with free admission twice each month. Acquaint yourself with one of the coolest art collections in the District without paying a cent. You’ll have some extra cash left over to explore the museum’s jaw-dropping gift shop.
National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
Shen Yun 2026 – Jan. 7-18
The Kennedy Center annually hosts this journey through five thousand years of Chinese culture. Classical dance informs the theatrical experience, which also includes visual effects, original orchestral works and stories that will transport you to the distant past.
Tickets
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566
Black Masala – Jan. 10
DC-based brass band Black Masala is a hit everywhere they go, combining music from New Orleans, Belgrade, Paris and Cotonou into an eclectic mix that makes people move and groove. At Pearl Street Warehouse, they’ll be joined by Eastern Standard Time, which features jazz, reggae and soul musicians from DC as well.
8 p.m. | Tickets
Pearl Street Warehouse, 33 Pearl Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
The People's House
Home, History, Holidays: Celebrating White House Traditions – Through Jan. 10
The People’s House hosts a temporary exhibit to celebrate the holiday traditions of the White House. Interact with stories and content showcasing the White House’s legendary decorations, the tradition of Menorah lightings and other seasonal cheer. All ages are welcome to join in this holiday exploration.
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission (donations suggested)
The People’s House, 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006
Women Artists from Antwerp to Amsterdam, 1600-1750 – Through Jan. 11
More than 40 Dutch and Flemish women artists are showcased in a new exhibit at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Pieces include paintings, lace, prints, paper cuttings, embroidery and sculpture, all of which deepens understanding of the Dutch and Flemish visual culture of the period. Artists displayed include Gesina ter Borch, Maria Faydherbe, Anna Maria de Koker, Judith Leyster and Magdalena van de Passe.
Hours & Admission
National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
Howard Theatre
Cate Le Bon – Jan. 12
Welsh musician Cate Le Bon marches to the beat of her own drum. Since releasing her first solo LP in 2009, Le Bon has become a torch carrier for pop that’s slightly left of weird across numerous collaborations and six additional acclaimed albums. Howard Theatre offers a stage for the dynamic performer as she tours in support of her latest release, Michelangelo Dying.
8 p.m. | Tickets
Howard Theatre, 620 T Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Studio Theatre
Octet – Jan. 14 – Feb. 22
How does an a cappella chamber musical featuring eight people who have stashed away their phones while trapped in a church basement sound? Octet at Studio Theare will be just that, as total strangers battle their digital dependency and make attempts at true connection through the power of their voices. Escape your screen with this theater-in-the-round performance.
Tickets
Studio Theatre, 1501 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble – Jan. 15
Legendary musician, producer and composer Don Was has won six Grammy Awards, once served as president of Blue Note Records and has even toured with Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir as The Wolf Brothers. Was will bring along the Pan-Detroit Ensemble for an unforgettable evening of music at The Atlantis which will include a performance of The Grateful Dead’s Blues from Allah LP in its entirety.
6:30 p.m. | Tickets
The Atlantis, 2047 9th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
The Rite of Spring: Trifonov plays Brahms – Jan. 15-17
Gianandrea Noseda and virtuoso pianist Daniil Trifonov combine for two timeless compositions across three nights of performances at the Kennedy Center. First up is Brahms’ epic First Piano Concerto, which will be followed by the rule-changing The Rite of Spring from Stravinsky.
Tickets
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566
The Ford’s Theatre Legacy Commissions: A First Look – Jan. 16-17
The historic Ford’s Theatre hosts a free two-day festival that showcases new plays in development from members of the Theatre’s Legacy Commissions initiative. Readings of three works-in-progress will take place, providing exclusive early access. On Jan. 17 at 7 p.m., audience members are invited to stay and continue the conversation.
Tickets
Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
National Theatre
STOMP – Jan. 16-18
Celebrate 30 years of STOMP at National Theatre across three nights of performances. The unique percussive show features an eight-member troupe employing a range of instruments unlike any other, including Zippo lighters, hubcaps, wooden poles, garbage cans, matchboxes and much more.
