Things to Do This February 2027 in Washington, DC

Honor Black History Month in DC
Black history and culture are essential parts of DC’s identity, and the city offers many ways to celebrate throughout February. Explore year-round ways to honor the Black experience at museums and memorials, support a Black-owned business or dine at one of the District’s Black-owned restaurants.

 

Washington Capitals

Attend a Capitals, Wizards or Go-Go game
Winter brings exciting indoor sports action to the District. The NHL’s Washington Capitals and the NBA’s Washington Wizards play at Capital One Arena, while the Capital City Go-Go take the court at CareFirst Arena. Check each team’s schedule as February approaches.

 

Ice skate in DC
Lace up and glide around popular seasonal rinks at the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden, Washington Harbour in Georgetown, Canal Park in Capitol Riverfront and The Wharf. Operating dates depend on weather and will be announced by each rink.

 

Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association

Celebrate Lunar New Year in the District – Begins Feb. 6
Welcome the Year of the Goat with colorful celebrations across the city. Annual programming often includes performances, educational talks, special tours, hands-on activities and community festivities. Check the event guide closer to February for confirmed 2027 details.
More Information
 

National Gallery of Art

National Gallery Nights
The National Gallery of Art’s popular after-hours series transforms the East Building with themed performances, artmaking, talks and gallery experiences. Admission is free, but registration is required. The February 2027 date and program will be announced by the museum.
National Gallery of Art East Building, 4th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20565
 

NMWA Nights
The National Museum of Women in the Arts’ recurring evening series can feature artmaking, performances, music and interactive activities throughout the galleries. The February 2027 date and program will be announced on the museum’s calendar.
National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
 

Capitol Hill Volleyball Classic

Capitol Hill Volleyball Classic – Feb. 13–15
Founded in 2007, this annual Presidents’ Day weekend tournament brings hundreds of youth volleyball teams to the nation’s capital.
More Information
Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Allen Y. Lew Place NW, Washington, DC 20001
 

George Washington's Mount Vernon

Celebrate Presidents’ Day and Washington’s Birthday – Feb. 15
The nation’s capital offers distinctive ways to engage with the history and legacy of U.S. presidents. Take an architecture-focused excursion with DC Design Tours, plan a day of presidential experiences, explore DC’s monuments and memorials, enjoy presidential dining or check George Washington’s Mount Vernon calendar for holiday programming.
 

©Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden

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
 

Hillwood Museum

Interwoven: A Tradition of Textiles – Through Jan. 3, 2027
Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, the sumptuous estate of Marjorie Merriweather Post, presents myriad treasures literally in every corner – this year they’ve rounded up their rich holding of fabrics for their first ever textile-focused exhibition. The offering invites visitors to consider the enduring power of textiles, not only as decorative or domestic objects but also as expressions of identity, devotion, innovation and exquisite craftsmanship.
No tickets required; suggested $20 donation for adults
Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
 

National Museum of the American Indian

Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe – Through Jan. 18, 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
 

National Portrait Gallery

The Spirit of Invention: Patent Office and Patentees – Through June 6, 2027
Timed with the U.S. semiquincentennial, the National Portrait Gallery commemorates the founding of its historic home with The Spirit of Invention: Patent Office and Patentees. The exhibition sketches the early history of the Patent Office – the third oldest building in DC – through works in the museum’s collection. 
11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. |  Free Admission
National Portrait Gallery, First Floor, East Galleries, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20001
 

Homelands – Through Aug. 1, 2027
Discover how people and places relate to each other in a new exhibit at the National Gallery of Art’s East Building. Across 20 pieces, see the ways in which artists consider ancestral links, pressures that caused them to move from one place to the next and the larger histories to be found all across the United States.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. |  Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 4th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20565
 

Smithsonian Institution

Reset: Abstraction Embodied in Design – Through June 2028
Running for two years beginning on June 12, this exhibit at the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) takes a cerebral look at the way thoughtfully shaped furniture shapes our environments and our perspectives. Explore the ways that designers, much like visual artists, harness abstraction as both a technique and a source of inspiration.
Free Admission |  Hours & Information (timed passes required)
National Museum of African American History and Culture, 1400 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
 

Smithsonian Institution

From These Lands: Sharing Our Natural and Cultural Heritage – Through 2029
As part of Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250 programming, the National Museum of Natural History displays more than 600 artifacts that represent all 50 U.S. states, DC and an additional five U.S. territories. Items range from significant scientific discoveries to cultural keepsakes to ancient fossils like an American mastodon tooth.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. |  Free Admission
National Museum of Natural History, 10th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
 

Smithsonian Institution

Revelation: A Journey Into Abstraction – Through June 2028
NMAAHC dives even deeper into abstraction with this installation which explores the profound range and depth of abstract art created by African American artists from the mid‑20th century to the present. The exhibit reintroduces key works from the museum's collection and debuts new acquisitions, offering fresh contexts and perspectives.
Free Admission |  Hours & Information (timed passes required)
National Museum of African American History and Culture, 1400 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
 

Ruffled Feathers: Creating Whistler’s Peacock Room – Ongoing
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
 

National Museum of the American Indian

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
 
 

Big Things for Big Rooms – Through July 4, 2027
Explore the evolution of immersive, large-scale art from the late 1960s to today. Drawn largely from the Hirshhorn’s collection, the exhibition examines how installation artists expand the boundaries of an artwork and the role of the visitor.
Hours | Free Admission
Hirshhorn Museum, Independence Avenue & 7th Street SW, Washington, DC 20560
 

National Museum of American History

How Can You Forget Me: Filipino American Stories – Through Nov. 28, 2027
This exhibition explores California’s Little Manila, a Filipino American community that thrived from the 1910s through the 1970s. More than 50 artifacts preserved in steamer trunks offer insight into a community that was once home to the largest population of Filipinos living outside the Philippines.
10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of American History, 1300 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
 

Fierce Flora: Tales of Survival and Demise – Ongoing
The U.S. Botanic Garden invites visitors to discover the ferocious side of flora. The multisensory exhibition explores how plants defend themselves against infection, herbivores and competition, while showing how those adaptations can be harmful or helpful to humans.
10 a.m.–5 p.m. | Free Admission
U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20001
 

Places to Stay

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