Things to do the week of March 16-19, 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
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 Asian Art
Vishnu’s Cosmic Ocean
The largest bronze statue ever cast in Southeast Asia can be experienced in full scale for the first time in centuries thanks to the National Museum of Asian Art. The depiction of the Hindu god Vishnu dreaming the universe into existence while asleep on a coiled serpent in the ocean is on loan from the National Museum of Cambodia. The exhibit of the 20-foot sculpture also includes an exclusive film that dives into its original setting.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of Asian Art, 1050 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20004
National Gallery of Art
Celebrating American Art
The National Gallery of Art will commemorate 250 years of America with a wide-ranging program that encompasses special installations and exhibitions that grapple with ideas at the heart of American stories vividly told through art. The series begins with Celebrating American Art, which includes iconic works and showcases how artists reckoned with the American story from the colonial to the 20th century.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
1776
The story of the signing of the Declaration of Independence is transformed into a vibrant musical as the country’s beginnings are brought to blazing life inside the historic Ford's Theatre.
Tickets
Ford's Theatre, 511 10th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
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
Signature Theatre Company
Safety Not Guaranteed
Based on the film of the same name, this Signature Theatre Company production mixes indie rock with imagination into an unforgettable time traveling adventure. Journalist Darius sees a classified ad requesting “someone to go back in time with me” and agrees to go along for the ride. She gets in over her head very quickly.
Tickets
Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206
Shakespeare Theatre Company
Hamnet
With the 2025 film adaptation up for eight Oscars, you would be well-served to see the U.S. premiere of Royal Shakespeare Company’s stage take on Maggie O’Farrell’s best-selling novel. The powerful tale focuses on the deep impacts of grief and loss while also showcasing how suffering can lead to extraordinary wonder.
Tickets
Harman Hall, 610 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Folger Theatre
As You Like It
One of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies is reimagined by Folger Theatre’s Artistic Director Karen Ann Daniels. The story concerns Rosalind and her cousin, Celia, who are forced to leave the “court” and in turn explore the vast forest of Arden, where adventure awaits. The setting conjures love for DC, and the production takes care to showcase the city as a place of redemption, resilience and community.
Tickets
Folger Theatre, 201 East Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
Wednesday
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Making Their Mark: Works from the Shah Garg Collection
This exhibition illustrates women artists’ vital role in abstraction, showcasing work by some of the most important artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Drawn entirely from the contemporary art collection of Komal Shah and Gaurav Garg, the exhibition considers historical contributions, formal and material breakthroughs and intergenerational relationships among women artists over the last eight decades. It brings together over 70 pieces in all kinds of media, juxtaposing current work with its historical antecedents.
Hours & Admission
National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
Camouflage: Designed to Deceive
The International Spy Museum’s new self-guided experience takes visitors through the fascinating history of camouflage and its many connections to espionage. Trace camouflage from its natural origins to its application to covert operations. In the form of real stories, artifacts and immersive media, the exhibition will show how animals, soldiers and spies have employed the strategy of hiding in plain sight.
Hours & Admission
International Spy Museum, 700 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20024
The National Theatre
Disney's Beauty and the Beast
This "tale as old as time" awaits you at National Theatre, on stage like never before. Disney’s first North American production of the beloved musical in over 25 years, the show includes all your favorites from the original plus spectacular new sets and costumes, and, of course, the Oscar-winning and Tony Award-nominated score, including the classic songs “Be Our Guest” and “Beauty and the Beast.” Whether you're team Gaston (why?) or team Beast, or maybe just team love, this one's for you.
Tickets
The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
The Anthem
FKA twigs
Triumphantly emerging from London’s underground art scene, FKA twigs has innovated across multiple disciplines, from music to dance to the visual arts to fashion. Each one of her releases has gained widespread acclaim, including last year’s Eusexua. An FKA twigs show will be quite a spectacle inside The Anthem.
8 p.m. | Tickets
The Anthem, 901 Wharf Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
Thursday
Stumpy’s Petal & Paddles Race
As the calendar turns to springtime, mark the occasion with an on-the-water adventure. The inaugural Stumpy’s Petal & Paddles Race asks tandems to challenge each other across the water of the Tidal Basin. Spectators are welcome, with live music and local food vendors expected on-site. Half of the proceeds from the event go towards the Trust for the National Cherry Blossom Tree Endowment Fund.
4 p.m. | Tickets
Meet at 1501 Maine Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024
Photo by Gary Staab
Bronze Bison
Over a century ago, bison roamed outside the Smithsonian Castle building. This spring, the National Museum of Natural History commemorates this history with three larger-than-life bronze bison created by sculptor Gary Staab. The pieces, which are at 125% scale and modeled after taxidermy specimens, will live outside the National Museum of Natural History.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, 10th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
Arena Stage
Chez Joey
Prepare for a blockbuster at Arena Stage as Chez Joey lands at the historic playhouse. Co-directed by Tony Award-winning choreographer Savion Glover and actor, director and producer Tony Goldwyn, the set-in-1940s-Chicago show includes a Rodgers and Hart score as well as a spellbinding tale of a singer caught between a rich baroness and an ambitious chorus girl on his way to the top (he hopes).
Tickets
Arena Stage, 1101 6th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
at 1501 Maine Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024
The Crucible
The Kennedy Center stages Robert Ward’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning opera based on Arthur Miller’s play. The spellbinding tale drops audiences into the heart of the Salem witch trials.
Tickets
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566
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