Tickets
The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
National Museum of African American History and Culture
At the Vanguard – Jan. 16 – July 19
The National Museum of African American History and Culture’s new exhibit features more than 100 objects from the collections of five Historically Black Colleges and Universities (Clark Atlanta, Florida A&M, Jackson State, Texas Southern, Tuskegee) in a stunning display of how these institutions have shaped American education and culture through innovation, ingenuity, resistance and activism.
Free Admission | Hours & Information
National Museum of African American History & Culture, 1400 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
The Phillips Collection
peter campus: there somewhere – Jan. 17 – May 3
The Phillips Collection showcases one of the leading figures in new media art with there somewhere. peter campus’ breakthrough videos from the early 1970s are displayed alongside four new, serene landscape works, which the artist has named “the phillips quartets”.
Hours & Admission
The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Gary Owen – Jan. 18
While still enlisted in the Navy, Gary Owen won BET’s Comic View and has been on fire ever since. Lincoln Theatre hosts the viral and YouTube sensation known for his hilarious crowd work and peak timing for one night only as he embarks on a world tour. Owen's first two shows at the venue sold out, so grab tickets to this one quickly.
7 p.m. | Tickets
Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
9:30 Club
Atmosphere: Winter Carnival Tour – Jan. 18
Joined by special guests such as Kool Keith, Sage Francis and R.A. the Rugged Man, hip-hop duo Atmosphere bring their Winter Carnival Tour to town in the form of an epic one-night show at 9:30 Club. Expect the evening’s set to span Atmosphere’s breathtaking discography.
7 p.m. | Tickets
9:30 Club, 815 V Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Bar Japonais © Nina Palazzolo
Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week – Jan. 19-25
Washington, DC's Winter Restaurant Week returns every January with the promise of high-quality dining, excellent deals and relief to the winter blues. Savor every last bite while taking advantage of special menus and pricing, including to-go options and cocktail and wine pairings, courtesy of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington and 200+ participating eateries.
Honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day in DC – Jan. 20
The nation's capital presents unique opportunities to reflect on the legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Walk along his moving memorial along the Tidal Basin, visit the site of the famous "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial, see incredible photography and historic artifacts at the National Museum of African American History and Culture or attend a commemorative event, including the Peace Walk and Parade.
Martin E. Red Bear / National Museum of the American Indian
Unbound: Narrative Art of the Plains – Through Jan. 20
The National Museum of the American Indian celebrates narrative art among Native nations of the Great Plains with an exciting new exhibition. You'll see historical works alongside contemporary commissions, from battle records to ledger books to pop culture takes.
More Info | Free Admission
National Museum of the American Indian, 4th Street & Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560
National Theatre
Gabby’s Dollhouse Live – Jan. 21-22
A new stage show based on the global sensation that is Gabby’s Dollhouse comes to The National Theatre. Prepare for an experience packed with family-friendly entertainment, including a fun original story, jaw-dropping puppets, dynamic staging and a live show packed with talent and songs kids will love.
Tickets
The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
Eric Church – Jan. 22
The Anthem welcomes one of country music’s biggest stars for a night that will be loaded with some of the genre’s most popular songs. Church has been churning out hits since his debut in 2006 and now sports a resume filled with awards and chart-topping hits.
8 p.m. | Tickets
The Anthem, 901 Wharf Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
The Washington, DC Auto Show – Jan. 23 – Feb. 1
Cars have always held a special allure, captivating the American imagination from the early days of the Model T. Witness the evolution of the vehicle firsthand by attending the Washington, DC Auto Show, which takes place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Even if you don't consider yourself a devoted car enthusiast, there are still plenty of reasons to check out the city's largest annual indoor event.
Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mt. Vernon Place NW, Washington, DC 20001
National Museum of Asian Art
Into the Waters with Senju and Bingyi: Two Contemporary Paintings – Jan. 24 – June 14
Japanese artists Hiroshi Senju and Bingyi and their different visualizations of water – each hypnotic and transfixing in their own way – form the basis of this new exhibit at the National Museum of Asian Art. Senju’s abstract approach and Bingy’s traditional methods along with each painter’s influences and ethos are examined in detail.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of Asian Art, 1050 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20004
The Outwin 2025: American Portraiture Today – Jan. 24 – Aug. 30
Drawing from more than 3,300 entries and contributions from 14 states, DC and Puerto Rico, the National Portrait Gallery displays 35 portraits by 36 artists. Curated by a panel of experts, the seventh triennial Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition informs this showcase of emerging talent each year.
11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission
National Portrait Gallery, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20001
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
NSO Music for Young Audiences: Musical Tails – Jan. 24-25
The Kennedy Center welcomes the entire family for a wondrous performance that pulls together stories, animals and music for an enriching musical experience. A National Symphony Orchestra piano quintet masterfully plays the Mother Goose Suite and selections from Camille Saint-Saëns’ The Carnival of the Animals.
Tickets
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566
9:30 Club
Sudan Archives – Jan. 25
Immensely talented and versatile both in her instrumentation and songwriting approach, Sudan Archives (the stage name of Brittney Denise Parks) coming to 9:30 Club is a major highlight of DC’s January concert lineup. Her stunningly unique take on pop and R&B is rooted in her virtuoso violin-playing; she learned to play the instrument by ear while growing up in Cincinnati.
7 p.m. | Tickets
9:30 Club, 815 V Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Signature Theatre Company
Fiddler on the Roof – Through Jan. 25
The welcoming environs of Signature Theatre are the perfect setting for a beautiful staging of this iconic musical. Fiddler on the Roof concerns Jewish milkman Tevye and his community in Czarist Russia as they deal with rising anti-Semitism and a world quickly changing around them. Legendary songs include “Sunrise, Sunset” “If I Were a Rich Man” and “Matchmaker”.
Tickets
Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206
National Theatre
Clue – Jan. 27 – Feb. 1
What began as a Hasbro board game is now the ultimate whodunit of the stage. Clue comes to The National Theatre, bringing with it some of the most essential questions of our time: Was it Mrs. Peacock in the study with the knife? Or Colonel Mustard in the library with the wrench? Based on the 1985 Paramount Pictures adaptation, this production will pack plenty of laughs in before its epic final twist.
Tickets
The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
Shakespeare Theatre Company
Paranormal Activity – Jan. 28 – Feb. 7
Shakespeare knew how to deal out some scares, so don’t be surprised that DC’s outstanding local theatre company named after The Bard is staging a new tale from the world-renowned Paranormal Activity universe. James and Lou relocate from Chicago to London and … well, you’ll just need to see this chilling production for yourself to find out what happens.
Tickets
Harman Hall, 610 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater – Jan. 30 – Feb. 8
The preeminent modern dance company visits the Warner Theatre with a program that celebrates the company’s illustrious history and aims to bring audiences together in joy. Enjoy some of Ailey’s most famous compositions as well as programming from artists around the world.
Tickets
Warner Theatre, 513 13th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Arena Stage
Chez Joey – Jan. 30 – March 15
Prepare for a blockbuster at Arena Stage as Chez Joey lands at the historic playhouse. Co-directed by Tony Award-winning choreographer Savion Glover and actor, director and producer Tony Goldwyn, the set-in-1940s-Chicago show includes a Rodgers and Hart score as well as a spellbinding tale of a singer caught between a rich baroness and an ambitious chorus girl on his way to the top (he hopes).
