Smithsonian Events

The Art of Indigo, Inspired by George Washington Carver

Monday, June 15, 2026, 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Join Kenya Miles, founder of Blue Light Junction, for an in-person workshop exploring the art and history of natural indigo dyeing. Participants will learn about the cultural significance of indigo, the dyeing process, and techniques for creating unique patterns while dyeing their own bandana to take home. We will also be joined by Museum Curator Jeanelle K. Hope shares insights into Carver’s practice of experimentation and ingenuity at Tuskegee University. This workshop is presented in support of the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s traveling exhibition, At the Vanguard: Making and Saving History at HBCUs.

Who this workshop is for:

Families and intergenerational groups who want to create together
Individuals curious about natural dyes
Beginners and experienced practitioners
Anyone looking to deepen their connection to material-based practices and learn more about Carver’s legacy

For Inquiries, please email NMAAHCEngage@si.edu

Sponsor: African American History and Culture Museum
Venue: African American History and Culture Museum
Event Location: 2nd Floor Classroom
Cost: This workshop has sold out.
Categories: After Five, Workshops
Related Exhibition: At the Vanguard: Making and Saving History at HBCUs

Analog Nights

Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 5 – 7 pm

Slow down, unwind, and take a break from doomscrolling with a screen-free night of creativity and community at the Portrait Gallery. Bring your favorite analog hobby and enjoy the peaceful ambiance of the Kogod Courtyard. Need inspiration? Think needlepoint, knitting, sketching, watercolor, junk journaling, mahjong, and more. Each Analog Night will feature a spotlight activity inspired by the Portrait Gallery’s collection. Come solo or with friends! For ages 18+.

Sponsor: Portrait Gallery
Venue: Portrait Gallery
Event Location: Kogod Courtyard
Cost: Free. Registration Encouraged.
Get Tickets/Register: www.eventbrite.com…
Categories: After Five, Workshops
More info: www.eventbrite.com…

Seafood 101: How to Shop Smarter, Eat Better and Rethink Aquaculture

Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 7 – 8:30 pm

Navigating seafood can feel confusing, from labels and sourcing claims to ongoing debates around sustainability and aquaculture. In this talk Imani Black, founder of Minorities in Aquaculture, will break down how consumers can better understand the seafood they’re buying and eating, including how to read seafood labels, what to look for at the market and how to ask the right questions. She'll also address some of the most common misconceptions about aquaculture and what it actually means for our food systems. Grounded in real-world experience, this session will help people feel more confident and informed in their seafood choices. By the end, attendees will have practical tools to make decisions that align with their values, budgets and access.

This event is part of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)’s free evening science talks, and it will be recorded! Closed captions will be available during the live stream and on the recording. By signing up on Zoom, you’ll be able to watch live and receive a link to the recording a few days after the live stream. SERC seeks to showcase a wide variety of topics and perspectives for its evening science talks. Views expressed during these talks belong to the individual speakers and not the Smithsonian.

Sign up on Zoom to watch live stream or recording

Photo courtesy of Imani Black

Sponsor: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Event Location: Online only
Online Link: smithsonian.zoom.us…
Cost: Free
Get Tickets/Register: smithsonian.zoom.us…
Categories: After Five, Lectures & Discussions, Webcasts & Online
Accessibility: Captioning
More info: smithsonian.zoom.us…

Natural History on the Big Screen: Bring Them Home Screening and Q&A (Rescheduled from May 28)

Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Bison: Standing Strong, the newest exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History explores the remarkable story of bison; how these iconic animals shaped North American landscapes for more than 100,000 years and anchored Indigenous lifeways for generations, and the dedicated efforts to ensure their survival after they were pushed to the brink of extinction in the 19^th century.

Join us for a screening of Bring Them Home, a film that tells the story of the Blackfoot people striving to re-establish wild buffalo on tribal land after 100 years of absence. The film recounts efforts to restore buffalo, land, traditional culture and bring healing to the Blackfeet community. Narrated and executive produced by Oscar nominee, Blackfeet/Nez Perce actor, Lily Gladstone, the film has been an audience favorite at festivals.

After the screening, Sant Director Kirk Johnson moderates a conversation with Ivan MacDonald, co-director and producer of the film, and Sarah Johnson, postdoctoral fellow at NMNH researching bison genomics. After the conversation and audience Q&A, guests are invited to check out the Bison: Standing Strong exhibit after hours.

Registration is requested. Space is filled on a first come, first served basis. The program takes place in Q?rius, the Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center and the Bison: Standing Strong exhibit hall. All other museum spaces will be closed.

Sponsor: Natural History Museum
Venue: Natural History Museum
Event Location: National Museum of Natural History (Ground Floor)
Cost: Free; registration is required.
Get Tickets/Register: www.etix.com…
Categories: After Five, Films
Related Exhibition: Bison: Standing Strong
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
More info: www.etix.com…

Take 5: Jazz at SAAM with Paul Bailey (Solstice Edition)

Thursday, June 18, 2026, 5 – 8 pm

Celebrate a uniquely American art form with Take 5: Jazz at SAAM, part of a series of free, live performances. Jazz trumpeter Paul Bailey, a native of Washington, DC and graduate of Howard University, will perform a selection of works by Miles Davis to mark the late jazz icon’s 100th birthday.

This special extended edition of Take 5 is part of the Smithsonian’s multi-day Solstice Celebration with after-hours programming. Borrow a board game to play during the concert, stop by the Courtyard Café to purchase solstice-themed refreshments until 7:30 p.m., or explore SAAM’s special exhibition Grandma Moses: A Good Day’s Work during the extended hour. The National Portrait Gallery, that shares the building with SAAM, is hosting community chalk art activities by Ground Shift Studio for attendees to enjoy throughout the performance.

Presented as part of the Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250 and Solstice.

Image credit: Photo by Matthew Bailey.

Sponsor: Smithsonian American Art Museum
Venue: American Art Museum
Event Location: Kogod Courtyard
Cost: Free | Registration encouraged
Get Tickets/Register: events.blackthorn.io…
Categories: After Five, Performances

Smithsonian Solstice Weekend

Friday, June 19, 2026, 10 am – 11 pm

Free; no registration required.
Friday | June 19 | 10 AM–11 PM
Saturday | June 20 | 10 AM–11 PM
Stay out late with the Smithsonian! Celebrate the official start of summer with Solstice Weekend, with museums across the National Mall staying open late until 11 pm.
The Hirshhorn Museum will keep the following exhibitions open during extended hours:

Step inside Laurie Anderson’s immersive gallery; take in a conversation (across time and space) between Jean-Michel Basquiat and street artist Banksy; and catch the larger than life installations in Big Things for Big Rooms.
Need a moment to soak it all in? Take a break and treat yourself to other late-night perks: pick up the perfect souvenir at the Museum Shop or refresh with drinks (for purchase) at Dolcezza Café.

Sponsor: Hirshhorn Museum
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum
Event Location: Hirshhorn Museum
Cost: Free
Categories: After Five, Kids & Families
Related Exhibition: Laurie Anderson: Four Talks, Basquiat x Banksy, Mark Bradford: Pickett’s Charge, Barbara Kruger: Belief+Doubt, Big Things for Big Rooms, Adam Pendleton: Love, Queen, Revolutions: Art from the Hirshhorn Collection, 1860–1960
More info: hirshhorn.si.edu…

DC | Touch & Hear the Universe

Friday, June 19, 2026, 2 – 4 pm

Experience the universe like never before with the premiere of NASA's Chandra Interactive Sonification Wall, a multisensory exhibit that transforms space data into a symphony of light, sound, and touch. Using spectacular imagery from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, James Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes, this installation allows you to "play" the stars. Motion-tracking sensors activate the soundscapes of iconic cosmic wonders like the Pillars of Creation. Designed for explorers of all ages, this immersive display brings the invisible reaches of deep space to life through cutting-edge astrophysics and storytelling.

