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Things to do the week of July 13 – 16, 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
THE PLAYGROUND
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
National Museum of African American History and Culture
At the Vanguard
The National Museum of African American History and Culture’s new exhibit features more than 100 objects from the collections of five Historically Black Colleges and Universities (Clark Atlanta, Florida A&M, Jackson State, Texas Southern, Tuskegee) in a stunning display of how these institutions have shaped American education and culture through innovation, ingenuity, resistance and activism.
Free Admission | Hours & Information
National Museum of African American History & Culture, 1400 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
Homelands
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
Tuesday
The Declaration's Promise
In honor of America's 250th birthday, the Library of Congress showcases a range of rare artifacts that illustrate the promise found in the nation's original Declaration of Independence. Featured treasures include Thomas Jefferson’s rough draft of the Declaration, Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, Walt Whitman's writing pen and much, much more. Phrases from the Declaration are used to organize this dynamic exhibit.
Free Admission | Hours
Library of Congress, 101 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20540
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.
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Free Admission
Smithsonian Arts + Industries Building, 900 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington, DC 20560
Pippin
Located in Arlington, Va., Signature Theatre regularly stages modern rei-imaginings of classic productions. Next May, the company takes on Pippin. The coming-of-age tale will be brought to vivid life with wit, wonder and unforgettable music.
Tickets
Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206
Wednesday
Visit the new Lincoln Memorial Undercroft
Just in time for America's 250th anniversary, the Lincoln Memorial invites visitors to experience its story in a whole new way. A century-old secret opens to the public on June 25 – 15,000 square feet of immersive exhibits right beneath your feet. Exhibits will also trace the construction history of the memorial and explore how its meaning has evolved across generations. Also, for the first time, original signed copies of both the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment will be on display together, housed beneath the president who made them law. It's a once-in-a-generation opportunity to stand in the presence of the documents that reshaped America. Timed entry passes are required.
More Information
Smithsonian Institution
American Aspirations
Co-curated by Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch, American Aspirations brings together some of the Smithsonian’s most treasured objects to commemorate the Declaration of Independence and consider how founding ideals have been interpreted across generations. The special exhibit will be housed inside the majestic Smithsonian Castle, which is temporarily open through Sept. 7. Among the highlights: the desk Thomas Jefferson used while writing the Declaration, Sally Ride's in-space flight suit, a personal hymnal that belonged to Harriet Tubman and a candle stand used by George Washington.
8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
Smithsonian Castle, 1000 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington, DC 20560
Photo by Michelle Grace Hunder
Beetlejuice
The musical adaptation of Tim Burton's classic film comes to the National Theatre for a limited engagement in July. The ghost-with-the-most returns to DC by popular demand after a previous, very successful run at the historic venue. The strange and unusual Lydia Deetz meets a recently deceased couple and a demon who's really into stripes (make sure not to say his name three times). An adventure unlike any other unfolds from there, packed with unforgettable songs.
Tickets
National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
Arena Stage
CrazySexyCool: The TLC Musical
Creep your way to one of the coolest venues in DC for a musical based on the fascinating story behind one of the most successful female pop groups ever. CrazySexyCool follows T-Boz, Left Eye and Chilli on a riveting (mostly true) journey that includes hit songs such as “Waterfalls,” “Creep” and “No Scrubs”.
Tickets
Arena Stage, 1101 6th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
Thursday
Visit the new National Geographic Museum of Exploration
The highly anticipated National Geographic Museum of Exploration invites visitors to immerse themselves in the excitement of exploration and discovery. Expect cutting-edge technology that uncovers wildlife, communities and cultures from all over the world as well as an immersive outdoor courtyard. Visit the museum's website for more details on what to expect.
9 a.m. – 8 p.m. (last entry at 7 p.m.) | Tickets
National Geographic Museum of Exploration, 1600 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
DC Public Library
District Vibes / American Pride: How DC Changed American Culture
DC gave the world the football huddle, the modern blood bank and legends like Marvin Gaye. Discover the vibrant contributions of Washingtonians through images, artifacts, storytelling and free programs. The main exhibit location is Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, but satellite locations can be found across the city.
More Information | Free Admission
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
The Play That Goes Wrong
This 1920s whodunit has everything you never wanted in a show – an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead and actors who trip over everything (including their lines). Part Monty Python, part Sherlock Holmes, this Olivier Award-winning comedy is a global phenomenon that’s guaranteed to leave you aching with laughter.
Tickets
Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Signature Theatre Company
What Became of Us
See the DC premiere of this “soaring, poetic play” about a sister and a brother, the elder born in “The Old Country” and the younger born in “This Country,” striving for connection over the course of a lifetime. Runtime is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes with no intermission.
Tickets
Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206
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