D.C.’s tourism board is ramping up plans for America’s 250th in 2026, unveiling a citywide schedule of museum exhibitions, free performances and national observances centered on the National Mall.
Highlights include: the National Archives’ “Road to Revolution” through Aug. 6, 2026; permanent Rotunda encasements for the 19th Amendment and Emancipation Proclamation in March 2026; the National Museum of American History’s “In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness” opening March 2026 with Thomas Jefferson’s drafting desk and the gunboat Philadelphia; and yearlong National Gallery of Art programs plus a June 6 campus “Block Party.”
The Kennedy Center will present free Millennium Stage performances from all 50 states, D.C. and U.S. territories throughout 2026, launch “The Promise of Us,” and host a 250,000-participant National Scrollathon (May 26–Sept. 7). The International Spy Museum’s “Spying Launched a Nation” highlights George Washington’s 1777 espionage letter in an immersive setting.
Civic tentpoles include Presidents’ Day (Feb. 16), Memorial Day weekend events (May 23–25) and a July 4 fireworks and parade on the Mall. Anticipated 2026 openings include the National Geographic Museum of Exploration, an immersive museum beneath the Lincoln Memorial (July), and the National Air and Space Museum’s expanded galleries (July). DC JazzFest runs Sept. 2–6; the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden reopens in fall 2026.
Read full plans here and begin saving dates as you peruse what the city’s cultural institutions, museums, attractions, restaurants and hotels have planned. .
A global media for the latest news, entertainment, music fashion, and more.
