Make the most of your summer in Washington, DC by enjoying festivals, taking in live performances and catching a couple of sports games.
Sports
Washington Nationals Baseball Season | Spring – September 2026
Catch Major League Baseball at Nationals Park throughout the season with lively game-day traditions and family-friendly entertainment.
Washington Spirit Soccer | Spring – November 2026
Head to Audi Field to watch the 2021 NWSL Champion Washington Spirit, featuring some of the best women's soccer players in the country, with an electric atmosphere all season long.
DC United Soccer | Spring – November 2026
Experience four-time MLS Cup winners D.C. United at Audi Field. Whether you're a longtime fan or just looking for a high-energy night out, professional soccer is easy to enjoy in DC.
Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington DC | August 22–23, 2026
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES celebrates America's 250th independence with a race through Washington, DC. The track circles the National Mall and passes iconic landmarks including the U.S. Capitol Building.
June
Spirit of Independence Festival at the National Archives | June 4-6, 2026
The home of the Declaration of Independence kicks off the one-month countdown to July 4th with a three-day celebration on Constitution Avenue, featuring free family-friendly events, live music, culinary experiences, reenactors, a Yappy Hour and a Salute to Service.
DC/DOX Film Festival | June 11-14, 2026
The annual DC/DOX Film Festival takes place at theater venues across the District over four days. Enjoy visionary documentaries and conversations with the talent behind dozens of innovative and acclaimed non-fiction works. Venues include, Center for American Progress,
Eaton Cinema, Eaton Crystal Room, National Gallery of Art, East Building Auditorium, Planet Word, Friedman Family Auditorium, Regal Gallery Place, Burke Theatre at the US Navy Memorial, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Capital Pride | June 12-21, 2026
For over 50 years, the Capital Pride Alliance has been the heart of DC's LGBTQ+ celebrations. The District goes all out with its signature parade and a packed calendar of block parties, shows and special exhibits. Highlights include Capital Pride Honors (June 7), a Rooftop Pool Party (June 18), the Capital Pride Parade (June 20) and the Capital Pride Festival (June 21).
The District Cup | June 13, 2026
The game of Polo has been played on the National Mall for more than 100 years. Thousands of guests from around the world—including young professionals, diplomats, members of Congress, executives, and more will gather on the National Mall to experience world-class horsemanship to raise money to support educational and Polo scholarships for underserved Washington, DC-area youth. This is a ticketed event.
Pride on the Pier at The Wharf | June 13, 2026
DC's prime waterfront location hosts family-friendly activities, a live DJ, dancing, a boat parade and a fireworks show along District and Transit Pier.
Friday Evening Parades at the Marine Barracks | Every Friday, Summer 2026
A breathtaking 45-minute ceremony at the historic “Oldest Post of the Corp” showcases the precision of the Marine Corps through performances by “The President's Own” Marine Band, “The Commandant's Own” Drum & Bugle Corps and the renowned Silent Drill Platoon. Free.
Smithsonian Solstice Saturday | June 18-21, 2026
Celebrate the official first weekend of summer with the Smithsonian Institutions including the Hirshhorn, the National Zoo, the National Museum of Asian Art and the National Museum of American History. Free admission includes curate special projects, performances, and rare extended evening hours.
Home Rule Music Festival | June 20, 2026
The DC-centric festival celebrates the rich music and cultural scene of the nation's capital. Programming kicks off with a Youth Showcase and continues with a full day of live performances at the Parks at Walter Reed.
Fête De La Musique – World Music Day | June 21, 2026
Georgetown's iteration of the beloved free, live music festival – celebrated in France for over 40 years – brings R&B, Americana, jazz, bluegrass, spoken word and rock to venues throughout Georgetown's commercial district and the French Embassy. Free admission.
The Great American State Fair on the National Mall | June 25 – July 10, 2026
The free daily event transforms the National Mall into the biggest state fair in the country, with food and culture showcases representing all fifty states, territories and federal agencies, from Alaskan ice carvings and Texas-sized steaks to a Hawaiian hula stage.
National Geographic Museum of Exploration | Opening June 26, 2026
Following a major renovation, the reimagined Museum of Exploration opens as a sustainably built destination illuminating the wonder of the world through innovative technology, immersive displays and iconic photography and artifacts. Highlights include an immersive theater experience and stunning outdoor projections with dynamic sound each night.
Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle | June 27-28, 2026
Rib roasters and sauce bosses show off their wares as pit masters, local restaurants and live music take over Pennsylvania Avenue between 3rd and 7th Streets NW. Cooking demos and tastings make for a lively and filling street party. Tickets from $20.
