Washington DC Official Visitors Guide - Washington DC Official Visitors Guide Spring/Summer 2026
The Arts & Culture Capital
2026-01-28 10:09:56
No city tells a story like DC. The District's theaters, museums and music venues make it a goldmine for artistic brilliance.
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SHOWTIME
1776
March 13 – May 16 | Ford's Theatre
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.
The Crucible
March 19-29 | The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Artistic director Francesca Zambello directs Robert Ward’s Tony Award® winning play based on Arthur Miller's Pulitzer Prize-winning opera, which drops audiences into the heart of the Salem witch trials.
Sasha Velour's Travesty
March 24 – April 12 | Woolly Mammoth Theatre
The RuPaul's Drag Race winner
Sasha Velour stages a multi-media extravaganza on queer history and resistance featuring lip syncing, video art and costume changes.
The Minutes
April 4 – May 3 | Keegan Theatre
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright
Tracy Letts's brilliant examination of small-town politics plays out over the course of one city council meeting.
Othello
May 19 – June 21 | Harman Hall
Shakespeare's earth-shaking tale of deceit, betrayal and paranoia is vividly staged by Simon Godwin with The Wire's Wendell Pierce in the titular role.
CrazySexyCool: The TLC Musical
June 12 – Aug. 9 | Arena Stage
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. Arena Stage's 75th anniversary launched in 2025 and will continue through 2026.
Encore!
National Theatre: The nation's oldest venue to still present touring Broadway
Step Afrika!: The first professional company dedicated to the stepping tradition
Studio Theatre: Provocative productions on 14th Street
Dance Place: See a show or take a dance class
Strathmore: 16-acre campus with events at the music center and mansion
Signature Theatre: Stages classic and contemporary productions in Arlington, Va.
Unique MUSEUM EXPERIENCES
Visit Anacostia and tour the District's official site for the appreciation of go-go music to learn about the genre's history and its powerful ties to the community.
New gardens, a revitalized Great Hall and the world's largest Shakespeare collection make this a can't-miss destination.
Go on an undercover mission and discover a world of secrets that includes spy stories, gadgetry and disguises.
SMITHSONIAN ANACOSTIA COMMUNITY MUSEUM
The first federally funded community museum in the U.S. is in DC's official arts and culture district and features rotating exhibits.
The Great Hall greets you with colossal Corinthian columns before you examine the world of architecture and design in a family-friendly environment.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WOMEN IN THE ARTS
In addition to special exhibitions and dynamic programming, encounter more than 5,500 works by over 1,000 women artists.
Live MUSIC VENUES
Capacity: 6,000
What to Expect: Popular artists and independents, stand-up comedians, live podcasts
Capacity: 1,200
What to Expect: Alternative legends, current critical darlings, local bands, dance parties
Capacity: 250
What to Expect: Emerging and independent artists in an intimate setting
Capacity: 1,200+
What to Expect: Emerging stars, stand-up comedians, hip-hop, R&B
Capacity: 1,800+
What to Expect: Legacy acts, indie artists, stand-up comedians, live podcasts
FILENE CENTER AT WOLF TRAP (VIRGINIA)
Capacity: 7,000+
What to Expect: World-renowned acts at outdoor amphitheater with lots of lawn seating
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http://washington.org/arts?utm_medium=eguide&utm_source=bluetoad&utm_campaign=DC2026
EXPLORE DC'S MUSIC, MURALS, EXHIBITS AND SHOWS AT WASHINGTON.ORG/ARTS
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