Sponsor: American Indian Museum
Venue: American Indian Museum DC
Event Location: Level 1: Rasmuson Theater
Cost: FREE
Categories: After Five, Celebrations, Demonstrations, Kids & Families

Solstice Late Hours at the Castle

Friday, June 19, 2026, 5:30 – 11 pm

In celebration of Solstice weekend and America’s 250th, the Smithsonian Castle is staying open until 11:00 pm. This is a rare chance to experience the historic building after-hours.

The special exhibition, American Aspirations, co-curated by Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III, is on view until 9 pm.

Cafe and shop hours:
Castle Café Summer Shack 250: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

Bar: 5:00 – 10:30 pm. Enjoy after-hours bar service with summer cocktails such as sangria and festive red, white, and blue specialty pours.

The Castle Store: Friday, June 19: 8:30 am - 9:00 pm; Saturday, June 20: 8:30 am – 10:00 pm

Note: This summer, pedestrian and vehicle access along and across the National Mall may be limited—please allow extra time for travel.

Rideshare drop-off location: 950 Independence Ave, SW, Washington, D.C. 20560

Recommended metro station: Smithsonian (Blue, Silver, and Orange lines), follow signs to the Independence Ave. exit

Sponsor: Special Smithsonian Event
Venue: Smithsonian Castle
Event Location: Throughout the building
Cost: Free, and open to the public
Categories: After Five, Celebrations
More info: www.si.edu…

NMNH Solstice Late Night Hours: Friday

Friday, June 19, 2026, 5:30 – 11 pm

In celebration of Smithsonian Solstice weekend and the 250^th anniversary of the United States, the National Museum of Natural History is staying open until 11:00 pm with special programming from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

Grab your self-guided scavenger hunt and make your own postcard with Find Your Place, a new museum-wide project highlighting objects in our permanent exhibits from all U.S. states and territories.

After you complete the scavenger hunt, find our friends at the National Postal Museum table and claim your prize while supplies last.

Check out the Find Your Place Museum Map and more info about the project here.

Enjoy music in the Rotunda (first floor) from DJ Clamazon
Explore all the Museum’s galleries until 11pm, including the two newest exhibits, Bison: Standing Strong and From These Lands on the second floor.

Museum cafés and shops hours:
Atrium Café (ground floor): 11:00 am - 10:00 pm (Grill only from 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm with Grill and beer specials)
Ocean Terrace Café (first floor): 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Coffee Bar (first floor): 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Shops: 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
Museum Store cart outside on Madison Dr.: 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Please note NMNH will be open until 11:00 pm on Saturday, June 20th as well, but without additional programming.

Register here to get updates by email.

Please note, registration is encouraged though not required. Due to high volume, we will not be checking tickets at the door. Registration is the best way for US to get a sense of attendance and it is the best way for YOU to receive updates.

Sponsor: Natural History Museum, Special Smithsonian Event
Co-sponsor: National Postal Museum
Venue: Natural History Museum
Event Location: National Museum of Natural History (10th Street & Constitution Ave, NW)
Cost: Free and open to the public
Get Tickets/Register: www.etix.com…
Categories: After Five
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
More info: www.etix.com…

Solstice Late Hours at the Arts and Industries Building

Friday, June 19, 2026, 6 – 11 pm

In celebration of Solstice weekend and America’s 250th, the Arts and Industries Building is staying open until 11:00 p m. with special programming:

The Voices and Votes traveling exhibition
The Folklife Marketplace (Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20, 10 am – 8 pm)
The conversation series For the Common Good: Smithsonian Voices on Our Shared Future 250 (Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20, 11:00 am and 1:00 pm)
After-hours bar service (Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20, 6:00 – 10:30 pm) with summer cocktails such as sangria and festive red, white, and blue specialty pours
Jazz performances on the Folklife Stage:

Friday, June 19:
6 – 8 pm: The Kenny Rittenhouse Trio
8:30 – 10:30 pm: Grant Langford

Saturday, June 20:
6 – 8 pm: Freeform The Collective
8:30 – 10 pm: Hot Club of DC

Photobooth provided by Photos Enforced

Note: This summer, pedestrian and vehicle access along and across the National Mall may be limited—please allow extra time for travel.

Rideshare drop-off location: 950 Independence Ave, SW, Washington, D.C. 20560

Recommended metro station: Smithsonian (Blue, Silver, and Orange lines), follow signs to the Independence Ave. exit

Sponsor: Special Smithsonian Event
Venue: Arts and Industries Building
Event Location: Throughout the building
Cost: Free, and open to the public
Categories: After Five, Celebrations
More info: www.si.edu…

Open Late for Solstice

Friday, June 19, 2026, 6 – 11 pm

Celebrate 250 years under the sun with the Smithsonian after hours!

The National Air and Space Museum in DC will be open late on Friday, June 19, as part of the Smithsonian's Solstice celebration. Visitors can explore the Museum's galleries from 6 to 11 pm. Free passes are required.
Please note that additional programming will not be available on June 19. Looking for a Solstice event with special activities? Check out our Sally's Night event on Saturday, June 20.

The following Museum amenities will be available on June 19:

Mars Café will be open from 6 to 7 pm
Museum Stores will be open from 6 to 11 pm
Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater will have a screening of Toy Story 5 (fees apply)

Categories: After Five
Sponsor: Air and Space Museum
Venue: Air and Space Museum
Event Location: National Air and Space Museum
Cost: Free, passes required. Passes will be available starting June 2 at noon ET.
Get Tickets/Register: airandspace.si.edu…
More info: airandspace.si.edu…

DC | Amy Hānaialiʻi in Concert

Friday, June 19, 2026, 7 – 8 pm

Vocalist and songwriter Amy Hānaialiʻi has been sharing her powerful voice from an early age. Her grandmother Jennie Napua Woodd, encouraged her to pursue ha‘i, often translated as “catch” or “break”, a Hawaiian vocal tradition of falsetto singing. Hānaialiʻi is known for reviving ha‘i, through her prolific recording career and sold-out performances around the world.

Her success as a recording artist speaks for itself and is evidenced by a multitude of awards and acknowledgements, including 6 GRAMMY® nominations for Best Hawaiian Music Album & Best Native Roots Music Album. Amy is Native Hawaiian, Ojibwe, and of Norwegian and European English descent. Her talent emerges from disciplined classical training, fused powerhouse vocals, and honoring her family’s worldly heritage and rooted ancestral responsibility. Amy is a soul singer and sings in many different genres. Amy’s albums have garnered 18 Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards – Hawai’i’s equivalent to the GRAMMY® awards. On June 12, Hānaialiʻi will be inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Bring the whole family to enjoy Hānaialiʻi’s own compositions along with traditional Hawaiian songs!

Sponsor: American Indian Museum
Venue: American Indian Museum DC
Event Location: Level 1: Potomac Atrium
Cost: FREE
Categories: After Five, Celebrations, Performances

Garden Nights

Friday, June 19, 2026, 7 – 9 pm

Join Smithsonian Gardens in the Enid A. Haupt Garden for a bouquet of special garden activities. Take a closer look at the amazing plants on the tropical terrace. Check out nighttime pollinators and don a pair of moth or butterfly wings for a photo op in the garden! And be sure to check out the Growing Tomorrow exhibition to explore how American gardens have evolved throughout our nation’s history.

This program received support from Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250, a Smithsonian-wide initiative commemorating the nation’s 250th. Signature support for Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250 has been provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. Additional generous contributions have been made by Target.

Sponsor: Smithsonian Gardens
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens
Event Location: Enid A. Haupt Garden
Cost: Free
Categories: After Five
Related Exhibition: Growing Tomorrow
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Discoteca del Sol: An Indepen’DANCE Evening Program

Friday, June 19, 2026, 7 – 11 pm

Celebrate the Smithsonian Solstice Celebration after dark with Discoteca del Sol, a special evening program presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino at the National Museum of American History.

Part of the National Museum of American History’s Indepen’DANCE! celebration, Discoteca del Sol brings together live music, DJ sets, and outdoor summer energy for an evening inspired by the sounds of salsa dura and 1970s orchestral disco. Featuring DJ Adrian Collazo and Orquesta Manplesa, the program explores how Caribbean rhythms, Latin dance music, and disco converged to define the sound of an era.