Tickets
Arena Stage, 1101 6th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
Ramy Youssef – Jan. 31
Whether Ramy Youssef has come into your life thanks to his extraordinary stand-up comedy, his acclaimed Hulu show Ramy or his outstanding performance in 2023’s Oscar-winning Poor Things, you’re likely quite thankful he has. The multimedia star will take the stage at Lincoln Theatre for one night only in one of the most anticipated shows of the season.
7 p.m. | Tickets
Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Adam Carolla – Jan. 31
Host of a popular podcast and well-experienced in television, radio and writing, Adam Carolla has been making audiences laugh for decades. Stand-up comedy was his springboard to success, so catch Carolla back in his element on stage at DC’s illustrious Kennedy Center.
7 p.m. & 9 p.m. | Tickets
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566
Keegan Theatre
John Doe – Jan. 31 – Feb. 22
Zia is anti-social; in fact, she suffers from anthropophobia, the literal fear of people. Then there’s Doe, who is totally cool with watching people but is actually dead. And of course, only Zia can see him! She might (gasp) have to even interact with some people in order to help Doe figure out his forgotten life. Keegan Theatre’s Boiler Room Series commissioned this world premiere.
Tickets
Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
National Building Museum
Winter Skate Spectacular – Through Feb. 8
Don’t fret! The National Building Museum will bring back its indoor ice-skating rink this year. Sponsored by the DowntownDC Business Improvement District and Events DC, the Winter Skate Spectacular will offer daytime and after-hours skate sessions this year. Visitors can also enjoy The Wave, a 55-by-180-foot recycled aluminum space frame suspended in the Great Hall.
Tickets & More Information
National Building Museum, 401 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Out of Many: Reframing an American Art Collection – Through Feb. 15
The Phillips Collection presents both well-known and understudied artists in a dynamic new exhibit meant to examine the complexity of American art as the country turns 250 years old. Visitors can experience how artists have depicted landscapes, cultures, stories and people from the early 20th century to the present.
Hours & Admission
The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Rik Freeman: Wade in the Waters – Through Feb. 19
DC artist Rik Freeman’s work is showcased in-depth at this free exhibition displayed at Phillips@THEARC. For more than three decades, Freeman has engaged history, community, resilience and joy in his work. Wade in the Waters zooms in on waterways – from the beaches of Bahia to the Anacostia River – and how they connect to the diaspora over generations.
Wednesday & Thursday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
Phillips@THEARC, 1801 Mississippi Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20020
Tawny Chatmon: Sanctuaries of Truth, Dissolution of Lies – Through March 8
The photography-based work of Tawny Chatmon receives a glorious tribute at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. The exhibition will debut pieces from Chatmon’s latest series, which also incorporate audio narrative, embroidery, film and assemblage. Selections from Chatmon’s acclaimed previous work will also be on display.
Hours & Admission
National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
The Two Georges: Parallel Lives in an Age of Revolution – Through March 21
The Library of Congress brings together letters, ledgers, diaries, maps, drawings and other artifacts to illuminate the similarities and differences between two iconic figures of the Revolutionary War: George Washington and King George III. Although the two never met, visitors can envision where they would clash and where they would compromise in this stirring exhibit that features items from a wide range of collections, including the Royal Archives at Windsor Castle, London’s Science Museum and George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
Hours | Free Admission
Library of Congress, 101 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20540
Photo by Ruth Orkin
Ruth Orkin: Women on the Move – Through March 29
The National Museum of Women in the Arts displays 21 vintage photos by Ruth Orkin. The collection documents women’s lives in the mid-20th century across images of European tourists, Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps members, Hollywood celebrities, Broadway stars and women at work in classrooms, parks and neighborhoods.
Hours & Admission
National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
Smithsonian Institution
Making a Statement – Through March
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian displays two gowns worn by Oscar-nominated actor Lily Gladstone (Siksikaitsitapi [Blackfeet]/Nimiipuu [Nez Perce]) in a special installation. Four public programs are planned for Women's History Month as well. Both gowns were designed by Gucci and Indigenous artist Joe Big Mountain (Mohawk/Cree/Comanche) of Ironhorse Quillwork and were worn by Gladstone the evening of March 10, 2024, to the 96th Academy Awards and the Vanity Fair Oscars party. Gladstone was the first Native American nominated for best actress for her work in the film Killers of the Flower Moon.
