National Gallery of Art
Things to do the week of Nov. 16-19, 2026
We've gathered up things to do across the nation's capital, including museum exhibits, concerts, only-in-DC events and much more. Don't miss our things to do this weekend and things to do this month as well.
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Monday
Remember Me: Picturing African Americans in Early Photography
Featuring approximately 70 works from the National Gallery’s collection (many on view for the first time), this remarkable exhibition reveals how Black Americans embraced photography to define themselves, celebrate their communities and challenge stereotypes during the 19th and early 20th centuries (before, during and after the Civil War).
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, West Building, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20565
National Portrait Gallery
Photographic Memory: Fifty Years of Collecting at the National Portrait Gallery
In 2026, the National Portrait Gallery will observe the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of its photographs collection, which now accounts for nearly half of the museum’s total holdings. Encompassing more than one hundred works, from the Daguerreian era to our own digital age, this exhibition explores the evolution of photographic portraiture through treasures from the Portrait Gallery’s wide-ranging collection. Capturing time in its unique way, photography has allowed the museum’s collection to include likenesses of those who have shaped the nation’s history but never posed for painted or sculpted portraits.
11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission
National Portrait Gallery, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004
DowntownDC Holiday Market
This year's edition of the DowntownDC Holiday Market will occupy the street and sidewalk on F Street between 7th and 9th Streets, NW. Now in its 21st year, its bright lights bring Penn Quarter and Chinatown to life, providing a holiday spark to the neighborhood. The spacious, open-air village is free and open to the public, kicking off the season just ahead of Thanksgiving (closed on Thanksgiving Day) and closing just before Christmas.
Free admission
F Street between 7th and 9th Streets NW, Washington, DC
Tuesday
DC Holiday Market at Dupont Circle
Opening just before Thanksgiving through mid-December, the 1500 block of 19th Street NW hosts 30-plus small businesses with artisanal goods, boutique brands, worldwide handcrafts and unique gift items, plus festive decor, local performers and beloved holiday treats.
Monday – Friday, 12-8 p.m. | Saturday & Sunday, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. | Free Admission
1500 Block of 19th Street NW, Washington, DC
Renwick Gallery
Handwork: Contemporary Craft at the Renwick Gallery
This installation of objects from Smithsonian American Art Museum’s collection showcases the practice of making things by hand. Its presentation is part of a program at the Renwick Gallery to investigate the meaning and relevance of craft in American culture. In a year that DC has dedicated to exploring what the humans of this country make, and, therefore, what makes this country human, take time to treasure this most connected and connecting medium.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
Renwick Gallery, Pennsylvania Avenue at 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
The Phillips Collection
Avery, Gottlieb & Rothko: By the Sea
For three months this fall and winter, you can savor a lovely moment of summer. This exhibition will tell the story of the lifelong friendship between three towering figures in American art: Milton Avery (1885–1965), Adolph Gottlieb (1903–1974) and Mark Rothko (1903–1970). Approximately 90 works of art will highlight the inspiration they derived from summers in Gloucester, Massachusetts, on Cape Ann, and from each other. Many have never been on public view.
Hours & Admission
The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Photo by Timothy Norris
The Hip Hop Nutcracker
Tony and Olivier Award nominee Jennifer Weber directs and choreographs a family-friendly holiday mash-up that ties together hip-hop dance and the music of Tchaikovsky in a beautiful bow. A dozen dancers take you through the tale of Maria-Clara and the Nutcracker Prince as they battle mice, journey through a land of sweets and learn valuable holiday season lessons in contemporary New York City.
Tickets
The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
Wednesday
ARTECHOUSE
SUBMERGE
ARTECHOUSE DC resumes programming with SUBMERGE, which presents innovative digital art that utilizes technology for a wholly immersive experience. The exhibition is anchored by Beyond the Render, a 45-minute large-scale show created in collaboration with Render Network that brings together 13 artist teams — including Emmy winners Emily Yang and Maciej Kuciara — to transform the venue. A floor-to-ceiling projection canvas showcases a 280-degree, 18K-resolution digital world, a total reimagination of the possibilities of spatial storytelling.
Tickets (10% off standard and special pricing tickets; restrictions apply. Proceeds benefit NEXTDC.)
ARTECHOUSE, 1238 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024
National Air and Space Museum
Modern Military Aviation
The advent of nuclear weapons and rapid advances in aviation technologies, such as missiles and automation, shaped by hot and cold wars, have in turn shaped the nature of conflict and diplomacy. These monumental developments in aerospace technologies are on display in the new Modern Military Aviation gallery. The exhibition is anchored by the museum’s unparalleled collection of military aviation artifacts including the North American F-86 Sabre, the Bell UH-1H “Huey” and the General Atomics MQ-1L Predator.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission | Reserve Timed Passes
National Air and Space Museum, 650 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington, DC 20560
Hanukkah Spectacular
Acclaimed playwright Max Posner collaborates with Tony Award-winning director David Cromer for a comedy about another type of artistic collaboration. In Hanukkah Spectacular, four artists are trapped in one conference room across three days in an urgent attempt to make a commercially viable production about the titular Jewish holiday. Tensions rise, nerves break down and the lines between reality and fiction begin to blur. Happy holidays!
Tickets
Woolly Mammoth Theatre, 641 D Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Signature Theatre
All the World’s A Stage
The story of a closeted math teacher and his mentorship of a student as they explore the classic play Angels in America is a humanistic tale sure to strike your soul at Signature Theatre. The two outsiders turn their small town on its head as a powerful score soundtracks this tribute to the power of teaching and expressing yourself.
Tickets
Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206
Thursday
Visit the Hirshhorn's revitalized Sculpture Garden
Art lovers, rejoice. The Hirshhorn's sculpture garden returns with double the amount of works on display, a widened entryway from the National Mall and an underground passageway from the museum, a new feature that adds a whole new element to the experience. No longer will visitors have to cross Jefferson Drive to take in the 60 monumental sculptures showcased in the garden. The west lawn will now serve as a rotating exhibition space, with three works by Yoshitomo Nara serving as the inaugural display.
More Information
A Christmas Carol
In this time-honored holiday tradition in the nation’s capital, acclaimed actor Craig Wallace assumes the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in a lavish Victorian-style musical production of Charles Dickens’ timeless classic. Scrooge’s riveting journey alongside the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future is a joy even if you’ve experienced it a hundred times before – especially in one of the world’s most historic theaters.
Tickets
Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
DowntownDC BID
Frosted at Franklin Park
In the heart of Downtown DC, Frosted at Franklin Park offers a picturesque holiday experience free to the public throughout the season. Explore a breathtaking display of thousands of festive lights – including a sparkling icicle walkway, giant snowflakes, a family of bears and a shining star – perfect for your holiday photo op.
Free Admission
Franklin Park, 1332 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
Fever Originals
Smithsonian Starstruck: An Immersive Experience
This first-of-its-kind virtual reality adventure doesn't just show you the universe but places you inside of it. Created in collaboration between Fever Originals and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, the experience takes visitors on a breathtaking journey through the cosmos, from dazzling galaxies to the edge of a black hole.
Tickets
Fever Hub Washington DC, 926 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
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