Things to do the week of Aug. 24 – 27, 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
Summer Restaurant Week
Stay tuned for more details from the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington. The celebration annually features deals from more than 150 restaurants throughout the DC area.
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
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
Tuesday
National Gallery of Art
Mary Cassatt: An American in Paris
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
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
Live Nation
Jack Harlow
From Internet sensation to GRAMMY-nominated global pop star, Jack Harlow has been on a steady rise since his debut album dropped in 2020. His tour in support of this year’s Monica visits The Anthem for a late-summer show that will feature the rapper/singer’s biggest hits inside the state-of-the-art venue at The Wharf.
8 p.m. | Tickets
The Anthem, 901 Wharf Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
Wednesday
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Ms. Americana
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
Capital Harvest on the Plaza
Located at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Capital Harvest on the Plaza is open from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Wednesdays from May through October. During your visit, you’ll find plenty of farm-fresh deliciousness and artisanal crafts, as well as recipes and tips for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Check out the full list of vendors to start planning your haul.
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Wednesdays | Free Admission
Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
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
Thursday
National Museum of Asian Art
Saodat Ismailova: Melted Into the Sun
The first major solo museum presentation in the U.S. by film and installation artist Saodat Ismailova highlights her ongoing interest in Central Asia’s traditions, oral histories and landscapes. A unique blend of images, sounds and textures, Ismailova’s work creates a space between dream and reality.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of Asian Art, East Building, 1050 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20004
Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art
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
Snarkitecture Architecture
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
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
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