10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of the American Indian, 4th Street & Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560
Grandma Moses: A Good Day's Work – Through July 12
Anna Mary Robertson Moses, who was dubbed “Grandma Moses” by the press, lived through the American Civil War, two world wars and the civil rights era. In the 1940s, she emerged as a central figure thanks to her unique tapestries of American life. The Smithsonian American Art Museum introduces her essential work to new generations with an in-depth exhibit.
11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission
Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004
Folger Shakespeare Library
Imagining Shakespeare: Mythmaking Storytelling in the Regency Era – Through Aug. 2
For the first time since 1805, 14 paintings from the renowned Boydell Shakespeare Gallery in London are on view together. Visit the Folger Shakespeare Library and capitalize on this rare chance to see the tremendous collection, which features depictions of scenes from the Bard’s plays as imagined by leading artists of the day.
Hours | Free Admission
Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
Photo by Kate Capshaw
Portrait of a Nation: 2025 Honorees – Through Nov. 8
In honor of recent recipients of the Portrait of a Nation Award, the National Portrait Gallery showcases an exhibit dedicated to stunning work. The award elevates “extraordinary individuals who have made transformative contributions to the United States and its people.” This year’s group of honorees includes Jamie Dimon, business leader, by photographer Jason Alden; Temple Grandin, professor, inventor and groundbreaking researcher of animal science, by artist David Lenz; Joy Harjo, renowned poet, performer and writer of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and 23rd U.S. poet laureate, by artist Joel Daniel Phillips; and Steven Spielberg, Academy Award-winning director, producer and writer, by artist Kate Capshaw.
11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission
National Portrait Gallery, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20001
Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe – Through Jan. 1, 2027
The acclaimed Ho-Chunk artist receives his first major retrospective at the National Museum of the American Indian. Truman Lowe used willow branches, feathers and organic materials to create minimalist sculptures to evoke rivers, streams and waterfalls. The exhibit also features similarly distinctive drawings and paintings by Lowe.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of the American Indian, 4th Street & Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560
Adam Pendleton: Love, Queen – Through Jan. 3, 2027
Known for his rigorous work in creating jaw-dropping paintings, Adam Pendleton will showcase new and recent pieces as well as single-channel video in this landmark exhibition at the Hirshhorn Museum. Pendleton’s first solo showcase will highlight his contributions to contemporary American painting and utilize the architecture of the Hirshhorn and the vast history of DC’s National Mall.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, Independence Avenue & 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20560
National Museum of American History
How Can You Forget Me: Filipino American Stories – Through Nov. 28, 2027
A new exhibit at the National Museum of American History, presented by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, explores California’s “Little Manila,” a community of Filipinos that thrived from the 1910s to the 1970s. Through more than 50 artifacts found in preserved steamer trunks (three of which are on display in the gallery), visitors can gain insight into what was once the largest population of Filipinos living outside of their home country.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of American History, 1300 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
Fierce Flora: Tales of Survival and Demise – Ongoing
The U.S. Botanic Garden invites you to see the ferocious side of flora and fauna at its special new exhibit. Many plants have evolved defenses against infection, herbivores and their plant competition. The multisensory display will showcase this evolution and also pinpoint how these plants can be both harmful and helpful to humans.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20001
Places to Stay
Hedy's Rooftop / Hotel Zena
Need some inspiration for a place to stay in between events? Washington, DC is filled with a multitude of hotels to fit your needs. Whether you're looking for that specialty boutique hotel or booking at your favorite hotel brand, Washington, DC's booking engine has it all. Find your stay today.
