Our end-of-the-week picks for Aug. 28-30, 2026
We've gathered up some fun things to do in DC this weekend. You can also read what else is going on during the week and throughout the month.
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Friday
Summer Restaurant Week
Reserve your table for one of two seasonal dining events spotlighting the city's vibrant culinary landscape. Savor every last bite while taking advantage of specially priced meals, including to-go options and cocktail and wine pairings, courtesy of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington and 200+ participating eateries.
Smithsonian Institution
Voices and Votes: Exploring Democracy Across America
In the Arts and Industries Building (the Smithsonian’s second-oldest building and the country’s first national museum) right next to the Smithsonian Castle, explore what American independence really means, and how that meaning has evolved over time from the American Revolution until now. The special exhibit runs throughout the Arts and Industries Building's limited opening through Sept. 7.
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Free Admission
Smithsonian Arts + Industries Building, 900 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington, DC 20560
Photo by Robert Mastroianni
The Notebook
Inspired by the best-selling book and classic film starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, this musical adaptation of The Notebook makes for a wonderful night out this August. Broadway at the National rounds out its summer lineup with an unforgettable and uplifting take on the iconic story of romance that transcends time.
Tickets
The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
Saturday
Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art – Final Weekend
The National Museum of African Art has assembled a powerful showcase of works that marks the first continental and diasporic survey of its scale outside of Africa. LGBTQ+ identities and experiences are the focus of the exhibit, with many of the pieces serving as challenges to legacies of homophobia and bigotry.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of African Art, 950 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560
THE PLAYGROUND – Final Weekend
The National Building Museum has a penchant for hosting installations that double as spectacles. This summer will be no different with THE PLAYGROUND, which arrives just in time for Independence Day and celebrations for America's 250th anniversary. Infrastructure that is commonly outdoors is brought inside through nine unique activations that ask visitors to embrace exploration of the materials that make up the built environment around us. This type of interactive and immersive museum experience is unique to the National Building Museum and will be a popular destination throughout its run, so secure tickets at your earliest convenience.
Hours & Admission
National Building Museum, 401 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Photo by Vina Sananikone
FEMME Art Fair
Be a part of the inaugural FEMME Art Fair, a multi-day celebration of women in contemporary art featuring more than 100 established and emerging artists at The Square at International Square in Downtown DC. Browse and collect original works, attend dynamic daily programming including workshops and fireside chats with notable women leaders and top organizations, and hear and see work from the iconic feminist collective the Guerrilla Girls. Founded by USAN USAN and Our Daughters' Futures Fund, FEMME aims to correct longstanding inequities women face in the art market by providing a platform for their work and directing 100% of sales to the artists themselves. Both one-day and weekend passes are available.
Tickets
The Square at International Square, 1850 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
The Phillips Collection
Tomorrow the Sun Will Rise
The Phillips Collection maintains its commitment to DMV artists with this juried exhibition that will showcase 48 local creatives. The intergenerational group of artists was culled from 1,500 applications. Their pieces reflect a wrestling with the contemporary world as well as themes of beauty, resilience and persistence.
Hours & Admission
The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Signature Theatre
Merrily We Roll Along
Stephen Sondheim and George Furth collaborated on this beloved play that turns the traditional musical on its ear. Signature Theatre in Arlington, Va. stages the duo’s brilliant rumination on friendship, compromise and the cost of success. The audience follows a trio of close friends across 20 years, tracing the narrative backwards in time from their lowest moment to their highest, with the journey marked by incredible songs and routines.
Tickets
Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206
Sunday
National Gallery of Art
Mary Cassatt: An American in Paris – Final Weekend
The National Gallery of Art presents the vibrant work of Mary Cassatt across three galleries. The museum’s impressionist collection served as the source for this in-depth examination of how Cassatt went about creating her radically modern pieces. Roughly 40 paintings, drawings and prints are on display.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Marlo Pascual: Making Something Out of Something
With images found in thrift stores and online, Marlo Pascual created pieces that beautifully blur the lines between photography and sculpture. This new exhibit at the National Museum of Women in the Arts displays 17 of Pascual’s works and showcases the artist’s tremendous ability to upend her audience’s expectations.
Hours & Admission
National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
Attend a Washington Spirit Game at Audi Field
Make sure to secure your tickets so you can watch Trinity Rodman and the Spirit in the midst of their playoff push as they go up against Bay FC.
12:30 p.m. | Tickets
Audi Field, 100 Potomac Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024
The Keegan Theatre
Gruesome Playground Injuries
Titles can be deceiving! This new play at Keegan Theatre is actually quite funny and heartwarming. Two connected souls find each other across time and its imperfect moments in a play that reminds us of the power of resilience. Expect a deft mix of dark wit and tender humor.
Tickets
Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
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.