Held on the Madison Avenue Terrace, this free evening event invites visitors to dance, listen, gather, and experience the musical connections that continue to shape American culture. Discoteca del Sol also extends the themes of the National Museum of the American Latino’s exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa, which traces salsa’s roots, rhythms, migrations, and lasting influence.

Discoteca del Sol is presented by the National Museum of the American Latino at the National Museum of American History as part of Indepen’DANCE! and the Smithsonian Solstice Celebration. The event is free and open to the public.

Acknowledgements
The National Museum of the American Latino is grateful for General Motors’ support of the Molina Family Latino Gallery’s General Motors Learning Lounge and its Learning Program.

This program is made possible, in part, through the generous support of Walmart.

Sponsor: American Latino Museum
Co-sponsor: American History
Venue: American History Museum
Event Location: Madison Ave. Terrace
Cost: Free
Categories: After Five, Celebrations, Performances
Related Events: Indepen'DANCE
Related Exhibition: Puro Ritmo: The Musical Journey of Salsa

DC | Ande the Llama Photobooth

Friday, June 19, 2026, 7:30 – 10 pm

Snap a solstice selfie with Ande the Llama! Pose with our giant plush llama and add some flair with fun photo props provided by museum staff. A great stop for laughs and memorable photos.

Sponsor: American Indian Museum
Venue: American Indian Museum DC
Event Location: Level 1: Potomac Atrium
Cost: FREE
Categories: After Five, Celebrations, Kids & Families

Hidden Haupt Garden Tour

Friday, June 19, 2026, 7:30 – 7:50 pm

Let the Haupt Garden surprise and delight you during this tour of out-of-the-way areas. Your expert garden guide will introduce you to the garden’s people, plants, and stories. Meet at the tour sign just inside the stone garden gates on Independence Avenue.

Sponsor: Smithsonian Gardens
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens
Event Location: The Enid A. Haupt Garden tour begins just inside the garden gates on Independence Avenue. Look for the tour sign.
Cost: Free
Categories: After Five, Gallery Talks & Tours
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Smithsonian Solstice Weekend

Saturday, June 20, 2026, 10 am – 11 pm

Free; no registration required.
Friday | June 19 | 10 AM–11 PM
Saturday | June 20 | 10 AM–11 PM
Stay out late with the Smithsonian! Celebrate the official start of summer with Solstice Weekend, with museums across the National Mall staying open late until 11 pm.
The Hirshhorn Museum will keep the following exhibitions open during extended hours:

DC | Touch & Hear the Universe

Saturday, June 20, 2026, 10:30 am – 12 pm

Experience the universe like never before with the premiere of NASA's Chandra Interactive Sonification Wall, a multisensory exhibit that transforms space data into a symphony of light, sound, and touch. Using spectacular imagery from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, James Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes, this installation allows you to "play" the stars. Motion-tracking sensors activate the soundscapes of iconic cosmic wonders like the Pillars of Creation. Designed for explorers of all ages, this immersive display brings the invisible reaches of deep space to life through cutting-edge astrophysics and storytelling.

Sponsor: American Indian Museum
Venue: American Indian Museum DC
Event Location: Level 1: Rasmuson Theater
Cost: FREE
Categories: After Five, Celebrations, Demonstrations, Kids & Families

DC | Touch & Hear the Universe

Saturday, June 20, 2026, 2 – 4 pm

Experience the universe like never before with the premiere of NASA's Chandra Interactive Sonification Wall, a multisensory exhibit that transforms space data into a symphony of light, sound, and touch. Using spectacular imagery from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, James Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes, this installation allows you to "play" the stars. Motion-tracking sensors activate the soundscapes of iconic cosmic wonders like the Pillars of Creation. Designed for explorers of all ages, this immersive display brings the invisible reaches of deep space to life through cutting-edge astrophysics and storytelling.

Sponsor: American Indian Museum
Venue: American Indian Museum DC
Event Location: Level 1: Rasmuson Theater
Cost: FREE
Categories: After Five, Celebrations, Demonstrations, Kids & Families

Asia After Dark | Smithsonian Solstice

Saturday, June 20, 2026, 5 – 11 pm

Celebrate the longest day of the year with after-hours access to the museum, a DJ dance party, a cafe popup, and exclusive gallery tours and talks!

Dance the day and night away with a special guest DJ Armana Khan! Meanwhile, experience our exhibitions in a new light with exclusive curator tours throughout the evening. Enjoy spotlight talks in our newly opened exhibition Of the Hills: Pahari Paintings from India’s Himalayan Kingdoms.

Schedule

Docent Spotlight Talks
4–7 p.m.
Moongate Cafe Bar
5–9 p.m.
Plaza
Drinks available for purchase while supplies last
DJ Dance Party with Armana Khan
6–9 p.m.
Plaza
Spotlight Talks with Curator Debra Diamond
5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Gallery 24, Of the Hills: Pahari Paintings from India’s Himalayan Kingdoms
Curator Tours
5 p.m. | Gallery 5-7, Japanese Art from the Collection with Curator Naoko Adachi
6 p.m. | Gallery 25, Into the Waters with Curator Jan Stuart

Image: National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Photo by Sonya Pencheva

Sponsor: Asian Art Museum
Venue: Asian Art Museum
Building: West Building
Event Location: National Museum of Asian Art, Plaza
Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended)
Get Tickets/Register: www.eventbrite.com…
Categories: After Five, Celebrations, Performances
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Solstice Late Hours at the Castle

Saturday, June 20, 2026, 5:30 – 11 pm

In celebration of Solstice weekend and America’s 250th, the Smithsonian Castle is staying open until 11:00 pm. This is a rare chance to experience the historic building after-hours.

The special exhibition, American Aspirations, co-curated by Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III, is on view until 9 pm.

Cafe and shop hours:
Castle Café Summer Shack 250: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

Bar: 5:00 – 10:30 pm. Enjoy after-hours bar service with summer cocktails such as sangria and festive red, white, and blue specialty pours.

The Castle Store: Friday, June 19: 8:30 am - 9:00 pm; Saturday, June 20: 8:30 am – 10:00 pm

Note: This summer, pedestrian and vehicle access along and across the National Mall may be limited—please allow extra time for travel.

Rideshare drop-off location: 950 Independence Ave, SW, Washington, D.C. 20560

Recommended metro station: Smithsonian (Blue, Silver, and Orange lines), follow signs to the Independence Ave. exit

Sponsor: Special Smithsonian Event
Event Location: Throughout the building
Cost: Free, and open to the public
Categories: After Five, Celebrations

NMNH Solstice Late Night Hours: Saturday

Saturday, June 20, 2026, 5:30 – 11 pm

The National Museum of Natural History will be open late on Saturday, June 20, as part of the Smithsonian's Solstice celebration. Visitors can explore the Museum's galleries until 11 pm. No passes or registration required.

Museum cafés and shops hours:
Atrium Café (ground floor): 11:00 am - 10:00 pm (Grill only from 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm)
Ocean Terrace Café (first floor): 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Coffee Bar (first floor): 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Shops: 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
Museum Store cart outside on Madison Dr.: 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Please note that additional programming at NMNH will not be available on June 20. Special Solstice activities at NMNH will take place on Friday, June 19th.

Sponsor: Natural History Museum, Special Smithsonian Event
Venue: Natural History Museum
Event Location: National Museum of Natural History (10th Street & Constitution Ave, NW)
Cost: Free and open to the public
Categories: After Five
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Solstice Celebration at African Art

Saturday, June 20, 2026, 6 – 11:45 pm

Stay out late with the Smithsonian!

Join the National Museum of African Art for a Solstice Celebration featuring tours, performances, art, drinks for purchase, and more!

6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Curator-led tours of Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art (S1)
8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Plus Ultra Entertainment ft. DJ Detailz (Mezzanine, S1)
9:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., DJ Grimmworkz featuring Ni Dembaya Band (Williams Gallery, S1)
10:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., DJ B2B DJ Detailz & DJ Grimmworkz ft. Eli the Drummer (Williams Gallery, S1)

This summer, pedestrian and vehicle access along and across the National Mall may be limited. Please allow extra time to travel between museums.

