DC's August event lineup brings the heat. Explore exciting summer events, from Summer Restaurant Week and DC Bachata Congress to outdoor movies and America’s 250th celebrations.
Whether you’re in town for a concert, game or festival, DC boasts an abundance of special discounts and packages all summer long, from luxurious experiences to budget-friendly options.
All year long, you can take your pick of unforgettable experiences in the nation's capital. After you’ve read through this list, make sure to check out our things to do for the week and weekend as well as our accessibility guides to monuments and museums on the National Mall.
Experience America's 250th anniversary in the nation's capital
2026 marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a monumental moment being celebrated on stages across America. But nowhere is the celebration more spectacular than in Washington, DC. (Pictured: DCJazzFest)
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Washington Spirit
Soccer Season in Washington, DC
Head to Audi Field to catch four-time MLS Cup winners D.C. United or 2021 NWSL Champion Washington Spirit, which fields some of the best women’s soccer players in the country. Whether you're a longtime fan or just looking for a high-energy night out, experiencing the electric atmosphere of professional soccer is easy in DC.
Spirit Tickets
D.C. United Tickets
Washington Nationals Baseball
The Nats, who have four National League East titles, five postseason appearances and a World Series championship since coming to DC in 2005, are one of the city's main attractions throughout the spring and summer. Head to Nationals Park to experience MLB action with an exciting schedule, plenty of home runs and, of course, Racing Presidents.
1500 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
Otakon – July 31 – Aug. 2
Held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center each year, Otakon might just be the dedicated event space’s liveliest function (emphasis on FUN) all year long. The family-friendly convention is run by and dedicated to fans of Asian media, entertainment and pop culture, including anime, manga, music, movies and video games. The festivities range from cosplay contests, skits and live music to panel discussions with comic book (super)heroes, for-sale artworks and much more.
Tickets
Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Allen Y. Lew Place NW, Washington, DC 20001
Catch an outdoor movie
Enjoy summer evenings under the stars outdoor screenings at some of DC's most iconic locations.
Multiple Locations
Adams Morgan BID
AdMo Vibe
The AdMo Vibe Summer Concert Series brings neighbors together around live local music and activated public spaces. Free Thursday evening concerts feature a rotating lineup of DC artists at Kalorama Park (Columbia Rd. at Belmont St.).
Free Admission
Kalorama Park, 1865 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20009
Broccoli City Block Party
Get ready for a day packed with music, dancing, food trucks, curated vendors and surprise pop-ups at the Broccoli City Block Party. In 2025, DC’s ultimate summer celebration featured a stacked DJ lineup including DJ Flow, King Flexxa, Bearded Drummer, DJ Bo and DJ K-Meta. General admission and VIP tickets are available.
More Info
1201 Half Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
DC Bachata Congress – Aug. 20-24
Ranked as the best Latin dance festival in the U.S. five times, DCBX takes over the nation’s capital for five days each summer. Veterans and newbies of dancing bachata, the sexier-than-salsa dancing style from the Dominican Republic, will have plenty of chances to strut their stuff, from concerts to contests to workshops.
Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Richmond Highway, Arlington, VA 22202
Summer Restaurant Week
Stay tuned for confirmed dates and more details from the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington. The celebration annually features deals from more than 150 restaurants throughout the DC area.
State Fairs: Growing American Craft – Through Sept. 7
After five years of research and months of preparation, the Renwick Gallery debuts this extraordinary exhibit that is the first to survey American state fairs’ unconventional crafts from the 19th century to the present. Personal stories and regional traditions will be showcased across more than 240 artworks. Highlights include a life-size butter cow made on-site, size-96 boots from the State Fair of Texas and a pyramid of 700 glass jars of preserved fruits and vegetables.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
Renwick Gallery, 1661 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006
Photo by Cpl. Chloe McAfee
Friday Evening Parades at the Marine Barracks
This breathtaking 75-minute ceremony showcases the precision and pride of the Marine Corps with spectacular performances by "The President's Own" Marine Band, "The Commandant's Own" Drum & Bugle Corps and the renowned Silent Drill Platoon. Held every Friday from May through August at the historic "Oldest Post of the Corps," the free event has captivated audiences for decades.
Marine Barracks, 8th & I Streets SE, Washington, DC 20390
Nationals Postgame Concert Series
Don't miss this dreamy summer experience – purchase tickets to select Nats’ games and gain access to some of the coolest shows of the season. On-field passes are available.
Nationals Park, 1500 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
DC Festival of Magic – Aug. 28-30
Back at the Capital Hilton for a fifth year, the DC Festival of Magic brings together the best magicians in the Mid-Atlantic region for three nights of Labor Day weekend entertainment that will make your head spin.
More info
Capital Hilton, 1001 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Folger Shakespeare Library
Imagining Shakespeare: Mythmaking and Storytelling in the Regency Era – Through Aug. 2
For the first time since 1805, 14 paintings from the renowned Boydell Shakespeare Gallery in London are on view together. Visit the Folger Shakespeare Library and capitalize on this rare chance to see the tremendous collection, which features depictions of scenes from the Bard’s plays as imagined by leading artists of the day.
