Things to do the week of Jan. 19-22, 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
Honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day in DC
The nation's capital presents unique opportunities to reflect on the legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Walk along his moving memorial along the Tidal Basin, visit the site of the famous "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial, see incredible photography and historic artifacts at the National Museum of African American History and Culture or attend a commemorative event, including the Peace Walk and Parade.
National Building Museum
Winter Skate Spectacular
Don’t fret! The National Building Museum will bring back its indoor ice-skating rink this year. Sponsored by the DowntownDC Business Improvement District and Events DC, the Winter Skate Spectacular will offer daytime and after-hours skate sessions this year. Visitors can also enjoy The Wave, a 55-by-180-foot recycled aluminum space frame suspended in the Great Hall.
Tickets & More Information
National Building Museum, 401 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Bar Japonais © Nina Palazzolo
Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week
Washington, DC's Winter Restaurant Week returns every January with the promise of high-quality dining, excellent deals and relief to the winter blues. Savor every last bite while taking advantage of special menus and pricing, including to-go options and cocktail and wine pairings, courtesy of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington and 200+ participating eateries.
Tuesday
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
Photo by Kate Capshaw
Portrait of a Nation: 2025 Honorees
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
Photo by Ruth Orkin
Ruth Orkin: Women on the Move
The National Museum of Women in the Arts displays 21 vintage photos by Ruth Orkin. The collection documents women’s lives in the mid-20th century across images of European tourists, Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps members, Hollywood celebrities, Broadway stars and women at work in classrooms, parks and neighborhoods.
Hours & Admission
National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
Wednesday
The Phillips Collection
peter campus: there somewhere
The Phillips Collection showcases one of the leading figures in new media art with there somewhere. peter campus’ breakthrough videos from the early 1970s are displayed alongside four new, serene landscape works, which the artist has named “the phillips quartets”.
Hours & Admission
The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Grandma Moses: A Good Day's Work
Anna Mary Robertson Moses, who was dubbed “Grandma Moses” by the press, lived through the American Civil War, two world wars and the civil rights era. In the 1940s, she emerged as a central figure thanks to her unique tapestries of American life. The Smithsonian American Art Museum introduces her essential work to new generations with an in-depth exhibit.
11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission
Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004
National Museum of Women in the Arts
NMWA Nights
The National Museum of Women in the Arts invites you to peruse its galleries, sip on a cocktail, enjoy a performance, attend a tour or take part in art-making activities. Two drink tickets are included with admission; additional beverages and food are available for purchase.
5:30-8 p.m. | Tickets
National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
Thursday
Big Things for Big Rooms
Explore the evolution of immersive, large-scale art from the late 1960s to today. The presentation of 10 artworks—five on view for the first time at the Hirshhorn—is drawn largely from the museum's collection. Organized in two parts, the exhibition offers a multisensorial investigation of how artists create installation works that 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
Studio Theatre
Octet
How does an a cappella chamber musical featuring eight people who have stashed away their phones while trapped in a church basement sound? Octet at Studio Theare will be just that, as total strangers battle their digital dependency and make attempts at true connection through the power of their voices. Escape your screen with this theater-in-the-round performance.
Tickets
Studio Theatre, 1501 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
National Theatre
Gabby’s Dollhouse Live
A new stage show based on the global sensation that is Gabby’s Dollhouse comes to The National Theatre. Prepare for an experience packed with family-friendly entertainment, including a fun original story, jaw-dropping puppets, dynamic staging and a live show packed with talent and songs kids will love.
Tickets
The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
Eric Church
The Anthem welcomes one of country music’s biggest stars for a night that will be loaded with some of the genre’s most popular songs. Church has been churning out hits since his debut in 2006 and now sports a resume filled with awards and chart-topping hits.
8 p.m. | Tickets
The Anthem, 901 Wharf Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
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