To reach the National Museum of African Art, exit the Smithsonian metro stop from 12th St. and Independence Ave., or use the L'Enfant Plaza metro stop.

If arriving via ride share, please use Independence Ave. (950 Independence Ave.)

By attending this event, you grant the Smithsonian Institution permission to photograph, film, videotape you and/or record your voice and likeness in connection with or the promotion of the project.

Sponsor: African Art Museum
Venue: African Art Museum
Event Location: Throughout the Museum
Cost: FREE
Get Tickets/Register: www.eventbrite.com…
Categories: After Five, Celebrations, Gallery Talks & Tours, Performances
Related Exhibition: Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Solstice Late Hours at the Arts and Industries Building

Saturday, June 20, 2026, 6 – 11 pm

In celebration of Solstice weekend and America’s 250th, the Arts and Industries Building is staying open until 11:00 p m. with special programming:

The Voices and Votes traveling exhibition
The Folklife Marketplace (Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20, 10 am – 8 pm)
The conversation series For the Common Good: Smithsonian Voices on Our Shared Future 250 (Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20, 11:00 am and 1:00 pm)
After-hours bar service (Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20, 6:00 – 10:30 pm) with summer cocktails such as sangria and festive red, white, and blue specialty pours
Jazz performances on the Folklife Stage:

Friday, June 19:
6 – 8 pm: The Kenny Rittenhouse Trio
8:30 – 10:30 pm: Grant Langford

Saturday, June 20:
6 – 8 pm: Freeform The Collective
8:30 – 10 pm: Hot Club of DC

Photobooth provided by Photos Enforced

Sally's Night

Saturday, June 20, 2026, 6 – 11 pm

Celebrate the anniversary of Sally Ride becoming the first American woman in space with our annual Sally's Night event! Enjoy activities that explore the wonder of our universe and shine a light on women in STEM.

Inside the Museum - Free passes required, available starting Tuesday, June 2 at noon ET

Test your knowledge with trivia challenges
Watch planetarium shows
Talk to scientists and historians from the Museum
Go on a scavenger hunt to discover women's stories in the museum
Enjoy hands-on activities like postcard writing and making your own mission mascot

Outside the Museum - No passes required

Stargaze with our astronomy educators, who will help you observe a variety of features in the night sky
Located on the West Terrace near the Delta Solar sculpture from 9 to 11 pm

Categories: After Five
Sponsor: Air and Space Museum
Venue: Air and Space Museum
Event Location: National Air and Space Museum
Cost: Free, tickets required. Tickets will be available starting June 2 at noon ET
Get Tickets/Register: airandspace.si.edu…
More info: airandspace.si.edu…

Garden Nights

Saturday, June 20, 2026, 7 – 10 pm

Join Smithsonian Gardens in the Enid A. Haupt Garden for a variety of special garden activities. Take a closer look at the amazing plants on the tropical terrace. Learn about nighttime pollinators and don a pair of moth or butterfly wings for a photo op in the garden! And be sure to check out the Growing Tomorrow exhibition to explore how American gardens have evolved throughout our nation’s history.

This program received support from Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250, a Smithsonian-wide initiative commemorating the nation’s 250th. Signature support for Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250 has been provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. Additional generous contributions have been made by Target.

Sponsor: Smithsonian Gardens
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens
Event Location: Enid A. Haupt Garden
Cost: Free
Categories: After Five
Related Exhibition: Growing Tomorrow
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

DC | Ande the Llama Photobooth

Saturday, June 20, 2026, 7:30 – 10 pm

Snap a solstice selfie with Ande the Llama! Pose with our giant plush llama and add some flair with fun photo props provided by museum staff. A great stop for laughs and memorable photos.

Sponsor: American Indian Museum
Venue: American Indian Museum DC
Event Location: Level 1: Potomac Atrium
Cost: FREE
Categories: After Five, Celebrations, Kids & Families

Hidden Haupt Garden Tour

Saturday, June 20, 2026, 7:30 – 7:50 pm

Let the Haupt Garden surprise and delight you during this tour of out-of-the-way areas. Your expert garden guide will introduce you to the garden’s people, plants, and stories. Meet at the tour sign just inside the stone garden gates on Independence Avenue.

Sponsor: Smithsonian Gardens
Venue: Smithsonian Gardens
Event Location: The Enid A. Haupt Garden tour begins just inside the garden gates on Independence Avenue. Look for the tour sign.
Cost: Free
Categories: After Five, Gallery Talks & Tours
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

DC | Shub's PowWow-Step Dance Party

Saturday, June 20, 2026, 8 – 9:30 pm

For over a decade, Shub (formerly known as DJ Shub), a Mohawk and a member of the Turtle Clan of the Six Nations of the Grand River, has been at the forefront of a movement that reshaped the landscape of Indigenous electronic music. A trailblazer who coined the powwow-step genre and a former member of the Juno-winning A Tribe Called Red, Shub has spent years blending the ancient rhythms of powwow music with the pulse of modern beats, scratching, and bass-heavy production. With a new name and vision, Shub is stepping beyond the DJ booth, emerging as a composer, storyteller, and artist dedicated to expanding the reach of Indigenous music.

Shub brings his award-winning and genre-defining sound to the museum along with dancers to energize the crowd. Show off your moves solo or bring a friend to join you on the dance floor!

Image credits: Cassandra Popescu (top), performance photo by @yourwildfriend3

Sponsor: American Indian Museum
Venue: American Indian Museum DC
Event Location: Level 1: Potomac Atrium
Cost: FREE
Categories: After Five, Celebrations, Performances

DC | Touch & Hear the Universe

Sunday, June 21, 2026, 10:30 am – 12 pm

Experience the universe like never before with the premiere of NASA's Chandra Interactive Sonification Wall, a multisensory exhibit that transforms space data into a symphony of light, sound, and touch. Using spectacular imagery from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, James Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes, this installation allows you to "play" the stars. Motion-tracking sensors activate the soundscapes of iconic cosmic wonders like the Pillars of Creation. Designed for explorers of all ages, this immersive display brings the invisible reaches of deep space to life through cutting-edge astrophysics and storytelling.

Sponsor: American Indian Museum
Venue: American Indian Museum DC
Event Location: Level 1: Rasmuson Theater
Cost: FREE
Categories: After Five, Celebrations, Demonstrations, Kids & Families

DC | Touch & Hear the Universe

Sunday, June 21, 2026, 2 – 4 pm

Experience the universe like never before with the premiere of NASA's Chandra Interactive Sonification Wall, a multisensory exhibit that transforms space data into a symphony of light, sound, and touch. Using spectacular imagery from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, James Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes, this installation allows you to "play" the stars. Motion-tracking sensors activate the soundscapes of iconic cosmic wonders like the Pillars of Creation. Designed for explorers of all ages, this immersive display brings the invisible reaches of deep space to life through cutting-edge astrophysics and storytelling.

Sponsor: American Indian Museum
Venue: American Indian Museum DC
Event Location: Level 1: Rasmuson Theater
Cost: FREE
Categories: After Five, Celebrations, Demonstrations, Kids & Families

Portrait Gallery Reading Rhythms

Thursday, June 25, 2026, 5 – 7 pm

Join the Portrait Gallery and Reading Rhythms for a reading party designed to make it easy for people to gather and read socially. We invite folks to bring any book they want while we facilitate silent reading periods, one-on-one breakouts, and group discussions about the art that everyone is engaging with. This adult program unites a community of readers to learn together and experience art with curated music.

Sponsor: Portrait Gallery
Venue: Portrait Gallery
Event Location: Great Hall
Cost: Free. Registration Required.
Get Tickets/Register: www.eventbrite.com…
Categories: After Five
More info: www.eventbrite.com…

Handi-hour

Thursday, June 25, 2026, 5:30 – 8 pm

Celebrate the summer growing season with a State Fairs-inspired agricultural craft at DC’s original crafting happy hour! Take inspiration from the crop art on view in State Fairs: Growing American Craft and then create your own crop artwork using seeds and beans that grow our food. While you are working, enjoy cider provided by ANXO and live, local music. Light snacks, crafting materials, two drinks, and after-hours access to both floors of the exhibition galleries are included in the ticket price.

