Things to do the week of May 4-7, 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
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
National Museum of African American History and Culture
At the Vanguard – Through 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
1776
The story of the signing of the Declaration of Independence is transformed into a vibrant musical as the country’s beginnings are brought to blazing life inside the historic Ford's Theatre.
Tickets
Ford's Theatre, 511 10th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Tuesday
Library of Congress
The Source: Where Curiosity Sparks Discovery – Opens May 5
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
National Museum of the American Latino
¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa
The Molina Family Latino Gallery, the first gallery space of the National Museum of the American Latino, is housed inside the National Museum of American History. The space hosts a new bilingual exhibition that explores how Afro-Cuban music became an essential part of U.S. culture. Artists like Tito Puente and Celia Cruz – as well as local legends – are covered.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of American History, 1300 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
National Children's Museum
The Pigeon Comes to Washington, DC! A Mo Willems Exhibit – Through May 10
The National Children’s Museum tips its cap to Mo Willems with a special exhibit that features a phone booth that makes you sound like the famous Piggie, a hot-dog-launching catapult, a fashion runway, art inspired by popular Willems characters and much, much more, all in the Visiting Exhibit Hall.
Hours & Admission
National Children’s Museum, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
Wednesday
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Shirley Gorelick: Figuring It Out – Through June 28
Through the 1960s and ’70s, Shirley Gorelick (1924–2000) created soulful portrayals of her circle of close friends. Nearly 40 paintings, drawings and prints reveal her bold realist style, which combines vigorous brushwork, heightened shadows and vivid patterns. The show centers on three large-scale paintings in the National Museum of Women in the Art’s collection, which are exhibited together for the first time.
Hours & Admission
National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
America’s State Flowers: An America250 Celebration
In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the U.S. Botanic Garden showcases the official flowers of every U.S. state and territory. Varieties on display include fragrant magnolias, roses, orchids, bluebonnets, saguaro cactus flowers and many more; all of them symbolize the natural beauty of America.
Free Admission
U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20001
The Motion – May 6 – June 14
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
Thursday
Union Station
Take a guided tour of Union Station – Thursdays beginning May 7
Learn about DC’s main transportation hub and its beautiful Beaux-Arts architecture during this new tour offering. You’ll learn about the enthralling history of Union Station, including each of its show-stopping spaces and how the location’s role has changed and evolved over time. The tour will also dive into the Station’s redevelopment and modernization.
Book Now
Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20002
Miró and the United States – Through July 5
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
Studio Theatre
Purlie Victorius – May 6 – June 21
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 (it was nominated for six Tony Awards), 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
44: The Musical
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 (actors humorously playing) Sarah Palin, Barack Obama, Mitch McConnell, Ted Cruz and Joe Biden.
Tickets
Klein Theatre, 450 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
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