Hours | Free Admission
Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art – Through Aug. 23
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
National Gallery of Art
Mary Cassatt: An American in Paris – Through Aug. 30
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 will be on display.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
Dear America – Through Sept. 20
Explore how artists have captured and questioned the American experience over the last 250 years. Through more than 100 works on paper spanning photography, prints and drawings, discover powerful depictions of the nation’s landscapes, people and ideals of freedom.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
National Museum of Asian Art
Into the Waters with Senju and Bingyi: Two Contemporary Paintings – Through Sept. 27
Japanese artists Hiroshi Senju and Bingyi and their different visualizations of water – each hypnotic and transfixing in their own way – form the basis of this new exhibit at the National Museum of Asian Art. Senju’s abstract approach and Bingy’s traditional methods along with each painter’s influences and ethos are examined in detail.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of Asian Art, 1050 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20004
America’s State Flowers: An America250 Celebration – Through Oct. 12
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
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Ms. Americana – Through Oct. 31
The National Museum of Women in the Arts' (NMWA) take on nostalgia, Ms. Americana invites viewers to consider 250 years of the American experience through ten works of art by nine American women artists from the 18th through the 20th centuries. The paintings, which include still-lifes, portraits and landscapes, are curated from NMWA’s collection and were created by women who also owned businesses, traveled the world and engaged in politics. The scope here is broad and tender.
Hours & Admission
National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
Work by Kate Capshaw
Portrait of a Nation: 2025 Honorees – Through Nov. 8
In honor of recent recipients of the Portrait of a Nation Award, the National Portrait Gallery showcases an exhibit dedicated to stunning work. The award elevates “extraordinary individuals who have made transformative contributions to the United States and its people.” This year’s group of honorees includes Jamie Dimon, business leader, by photographer Jason Alden; Temple Grandin, professor, inventor and groundbreaking researcher of animal science, by artist David Lenz; Joy Harjo, renowned poet, performer and writer of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and 23rd U.S. poet laureate, by artist Joel Daniel Phillips; and Steven Spielberg, Academy Award-winning director, producer and writer, by artist Kate Capshaw.
11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission
National Portrait Gallery, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20001
Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe – Through Jan. 1, 2027
The acclaimed Ho-Chunk artist receives his first major retrospective at the National Museum of the American Indian. Truman Lowe used willow branches, feathers and organic materials to create minimalist sculptures to evoke rivers, streams and waterfalls. The exhibit also features similarly distinctive drawings and paintings by Lowe.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of the American Indian, 4th Street & Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Nick Cave: Mammoth – Through Jan. 3, 2027
Internationally renowned artist Nick Cave uses surrealism, real-life experiences, raw materials and an unceasing creative intensity to create works that speak to race, gender, identity and history in America. This new installation at the Smithsonian American Art Museum explores the entanglement of land and race in the national consciousness.
11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission
Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004
Adam Pendleton: Love, Queen – Through Jan. 3, 2027
Known for his rigorous work in creating jaw-dropping paintings, Adam Pendleton will showcase new and recent pieces as well as single-channel video in this landmark exhibition at the Hirshhorn Museum. Pendleton’s first solo showcase will highlight his contributions to contemporary American painting and utilize the architecture of the Hirshhorn and the vast history of DC’s National Mall.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, Independence Avenue & 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20560
InSight: Photos and Stories from the Archives – Ongoing
Peer into Indigenous lives from across the Western hemisphere over time thanks to a new exhibit at the National Museum of the American Indian. Through this special selection picked from more than 500,000 images, the museum highlights moments of everyday joy, education and familial bonding. Each photo has its own story to tell.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of the American Indian, 4th Street & Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560
Ruffled Feathers: Creating Whistler’s Peacock Room – Through Jan. 31, 2027
One of the most famous rooms in the nation’s capital receives a full in-depth investigation thanks to a new exhibit at the National Museum of Asian Art. The Peacock Room is the museum’s calling card, and this display will be located right next door. The creation of James McNeill Whistler was originally meant for the London home of British businessman Frederick Leyland. Its origin story and tangled history is detailed through paintings, works on paper, decorative art and additional ephemera.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of Asian Art, 1050 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560
Forces for Change: Mary McLeod Bethune and Black Women’s Activism – Ongoing
Explore the powerful societal impact of local hero, educator and reformer Mary McLeod Bethune at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The exhibit space focuses on Bethune’s incredible work with the National Council of Negro Women as well as the contributions of other women who have fought for social change. In total, the display includes 75 images, 35 artifacts, a multimedia film, an eight-foot-tall plaster sculpture of Bethune and an interactive engagement.
More info | Free Admission
National Museum of African American History and Culture, 1400 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
Fierce Flora: Tales of Survival and Demise – Ongoing
The U.S. Botanic Garden invites you to see the ferocious side of flora and fauna at its special new exhibit. Many plants have evolved defenses against infection, herbivores and their plant competition. The multisensory display will showcase this evolution and also pinpoint how these plants can be both harmful and helpful to humans.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20001
InSight: Photos and Stories from the Archives – Ongoing
Peer into Indigenous lives from across the Western hemisphere over time thanks to a new exhibit at the National Museum of the American Indian. Through this special selection picked from more than 500,000 images, the museum highlights moments of everyday joy, education and familial bonding. Each photo has its own story to tell.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of the American Indian, 4th Street & Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560
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 today!
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