Attendees must be 21+ to attend and present a valid ID with birthdate at the door. Tickets are $25 and are available for purchase beginning June 11.

Sponsor: Smithsonian American Art Museum
Venue: Renwick Gallery
Event Location: Rubenstein Grand Salon
Cost: $25 | Registration required
Get Tickets/Register: events.blackthorn.io…
Categories: After Five
Related Exhibition: State Fairs: Growing American Craft

At the Vanguard: HBCU Trivia Night

Thursday, June 25, 2026, 7 – 9:30 pm

Mark your calendars for Thursday, June 25th at 7:00pm for a special night of community, culture, and trivia! Inspired by the National Museum of African American History & Culture exhibit, At the Vanguard, we are highlighting HBCU culture, legacy, and impact through a trivia night hosted in partnership with Soul Brain Trivia! Bring a squad or come solo and show off your HBCU knowledge for a chance to win prizes! Make sure to check out the NMAAHC exhibit, At the Vanguard, for question clues... we'll see you there!

For Inquiries, please email NMAAHCEngage@si.edu

Sponsor: African American History and Culture Museum
Event Location: Penn Social
Cost: This event has sold out.
Categories: After Five
Related Exhibition: At the Vanguard: Making and Saving History at HBCUs

Postmarks and Paperbacks July Meeting

Monday, July 6, 2026, 7 – 8 pm

Join staff from the Smithsonian National Postal Museum for a discussion on Jason Polan: The Post Office with the author, Jason Fulford on Monday, April 20th at 7:00pm.

If you have any accessibility requirements to participate in the program, please email NPMprograms@si.edu and we will do everything we can to meet your needs.

A Zoom link will be emailed to participants prior to the program. Registration is required.

Sponsor: Postal Museum
Event Location: Online
Cost: Free
Get Tickets/Register: www.eventbrite.com…
Categories: After Five
More info: postalmuseum.si.edu…

Converse with a Conservator Gallery Talk: Preserving the World of Grandma Moses

Wednesday, July 8, 2026, 5:30 – 6:30 pm

Join the head of conservation and senior paintings conservator Amber Kerr to learn about the care and treatment of selected artworks featured in Grandma Moses: A Good Days Work. This program features behind-the scenes insight into the conservation decisions and techniques used to support their long-term display and interpretation.

Sponsor: Smithsonian American Art Museum
Venue: American Art Museum
Event Location: Meet in the G Street Lobby
Cost: Free | Registration encouraged
Get Tickets/Register: events.blackthorn.io…
Categories: After Five, Gallery Talks & Tours
Related Exhibition: Grandma Moses: A Good Day’s Work

Take 5: Jazz at SAAM with Joshua Bayer

Thursday, July 9, 2026, 5 – 7 pm

Celebrate a uniquely American art form with Take 5: Jazz at SAAM, a series of free, live performances. Jazz guitarist, bassist, and composer Joshua Bayer will perform a selection of his 1960s post-bop-influenced original compositions. Bayer currently serves on the faculty of American University, where he is Musician in Residence and director of the AU Jazz Orchestra.

Borrow a board game to play during the concert and stop by the Courtyard Café to purchase refreshments. The National Portrait Gallery, that shares the building with SAAM, is hosting community chalk art activities by Chalk Riot for attendees to enjoy throughout the performance.

Presented as part of the Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250.

Image Credit: Robert Indiana, The Figure Five, 1963, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1984.51, © 1963, Robert Indiana

Sponsor: Smithsonian American Art Museum
Venue: American Art Museum
Event Location: Kogod Courtyard
Cost: Free | Registration encouraged
Get Tickets/Register: events.blackthorn.io…
Categories: After Five, Performances

Brick by Brick: Tuskegee’s Legacy of Agriculture and Architecture

Thursday, July 9, 2026, 7 – 10 pm

About This Event
Tuskegee University is the focus of the final program inspired by At the Vanguard: Making and Saving History at HBCUs, closing July 19, 2026. Founded in 1881, Tuskegee rose to prominence under Booker T. Washington. Architect Robert R. Taylor designed early campus buildings, constructed by students whose training in brickwork and woodwork often covered tuition.
Beginning in 1906, Tuskegee’s movable agricultural schools expanded its reach, a model continued today through land grant HBCU extension programs. Panelists will examine the legacy of Tuskegee University and how the school’s historic commitment to student and community growth are still at the heart of its mission.
This program is generously supported by the Caterpillar Foundation.

Program Highlights

7:00 PM – Discussion in the Oprah Winfrey Theater: Featured panelists include Dr. Kwesi Daniels, Department Head & Associate Professor of Architecture and Amma Asamoah, Assistant Professor at the Tuskegee University, Robert R. Taylor School of Architecture and Construction Science. Dr. Jeanelle K. Hope, Caterpillar Curator of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, National Museum of African American History and Culture will moderate the discussion.
8:00 PM – Performance by Brotherhood Dance: Brotherhood Dance performances explore the intersection of dance, agriculture, and technology
8:30 PM – On the Concourse Level:
Create artwork inspired by George Washington Carver’s work with pigments
Enjoy light refreshments inspired by the exhibition
Explore the exhibition At the Vanguard

“We sometimes speak of a man as self-made, but...Tuskegee, itself, is distinctively self-made.” — Warren Logan, Tuskegee Institute Treasurer, 1905
Please Note: Space is limited. Advanced registration is required. For inquiries, please contact NMAAHCPubPgms@si.edu.

Accessibility Information
To support full participation, we welcome attendees to share any accessibility or accommodation needs. Please email your request to NMAAHCPubPgms@si.edu as early as possible. While the Museum will attempt to honor all requests, we kindly ask for at least two weeks’ notice to ensure adequate preparation.

Sponsor: African American History and Culture Museum
Venue: African American History and Culture Museum
Event Location: Concourse Level
Cost: FREE; passes required
Get Tickets/Register: tickets.si.edu…
Categories: After Five, Gallery Talks & Tours, Lectures & Discussions, Performances
Related Exhibition: At the Vanguard:, Making and Saving History at HBCUs, nmaahc.si.edu…

The Killer

Friday, July 10, 2026, 7 – 9 pm

Watch the Trailer

Considered one of the greatest action movies of all time, The Killer has influenced everyone from Quentin Tarantino to Robert Rodriguez, Luc Besson, and even the Wu-Tang Clan’s Raekwon, who sampled it on his album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx.

Chow Yun-fat stars as Ah Jong, a contract killer wracked with guilt for accidentally blinding a nightclub singer named Jennie (Sally Yeh) while doing a hit. He resolves to perform one last job to earn the money for surgery to restore her sight. Made at the height of John Woo’s creative powers, the film combines furious action scenes with melodrama and humor—for example, the famous scene in which Ah Jong and his cop pursuer (Danny Lee) balance teacups and pistols and pretend to be pals while Jennie serves them tea.

Director: John Woo (Hong Kong). Released: 1989. Length: 111 min. Format: DCP. Language: Cantonese with English subtitles.

Image courtesy of GKIDS

Sponsor: Asian Art Museum
Venue: Asian Art Museum
Building: West Building
Event Location: Meyer Auditorium
Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended)
Get Tickets/Register: woonmaa.eventive.org…
Categories: After Five, Films
Accessibility: Assisted listening devices, Captioning, Wheelchair accessible

Behind the Science with Curator of Flies Torsten Dikow

Tuesday, July 14, 2026, 6:30 – 8:15 pm

“What is the Pinned Insect Digitization Conveyor?”

With more than 35 million specimens, the Smithsonian insect collection is one of the largest entomology collections in the world. It is an archive of global insect biodiversity, shedding light on the most diverse group of animals on the planet. Making such a sprawling collection, and the trove of scientific data it contains, accessible to researchers around the world is a challenge the museum facing head on.

Entomologist Dr. Torsten Dikow is part of the team currently working to digitize a large swath of the collection’s pollinating insect specimens using the museum’s Pinned Insect Digitization Conveyor, a state-of-the-art system that has never before been used in North America. Torsten will discuss the How and Why of digitizing more than 325,000 bees, flies, butterflies and beetles and their associated data labels. He will also explore the importance of making all of this data accessible to science and the public given the vital role insect pollinators play in natural environments.