Jazz in the Garden | Fridays through July 6-8:30 p.m.
Kick back and groove with sangria in hand at the National Gallery of Art's Sculpture Garden. An eclectic mix of DC-area jazz musicians provide the soundtrack to one of the city's most idyllic scenes. Free entry, but a lottery system is in place due to high demand. Visit the Gallery's website for details.
July
The Great American State Fair on the National Mall | June 25 – July 10, 2026 (continued)
The massive free celebration of all fifty states, territories and federal agencies continues on the National Mall through July 10.
National Air and Space Museum Expansion | Opening July 1, 2026
Following an extensive renovation that began in 2018, the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum celebrates its 50th anniversary with most of its newly renovated galleries and public spaces open to visitors.
Fourth of July Celebration on the National Mall | July 4, 2026
Celebrate the United States' 250th birthday with this cornerstone event featuring the National Independence Day Parade, A Capitol Fourth Concert (July 3) and fireworks on the National Mall. Additional experiences include Ranger Talks about the Founding Fathers and a Family Fun Area where visitors can sign a giant reproduction of the Declaration of Independence.
Lincoln Memorial Undercroft Museum | Opening July 2026
Beneath one of America's most iconic structures, 15,000 square feet of new exhibit space will tell a more complete story of the Lincoln Memorial. New exhibits and multimedia presentations will showcase the history of the memorial and how the site became the nation's foremost backdrop for civil rights demonstrations.
August
Great American Farmers' Market | Daily, Aug. 3-8, 2026
Over 80 vendors from across the country celebrate National Farmers' Market Week along the National Mall, with weekly themes and live music.
Summer Restaurant Week | Aug. 24-30
Enjoy special prix-fixe pricing at more than 150 restaurants across the city during this beloved annual culinary event.
Summer Movie Series | Ongoing through Summer
Enjoy outdoor cinema at DC venues throughout the summer, including Events DC's series at The Wharf and the Annual Summer Movies on the Lawn at the Library of Congress, featuring National Film Registry selections.
Ongoing Summer Exhibits
The following exhibitions are open throughout the summer. Unless noted, Smithsonian museums are free and open 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art
Through Summer 2026 | National Museum of African Art
The first continental and diasporic survey of its scale outside Africa, featuring powerful works centered on LGBTQ+ identities and experiences across the continent and diaspora.
The Two Georges: Parallel Lives in an Age of Revolution
Through July 4 | Library of Congress
Letters, ledgers, diaries and artifacts illuminate the similarities and differences between George Washington and King George III, drawing from the Royal Archives at Windsor Castle and George Washington's Mount Vernon.
Through July 5 | The Phillips Collection
Seventy-five works by more than 30 artists trace the artistic conversation between Joan Miró and American artists from the 1940s-60s, featuring works by Alexander Calder, Jackson Pollock, Louise Bourgeois and Helen Frankenthaler.
Grandma Moses: A Good Day's Work
Through July 12 | Smithsonian American Art Museum
An in-depth look at the essential work of Anna Mary Robertson Moses, who emerged in the 1940s as a central figure in American art with her vivid tapestries of rural life.
Through July 19 | National Museum of African American History and Culture
More than 100 objects from five Historically Black Colleges and Universities (Clark Atlanta, Florida A&M, Jackson State, Texas Southern, Tuskegee) showcase how these institutions have shaped American education and culture through innovation, ingenuity, resistance and activism.
Imagining Shakespeare: Mythmaking and Storytelling in the Regency Era
Through Aug. 2 | Folger Shakespeare Library
For the first time since 1805, 14 paintings from the renowned Boydell Shakespeare Gallery in London are on view together, featuring depictions of scenes from Shakespeare's plays as imagined by leading artists of the Regency era. Free admission.
Mary Cassatt: An American in Paris
Through Aug. 30 | National Gallery of Art
Roughly 40 paintings, drawings and prints from the National Gallery's impressionist collection offer an in-depth examination of how Mary Cassatt created her radically modern works. Free admission.
Through Jan. 3, 2027, | Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden
The artist's first solo showcase highlights his jaw-dropping paintings and single-channel video, utilizing the Hirshhorn's unique architecture and the history of the National Mall. Free admission.
Through Oct. 1 | U.S. Botanic Garden
See the official flowers of each U.S. state and territory in a living showcase at the U.S. Botanic Garden.
Through Sept. 20 | National Gallery of Art
View how artists have explored the American experience over the last 250 years throughout the National Gallery's galleries. Free admission.