National Gallery of Art
Things to do the week of March 9-12, 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
Celebrating American Art
The National Gallery of Art will commemorate 250 years of America with a wide-ranging program that encompasses special installations and exhibitions that grapple with ideas at the heart of American stories vividly told through art. The series begins with Celebrating American Art, which includes iconic works and showcases how artists reckoned with the American story from the colonial to the 20th century.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
Grandma Moses: A Good Day's Work
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 Asian Art
Vishnu’s Cosmic Ocean
The largest bronze statue ever cast in Southeast Asia can be experienced in full scale for the first time in centuries thanks to the National Museum of Asian Art. The depiction of the Hindu god Vishnu dreaming the universe into existence while asleep on a coiled serpent in the ocean is on loan from the National Museum of Cambodia. The exhibit of the 20-foot sculpture also includes an exclusive film that dives into its original setting.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of Asian Art, 1050 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20004
Tuesday
Camouflage: Designed to Deceive
The International Spy Museum’s new self-guided experience takes visitors through the fascinating history of camouflage and its many connections to espionage. Trace camouflage from its natural origins to its application to covert operations. In the form of real stories, artifacts and immersive media, the exhibition will show how animals, soldiers and spies have employed the strategy of hiding in plain sight.
Hours & Admission
International Spy Museum, 700 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20024
Arena Stage
Chez Joey
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
Cat Power
Chan Marshall – who performs under the moniker “Cat Power – is one of indie rock’s most intimate singer-songwriters. Her songs and sultry voice can split your heart or raise your spirit to the sky. Marshall will honor the 20th anniversary of one of her most beloved albums, The Greatest, during this special show at the 9:30 Club.
7 p.m. | Tickets
9:30 Club, 815 V Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Wednesday
2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament: East Regional
Capital One Arena plays host to March Madness. Expect edge-of-the-seat action as some of the best NCAA basketball teams in the nation battle to keep their season alive in the single-elimination tournament that captures the country's attention each spring.
Tickets
Capital One Arena, 601 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Folger Theatre
As You Like It
One of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies is reimagined by Folger Theatre’s Artistic Director Karen Ann Daniels. The story concerns Rosalind and her cousin, Celia, who are forced to leave the “court” and in turn explore the vast forest of Arden, where adventure awaits. The setting conjures love for DC, and the production takes care to showcase the city as a place of redemption, resilience and community.
Tickets
Folger Theatre, 201 East Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
The Sea Beyond the Ocean
The world premiere of a Kennedy Center commissioned play written by Doug Robinson and directed by KenYatta Rogers invites family audiences to embark on a journey to discover the end of an unfinished story. Nine-year-old Scooter has a big imagination and is obsessed with a fantasy book series … that was never properly ended by its author, Poppy Carousel. Join Scooter as he looks for answers and meets lots of fun characters along the way.
Tickets
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566
Thursday
Bruce Silverstein Gallery
The Tuskegee Chapel: Paul Rudolph X Fry & Welch
The National Building Museum’s new exhibit goes in-depth on the design, construction and cultural significance of a landmark building at Tuskegee University. Designed by Paul Rudolph in 1960, revised by Fry & Welch in 1965 and constructed from 1967-69, the chapel stands as a spiritual, educational and social gathering place for the community, a reflection of Tuskegee’s commitment to craftsmanship, dignity and collective purpose.
Hours & Admission
National Building Museum, 401 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
National Gallery Nights: Garden Party
The National Gallery of Art’s popular after-hours series kicks into high gear with an evening that will see the museum in full bloom. Wear your finest spring attire and dance to The String Queens, design a floral accent, pose inside photobooths and explore art directly inspired by the wonders of nature. Ticket registration is available on March 2.
6-9 p.m. | Free Admission | Registration Required
National Gallery of Art East Building, 4th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20565
Shakespeare Theatre Company
On Beckett
Bill Irwin is both a Tony Award-winning actor and a master clown. When he steps on the stage at Klein Theatre, he’ll explore both the comedy and tragedy of the essential work of Nobel Prize winner Samuel Beckett. The one-man show features physical and verbal comedy that makes Beckett’s writings accessible to all.
Tickets
Klein Theatre, 450 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Signature Theatre Company
Safety Not Guaranteed
Based on the film of the same name, this Signature Theatre Company production mixes indie rock with imagination into an unforgettable time traveling adventure. Journalist Darius sees a classified ad requesting “someone to go back in time with me” and agrees to go along for the ride. She gets in over her head very quickly.
Tickets
Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206
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