Registration is encouraged. Space is filled on a first come first served basis.
Image credit: James D. Tiller, Smithsonian Institution
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About the Series:

Behind the Science
A monthly after-hours series featuring NMNH scientists and researchers

Each month, join the National Museum of Natural History for the new series, Behind the Science, where NMNH researchers share insights into their latest discoveries and explore the fascinating questions driving their work—from the origins of life to the future of our planet. Come learn what’s happening behind the scenes and how science shapes our understanding of the natural world.

Programs take place in Q?rius, the Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center.
Topics and speakers announced on a rolling basis, but save the dates now!

Upcoming Dates:
Jun. 9: Matt Girard, Zoologist
Jul. 14: Curator of Flies Torsten Dikow
Aug. 11: Nick Pyenson, Paleontologist (Marine Mammals)
Sep. 15: Missy Hawkins, Research Zoologist and Curator of our upcoming Bison: Standing Strong Exhibit
Oct. 13: Matthew Carrano, Paleontologist and Curator of Dinosauria
Nov. 10: TBA
Dec. 8: TBA

Sponsor: Natural History Museum
Venue: Natural History Museum
Event Location: National Museum of Natural History (Ground Floor)
Cost: Free; registration is required.
Get Tickets/Register: www.etix.com…
Categories: After Five, Lectures & Discussions
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
More info: www.etix.com…

Eye-Popping Art: Tours for People with Colorblindness

Thursday, July 16, 2026, 5:30 pm

Join the Smithsonian American Art Museum for a docent-led tour of highlights from the museum’s collection using museum-provided, colorblind correcting glasses that bring the vibrancy of these works to life.

Image credit: Photo by Mary Tait

Sponsor: Smithsonian American Art Museum
Venue: American Art Museum
Event Location: Meet in the F Street Lobby
Cost: Free | Registration required
Get Tickets/Register: events.blackthorn.io…
Categories: After Five, Gallery Talks & Tours

Bluegrass Forever Party

Thursday, July 16, 2026, 6 – 8 pm

Bluegrass Forever
Join us at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum on July 16, 2026 from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM for a free evening event that hits all the right notes between stamp art and music!
Get your creative juices flowing with printmaking, dance and sing along to the King Street Bluegrass band, then explore the exhibits and enjoy hands-on activities that will make your philatelic heart sing.
Feeling thirsty? A cash bar will be available. Whether you’re a stamp enthusiast or just curious about the art behind postage, this event is perfect for everyone.
Registration is recommended but not required. If the event reaches capacity, preference will be given to those who registered in advance

Sponsor: Postal Museum
Venue: Postal Museum
Event Location: Historic lobby, first floor
Cost: Event is free. Registration is recommended, but not required. If the event reaches capacity, preference will be given to those who registered in advance.
Get Tickets/Register: www.eventbrite.com…
Categories: After Five
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

CIA’s Eyes in the Sky—From Spy Planes and Space to Everyday Technology

Thursday, July 16, 2026, 7 – 8 pm

During the Cold War, visionary CIA officers and their partners pushed the boundaries of science and engineering to create breakthrough capabilities. CIA’s pursuit of aerial and space-based solutions to urgent national security challenges continues to spark innovations that reshaped the modern world.

In partnership with CIA, this program will look at CIA stories found in the National Air and Space Museum collection, including aerial innovations like the U-2 aircraft, the CORONA Satellite Program, the Insectothopter, and the lineage of the A-12 Oxcart to the SR-71 Blackbird. These stories of bold risk-taking and relentless problem solving led to innovations that delivered lasting, positive impacts far beyond intelligence, including the development of Keyhole reconnaissance and its resulting legacy Google Earth. Join us to learn how these innovations born in secrecy have shaped technology, industry, and daily life.

Visit the Museum's galleries from 7-8 pm then hear from Dr. Brent Geary and Col. Buz Carpenter (ret.) from 8-9 pm.

Panelists include:

Dr. Brent Geary, CIA historian (full bio will appear in dropdown)
Col. Adelbert "Buz" Carpenter (retired), SR-71 pilot and National Air and Space Museum docent
Moderated by Chris Browne, John and Adrienne Mars Director of National Air and Space Museum

This lecture is a part of the Smithsonian’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing on the Declaration of Independence.

Your registration includes:

A ticket to this 250th anniversary talk from 8-9 pm.
6 pm: After-hours access to the Museum's exhibitions, including our five newest galleries, additional Discovery Stations, and Ask an Expert stations featuring CIA historians and museum staff (optional)
Access to select Museum galleries from 7-8 pm. Check the event website for a list of open galleries as we get closer to the program.
Opportunities to learn about CIA-driven innovations from Museum staff and CIA staff at Discovery Stations from 7-8 pm.

Sponsor: Air and Space Museum
Venue: Air and Space Museum
Event Location: Lockheed Martin IMAX
Cost: Free with registration
Categories: After Five, Lectures & Discussions
Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program, Wheelchair accessible

ONLINE: CIA’s Eyes in the Sky—From Spy Planes and Space to Everyday Technology

Dr. Brent Geary, CIA historian (full bio will appear in dropdown)
Col. Adelbert "Buz" Carpenter (retired), SR-71 pilot and National Air and Space Museum docent
Moderated by Chris Browne, John and Adrienne Mars Director of National Air and Space Museum

This lecture is a part of the Smithsonian’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing on the Declaration of Independence.

Sponsor: Air and Space Museum
Event Location: YouTube
Online Link: eventactions.com…
Cost: Free with registration
Categories: After Five, Lectures & Discussions, Webcasts & Online
Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program, Wheelchair accessible

Stars, Stripes, and Stadiums: America’s 250th & FIFA 2026

Saturday, July 18, 2026, 3 – 10 pm

Celebrate the World Cup and America’s 250th at the National Museum of African Art!

Enjoy a moderated panel discussion, a Sounds of Africa concert, drop-in artmaking, a slideshow featuring soccer photography, DC Public Library’s Library on the Go-Go, and drinks for purchase!

3pm-4pm, Panel Discussion featuring FIFA photojournalist Kwabena Ofori (Lecture Hall, S2); ASL interpretation and captioning services provided
3pm-7pm, Drop-in artmaking creating mini tifo--signs or banners created by fans (Pavilion)
3pm-5pm, DC Public Library’s Library on the Go-Go, a book bike that's a pop-up library (Pavilion)
7pm-10pm, Sounds of Africa Concert featuring Sugarlane (Sylvia Williams Gallery, S1)

Image Credit: Victor Ekpuk, Drawing, 1994, Ink, marker, and pencil on paper, 17.3 x 18 cm (6 13/16 x 7 1/16 in.), National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Gift of the artist

By attending this event, you grant the Smithsonian Institution permission to photograph, film, videotape you and/or record your voice and likeness in connection with or the promotion of the project.

Library on the Go-Go is the DC Public Library’s mobile outreach program, designed to provide robust outreach and programming to communities that otherwise might not otherwise have library access. Our book bikes are cargo tricycles that function as pop-up libraries! We are part of DCPL’s Outreach + Inclusion Services department — we embed and expand library services beyond library walls, bringing resources, programming, and connection directly into communities. OUT works collaboratively with partners across the city to ensure equitable access, foster belonging, and meet residents where they are.

Sponsor: African Art Museum
Co-sponsor: Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
Venue: African Art Museum
Event Location: Throughout the Museum
Cost: FREE
Get Tickets/Register: www.eventbrite.com…
Categories: After Five, Celebrations, Kids & Families, Lectures & Discussions, Performances, Workshops
Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program, Captioning, Wheelchair accessible

Secret Fighters Against American Extremism: Resisting Prejudice After World War II

Wednesday, July 22, 2026, 6:45 – 8 pm

Historian and author Steven J. Ross argues that antisemitism and racism intensified rather than subsided after World War II, with violent attacks spreading across U.S. cities and extremist groups more than doubling between 1940 and 1946. He highlights how Arnold Forster, George Mintzer, and James Sheldon—along with many others—infiltrated and disrupted these networks at personal risk. Their hidden efforts challenge the myth of the “Good War” and expose a largely forgotten fight against rising extremism.

Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom.
Online Link: smithsonianassociates.org…
Cost: View registration price
Get Tickets/Register: smithsonianassociates.org…
Categories: After Five, Lectures & Discussions

Beyond the Exhibition: 250 Years of Messaging

Thursday, July 23, 2026, 6:30 – 8:30 pm

**Please note: this event was rescheduled from its original date, February 26th. This program will take place on Thursday, July 23rd.**

In celebration of the nation’s 250^th anniversary, explore the ways humans have stayed connected; from the Pony Express to amateur radio to emojis and more. Enjoy exclusive after-hours access to the Cellphone: Unseen Connections exhibit and talk to experts:

Moving the Mail: The Pony Express with National Postal Museum education specialists MaryBeth Wagner and Maureen Leary
Explore the role of ham amateur radio in communication and demo equipment with NMNH museum specialists Tim Gooding and Rob Wardell from the Smithsonian HAM Radio Club
Test your knowledge on communication methods through time with NMNH exhibit educators:
- Match Emoji icons with their official names and the emotion or mood they represent
- Decode a Morse Code message
- Compare modern smartphones with old phone models
The Transatlantic Telegraph Cable and amateur radio in WWII with National Museum of American History curator in the Division of Work and Industry Hal Wallace
Messenger pigeons and the story of Cher Ami

Registration is free and highly encouraged. Space is filled at a first come first served basis.

Sponsor: Natural History Museum
Venue: Natural History Museum
Event Location: National Museum of Natural History (2nd floor)
Cost: Free; registration is required.
Get Tickets/Register: www.etix.com…
Categories: After Five, Gallery Talks & Tours, Lectures & Discussions
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
More info: www.etix.com…

Hard Boiled

Friday, July 24, 2026, 7 – 9:15 pm

Watch the Trailer

There may be no more iconic John Woo scene than the climax of Hard Boiled, which finds actor Chow Yun-fat blasting his way through legions of bad guys in a hospital while cradling a baby. Chow plays Yuen, a tough-guy, clarinet-playing cop, who burrows into Hong Kong’s underworld to avenge the death of his partner, eventually coming face to face with assassin Alan (played by Hong Kong’s other absurdly charismatic leading man, Tony Leung). But how does Yuen end up bringing a baby to a gunfight? You’ll just have to watch to find out. The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw praised the film’s “pure outrageous mayhem. . . . It is all so bizarre that you have to enjoy it.”

Director: John Woo (Hong Kong). Released: 1992. Length: 128 min. Format: DCP. Language: Cantonese with English subtitles.

Behind the Science with Paleontologist Nick Pyenson

Tuesday, August 11, 2026, 6:30 – 8:15 pm

“Follow the Whale Bone Road: Fossils, 3D Data, and Discovering the Past and Future of Ocean Giants”

For thousands of years, we have drawn sea monsters on our maps and conjured them into our myths. But some of these monsters are real; some have existed for longer than we have been a species. Dr. Nick Pyenson, a vertebrate paleontologist who studies how marine life changes over incredibly long periods of time, shares science stories about the many origins, extinctions, and fates of our favorite sea monsters, including whales, sea cows, sea turtles, penguins, and many others.

Registration is encouraged. Space is filled on a first come first served basis.

Image caption: Chilean and Smithsonian paleontologists study several fossil whale skeletons at Cerro Ballena, next to the Pan-American Highway in the Atacama Region of Chile, 2011.

Image credit: Adam Metallo, Smithsonian Institution
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About the Series:

Behind the Science
A monthly after-hours series featuring NMNH scientists and researchers

Programs take place in Q?rius, the Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center.
Topics and speakers announced on a rolling basis, but save the dates now!

Virtual America InSight: Verbal Description Tours

Thursday, August 13, 2026, 5:30 pm

Join the Smithsonian American Art Museum for a docent-led virtual tour designed for participants who are blind or have low vision. Discover highlights from the collection through rich verbal descriptions that invoke a multisensory experience.

Image credit: Photo by Mary Tait

Sponsor: Smithsonian American Art Museum
Event Location: Online
Cost: Free | Registration required
Get Tickets/Register: events.blackthorn.io…
Categories: After Five, Webcasts & Online

Hard Target

Friday, August 14, 2026, 7 – 8:45 pm

Live DJ Accompaniment by DJ 2Tone

We close out our John Woo Summer with another Can I Kick It? event, as DJ 2Tone of Shaolin Jazz spins along with Woo’s Hollywood debut, Hard Target.

Jean-Claude Van Damme stars as mullet-haired New Orleans former marine and drifter Chance Boudreaux. He saves a woman named Natasha (Yancy Butler) from a gang of thugs and then agrees to help her search for her unhoused father, who has gone missing. They discover a dastardly operation that lets rich men pay to hunt down and kill homeless men, led by Lance Henriksen as scenery-chewing Emil Fouchon. The resulting mayhem is Woo turned up to eleven as he applies his Hong Kong-honed action skills to a Hollywood-sized budget, with countless explosions and astonishing death-defying stunts from Van Damme.

Director: John Woo. Country: United States. Released: 1993. Length: 97 min. Format: Blu-Ray. Language: English.

Image courtesy of Swank Motion Pictures

Sponsor: Asian Art Museum
Venue: Asian Art Museum
Building: West Building
Event Location: Meyer Auditorium
Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended)
Get Tickets/Register: woonmaa.eventive.org…
Categories: After Five, Films, Performances
Accessibility: Assisted listening devices, Wheelchair accessible

Take Five: Jazz at SAAM with Lyle Link

Thursday, August 20, 2026, 5 – 7 pm

Celebrate a uniquely American art form with Take 5: Jazz at SAAM, a series of free, live performances. Washington, DC-based saxophonist and flautist Lyle Link performs in a variety of musical styles: jazz, blues and R&B, Latin, and world beat. To mark the 100th birthday of John Coltrane, Link will perform a set in honor of the jazz legend.

Borrow a board game to play during the concert and stop by the Courtyard Café to purchase refreshments.

Image credit: Robert Indiana, The Figure Five, 1963, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1984.51, © 1963, Robert Indiana

Sponsor: Smithsonian American Art Museum
Venue: American Art Museum
Event Location: Kogod Courtyard
Cost: Free | Registration encouraged
Get Tickets/Register: events.blackthorn.io…
Categories: After Five, Performances

The Fight for Nazi-Looted Art

Tuesday, September 8, 2026, 6:30 – 7:45 pm

The Nazis didn’t steal just art, says author and prosecutor Adena J. Bernstein: They also stole identity, history, and memory. Decades later, thousands of those artworks hang in museums and private collections not because their histories are unknown but because laws permit institutions and third parties to retain them. Drawing on research covering 13 nations, Bernstein describes how coerced sales were later treated as legitimate transactions and how survivors and their families have been asked to meet heavy evidentiary burdens.

Behind the Science with Zoologist and Curator Missy Hawkins

Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 6:30 – 8:15 pm

Save the date for Behind the Science: September ft. Missy Hawkins, Research Zoologist and Curator of our new exhibit, Bison: Standing Strong. More details coming soon.
----------------
About the Series:

Behind the Science
A monthly after-hours series featuring NMNH scientists and researchers

Programs take place in Q?rius, the Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center.
Topics and speakers announced on a rolling basis, but save the dates now!

Upcoming Dates:
Jun. 9: Matt Girard, Zoologist
Jul. 14: Torsten Dikow, Entomologist and Curator of Flies
Aug. 11: Nick Pyenson, Paleontologist (Marine Mammals)
Sep. 15: Missy Hawkins, Research Zoologist and Curator of our upcoming Bison: Standing Strong Exhibit
Oct. 13: Matthew Carrano, Paleontologist and Curator of Dinosauria
Nov. 10: TBA
Dec. 8: TBA

Jazz: America’s Signature Musical Art

Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 6:30 – 7:45 pm

Jazz crosses lines of race, class, geography, politics, religion, and genre. In this three-part lecture series, explore the origins and proliferation of jazz, from its beginnings in New Orleans, Chicago, New York, and Kansas City to its most recent appearances in Europe and Asia. Musicology professor Anna Harwell Celenza shares recordings of blues, Dixieland, swing, bebop, cool jazz, and fusion to reveal what makes jazz vital to America’s multifaceted identity as she demonstrates how jazz has never stopped changing.

