Our end-of-the-week picks for May 22-25, 2026
We've gathered up some fun things to do in DC this Memorial Day weekend. You can also read what else is going on during the week and throughout the month.
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Friday
Jazz in the Garden
Kick back and groove to the music with sangria in hand at Jazz in the Garden on Fridays throughout the summer, held in the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden. An eclectic mix of DC-area jazz musicians lend a soundtrack to one of the city’s most idyllic scenes set around the sculpture garden’s central fountain. This is a free seasonal tradition that you do not want to miss. Due to high demand, the museum has instituted a lottery system; visit the Gallery’s website for more information.
6-8:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20565
Othello
Shakespeare’s Earth-shaking tale of deceit, betrayal and paranoia is vividly staged by Simon Godwin with The Wire’s Wendell Pierce in the titular role. Shakespeare Theatre Company's Harman Hall serves as the venue.
Tickets
Harman Hall, 610 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Pippin
Located in Arlington, Va., Signature Theatre regularly stages modern re-imaginings of classic productions. Next May, the company takes on Pippin. The coming-of-age tale will be brought to vivid life with wit, wonder and unforgettable music.
Tickets
Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206
Saturday
Smithsonian Castle Temporary Reopening
While the Smithsonian Industries Building (known more commonly as "the Castle") has been closed for renovations since 2023, it will be temporarily reopened this summer to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary. Be sure to catch the brand-new exhibit American Aspirations, which will include treasured artifacts such as Thomas Jefferson’s desk, Harriet Tubman’s hymnal and the gold flake that sparked the California gold rush.
Miró and the United States
The Phillips Collection's new exhibit will explore the artistic conversation between Spanish artist Joan Miró (1893–1983) and American artists from the 1940s to the 1960s. The exhibition will trace Miró’s relationships with American artists, collectors and institutions in an examination of the ways this exchange spurred inspiration and experimentation on both sides of the Atlantic. Expect to see works by Alexander Calder, Louise Bourgeois, Lee Krasner, Norman Lewis, Jackson Pollock, Helen Frankenthaler, Adolph Gottlieb and many more.
Hours & Admission
The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
National Museum of American History
In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness
A bold exhibition explores the ideals of the Declaration of Independence. Across three floors and 300,000 square feet, visitors can encounter 250 significant objects, including the portable desk used by Thomas Jefferson to draft the Declaration of Independence. Another noteworthy artifact is the only surviving ship of the early U.S. Navy, the gunboat Philadelphia. This National Historic Landmark helped stall British forces and now undergoes an on-site conservation to preserve it for future generations.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of American History, 1300 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
44: The Musical – Final Weekend
Head to Klein Theatre for a healthy dose of political satire with a musical ideal for a DC audience. 44: The Musical tackles the Obama Era with hilarious characters and songs. Expect appearances by Sarah Palin, Barack Obama, Mitch McConnell, Ted Cruz and Joe Biden.
Tickets
Klein Theatre, 450 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
The Motion
A fierce debate among four scholars becomes a journey through belief, memory and identity in a new play at the legendary Arena Stage.
Tickets
Arena Stage, 1101 6th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
Sunday
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Burnished: Pueblo Pottery at NMWA
For more than two millennia, Pueblo potters in the southwestern region of the U.S. have created clay jars and bowls for storage and ceremonial purposes. Women are at the forefront of this work and its legacy. Burnished presents 24 elegantly shaped clay ollas, seed jars and bowls. The show features indigenous artists and is part of the the museum's participation in Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, an initiative of Craft in America.
Hours & Admission
National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
The National Theatre
The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic vision of fragile hope and destructive desire in the Jazz Age practically begs for the stage. You'll be able to see Broadway's take on the 1920s glamor, tension, love and deception -- dance numbers and all -- right in the heart of downtown DC. We're giving you the "green light": get your tickets now, and don't miss the Great American Novel on a great American stage. Just watch out for any billboards on your way there.
Tickets
The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
Studio Theatre
Purlie Victorious
Studio Theatre stages this satire that is sure to deliver timely social commentary and a healthy helping of madcap laughs. Originally staged in 1961 and revived on Broadway in 2023, Purlie Victorious immerses you in the Jim Crow South as our main character returns home to take back his father’s church and free sharecroppers from a ruthless racist.
Tickets
Studio Theatre, 1501 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
National Memorial Day Concert
The annual musical tribute salutes the sacrifice made by the men and women in uniform as well as their families. The free annual concert airs on PBS from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The event is also live-streamed online and will be available on-demand for two weeks after the performance.
Monday
National Museum of the American Indian
Stretching the Canvas: Ten Decades of Native Painting
The National Museum of the American Indian’s new exhibit surveys 10 decades of Native painting, demonstrating how seminal artists elevated the art form after World War I. In an environment that dismissed Native art, trendsetting painters like Fred Kabotie, Tonita Peña and Stephen Mopope advocated for themselves and carved out a space for their distinctive work. Later generations expanded the field even more, making for an exhibition that illustrates the breadth and depth of Native self-expression.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of the American Indian, 4th Street & Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560
Library of Congress
The Source: Where Curiosity Sparks Discovery
Visit the Library of Congress and go straight to The Source, its new education center geared towards a worthwhile experience for the entire family. Dynamic and interactive elements will encourage curiosity and creativity and allow for the next generation to explore the Library’s collections, analyzing info and collecting new perspectives along the way.
Hours | Free Admission
Library of Congress, 101 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20540
The National Memorial Day Parade
Our Sacred Honor tells the story of American sacrifice from the Revolution to today along Constitution Avenue through live, on-site historical re-enactors, veterans and active duty military personnel, joined by musical performances and celebrity appearances. The in-person parade takes place ‘live’ in Washington, filmed for a television special that airs on TV stations nationwide. For more ideas on how to spend the weekend, check out our suggestions.
Places to Stay
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 are looking for that specialty boutique hotel or booking at your favorite hotel brand, Washington, DC's booking engine has it all.
Find Your Stay
Do you know where you’ll be dining pre- or post-event? From pop-up restaurants to award-winning hot spots to laid-back food halls, our DC food guide is perfect for helping you plan a more memorable experience.
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