Invasive Species, Humans, and Where We All Belong

Wednesday, September 23, 2026, 6:30 – 7:45 pm

In the early 20th century, U.S. government scientists and their European colleagues went to great lengths to bring home new seeds and cultivars from abroad. But in many cases these "plant explorers," though much vaunted in their day, wound up triggering what are now considered ecological disasters. How did Western attitudes toward imported plants and animals change so completely within a century? Journalist Amy Crawford explores how confronting anxieties about nature and the role of humans in a changing world can place unwanted plants and animals in a new light.

Judgment Days: Famous Trials and Social Conflict in American History

Wednesday, October 7, 2026, 6:30 – 8 pm

Americans have long viewed major trials as public dramas that reveal enduring social tensions. Historian Michael Ross argues that the most memorable cases matter because the conflicts they expose never fully fade. His series revisits four landmark trials—involving witchcraft in New England, an accused Gilded Age double murderess, the evolution debate, and the controversial Chicago Seven—showing how each became a flashpoint for its era and why their echoes still shape American society.

The Ashcan School of Painting

Thursday, October 8, 2026, 6:30 – 8 pm

French Impressionists painted appealing, selectively edited scenes of modern urban life using pure color. The Ashcan School in New York pushed this further, portraying the city’s realities with unflinching honesty rather than beauty. Art historian Bonita Billman examines works by George Bellows, William Glackens, Robert Henri, George Luks, Everett Shinn, and John Sloan, showing how their gritty depictions revealed modern life’s truths and influenced later artists who embraced the city as their subject. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Behind the Science with Paleontologist and Curator of Dinosauria Matthew Carrano

Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 6:30 – 8:15 pm

Save the date for Behind the Science: October, ft. Matthew Carrano, Paleontologist and Curator of Dinosauria for our Fossil Day celebration. More details coming soon.
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About the Series:

Behind the Science
A monthly after-hours series featuring NMNH scientists and researchers

Programs take place in Q?rius, the Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center.
Topics and speakers announced on a rolling basis, but save the dates now!

Upcoming Dates:
Jun. 9: Matt Girard, Zoologist
Jul. 14: Torsten Dikow, Entomologist and Curator of Flies
Aug. 11: Nick Pyenson, Paleontologist (Marine Mammals)
Sep. 15: Missy Hawkins, Research Zoologist and Curator of our upcoming Bison: Standing Strong Exhibit
Oct. 13: Matthew Carrano, Paleontologist and Curator of Dinosauria
Nov. 10: TBA
Dec. 8: TBA

Our Weird and Wild Universe

Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 6:30 – 8 pm

The universe is far stranger than science fiction ... and it’s all real. Kimberly Arcand of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory leads a journey through weird and wild places in the cosmos, from merely mind-bending to truly extreme. Along the way meet quasars powered by supermassive black holes, city-sized neutron stars, and pulsars that keep time more precisely than atomic clocks, plus a few truly wild worlds orbiting distant suns.

Brasilia, the Utopian Capital of Brazil

Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 6:45 – 8:15 pm

Built from scratch in the 1950s, the Modernist city of Brasilia was designed to express new ideas about urban living and city planning while relocating the national capital from the coast to a more central site in the Brazilian highlands. Historian Justin M. Jacobs surveys Brasilia’s carefully designed downtown landscapes and creative solutions to urban housing, all meant to synchronize with one another and provide a progressive model for a better world.

Behind the Science: November

Tuesday, November 10, 2026, 6:30 – 8:15 pm

Save the date for Behind the Science: April! Speaker and topic to be announced.
----------------
About the Series:

Behind the Science
A monthly after-hours series featuring NMNH scientists and researchers

Programs take place in Q?rius, the Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center.
Topics and speakers announced on a rolling basis, but save the dates now!

Behind the Science: December

Tuesday, December 8, 2026, 6:30 – 8:15 pm

Save the date for Behind the Science: December! Speaker and topic to be announced.
----------------
About the Series:

Behind the Science
A monthly after-hours series featuring NMNH scientists and researchers

Programs take place in Q?rius, the Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center.
Topics and speakers announced on a rolling basis, but save the dates now!

Upcoming Dates:
Jun. 9: Matt Girard, Zoologist
Jul. 14: Entomologist and Curator of Flies, Torsten Dikow
Aug. 11: Nick Pyenson, Paleontologist (Marine Mammals)
Sep. 15: Missy Hawkins, Research Zoologist and Curator of our upcoming Bison: Standing Strong Exhibit
Oct. 13: Matthew Carrano, Paleontologist and Curator of Dinosauria
Nov. 10: TBA
Dec. 8: TBA

Smithsonian Events

The Art of Indigo, Inspired by George Washington Carver

Analog Nights

Seafood 101: How to Shop Smarter, Eat Better and Rethink Aquaculture

Natural History on the Big Screen: Bring Them Home Screening and Q&A (*Rescheduled from May 28*)

Take 5: Jazz at SAAM with Paul Bailey (Solstice Edition)

Smithsonian Solstice Weekend

DC | Touch & Hear the Universe

Solstice Late Hours at the Castle

NMNH Solstice Late Night Hours: Friday

Solstice Late Hours at the Arts and Industries Building

Open Late for Solstice

DC | Amy Hānaialiʻi in Concert

Garden Nights

Discoteca del Sol: An Indepen’DANCE Evening Program

DC | Ande the Llama Photobooth

Hidden Haupt Garden Tour

Smithsonian Solstice Weekend

DC | Touch & Hear the Universe

DC | Touch & Hear the Universe

Asia After Dark | Smithsonian Solstice

Solstice Late Hours at the Castle

NMNH Solstice Late Night Hours: Saturday

Solstice Celebration at African Art

Solstice Late Hours at the Arts and Industries Building

Sally's Night

Garden Nights

DC | Ande the Llama Photobooth

Hidden Haupt Garden Tour

DC | Shub's PowWow-Step Dance Party

DC | Touch & Hear the Universe

DC | Touch & Hear the Universe

Portrait Gallery Reading Rhythms

Handi-hour

At the Vanguard: HBCU Trivia Night

Postmarks and Paperbacks July Meeting

Converse with a Conservator Gallery Talk: Preserving the World of Grandma Moses

Take 5: Jazz at SAAM with Joshua Bayer

Brick by Brick: Tuskegee’s Legacy of Agriculture and Architecture

The Killer

Behind the Science with Curator of Flies Torsten Dikow

Eye-Popping Art: Tours for People with Colorblindness

Bluegrass Forever Party

CIA’s Eyes in the Sky—From Spy Planes and Space to Everyday Technology

ONLINE: CIA’s Eyes in the Sky—From Spy Planes and Space to Everyday Technology

Stars, Stripes, and Stadiums: America’s 250th & FIFA 2026

Secret Fighters Against American Extremism: Resisting Prejudice After World War II

Beyond the Exhibition: 250 Years of Messaging

Hard Boiled

Behind the Science with Paleontologist Nick Pyenson

Virtual America InSight: Verbal Description Tours

Hard Target

Take Five: Jazz at SAAM with Lyle Link

The Fight for Nazi-Looted Art

Behind the Science with Zoologist and Curator Missy Hawkins

Jazz: America’s Signature Musical Art

Invasive Species, Humans, and Where We All Belong

Judgment Days: Famous Trials and Social Conflict in American History

The Ashcan School of Painting

Behind the Science with Paleontologist and Curator of Dinosauria Matthew Carrano

Our Weird and Wild Universe

Brasilia, the Utopian Capital of Brazil

Behind the Science: November

Behind the Science: December

Natural History on the Big Screen: Bring Them Home Screening and Q&A (Rescheduled from May 28)