National Museum of Asian Art Events Calendar

Tours | Arts of China

Gallery Talks & Tours Examine the diverse artistic and cultural traditions of one of the world’s oldest civilizations in this in-person, docent-led tour. Learn about Chinese artworks such as ritual bronze vessels, calligraphy, brush paintings in ink and color, and exquisite ceramics. Please meet at the West Building Information Desk for the tour. Dish with foliate flaring rim; Ming dynasty, Xuande reign, 1426–35; Jingdezhen ware; porcelain with cobalt pigment under colorless glaze; H x Diam: 4.8 × 21.3 cm; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1951.13a-b. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, March 21, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Saturday, March 21, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Mother of Snow Cranes

Films Watch the Trailer In Person: Iiris Härmä director; Visa Koiso-Kanttila, producer Co-presented with the Embassy of Finland This documentary details the extraordinary life of Ellen Vuosalo, known as the “mother of snow cranes” for dedicating her life to protecting the Siberian cranes that winter in Iran. Vuosalo was born in Canada in 1931 to a family of Finnish immigrants. She later studied biology at UCLA, then married and started a family with an Iranian man. Her abusive husband fled with the children to Iran when she asked for a divorce. Vuosalo followed him to get her children back and settled in Iran, where she spent over five decades on conservation, ornithology, and local environmental initiatives. Iiris Härmä’s film is a stirring portrait of a strong, adventurous woman. Director: Iiris Härmä. Country: Finland. Released: 2024. Length: 75 min. Format: DCP. Languages: English and Persian with English subtitles. Image courtesy of the Finnish Film Foundation. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://effnmaa2025.eventive.org/films. Categories: Films. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Captioning. Assisted listening devices. Saturday, March 21, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.

Tours | Art of Women

Gallery Talks & Tours Join us for a docent-led tour highlighting women’s untold stories in the art world, where their contributions have frequently been overshadowed. Discover the importance of women artists, subjects, patrons, and collectors who’ve shaped history. Celebrate women’s creativity and resilience by exploring captivating narratives that include inspirational subjects, ruling monarchs, and revered figures of divinity. Image: White Tara; Tibet, mid- to late 18th century; thangka applique; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, S2020.5.19. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, March 21, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, March 21, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Tours | Arts of Japan

Gallery Talks & Tours As the seasons change, enjoy a free, hour-long guided tour of the museum’s renowned collection of Japanese art. Experience a variety of artworks, including paintings, prints, screens, ceramics, metalwork, and more. Trees, Master of I-nen Seal (1600–1630), Japan, mid-17th century, ink, color, and gold on paper, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1962.30. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Japanese Art from the Collection , Knotted Clay: Raku Ceramics and Tea , The Print Generation , The Peacock Room , Striking Objects: Contemporary Japanese Metalwork. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sunday, March 22, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Sunday, March 22, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

What Does That Nature Say to You

Films Watch the Trailer In the latest film from Hong Sang-soo (subject of our 2024 retrospective), a young Seoul poet named Donghwa travels to the countryside with his girlfriend Junhee to meet her parents for the first time. Donghwa becomes enchanted with the house and its beautiful environs, which were cultivated by Junhee’s father to provide serene surroundings for his mother when she was dying. He is also struck by the father’s devotion to nature, tradition, and filial duty. But as the hours drift by and the makgeolli flows, Donghwa’s tongue loosens and his anxieties begin to surface. As easygoing as a lazy afternoon spent with friends, Hong’s film is a genial ode to nature as inspiration. Director: Hong Sang-soo. Country: Korea. Released: 2025. Length: 108 min. Format: DCP. Languages: Korean with English subtitles. Image courtesy of The Cinema Guild. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://effnmaa2025.eventive.org/films. Categories: Films. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Captioning. Assisted listening devices. Sunday, March 22, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.

Tours | Art of Women

Gallery Talks & Tours Join us for a docent-led tour highlighting women’s untold stories in the art world, where their contributions have frequently been overshadowed. Discover the importance of women artists, subjects, patrons, and collectors who’ve shaped history. Celebrate women’s creativity and resilience by exploring captivating narratives that include inspirational subjects, ruling monarchs, and revered figures of divinity. Image: White Tara; Tibet, mid- to late 18th century; thangka applique; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, S2020.5.19. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sunday, March 22, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sunday, March 22, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Tours | Arts of China

Gallery Talks & Tours Examine the diverse artistic and cultural traditions of one of the world’s oldest civilizations in this in-person, docent-led tour. Learn about Chinese artworks such as ritual bronze vessels, calligraphy, brush paintings in ink and color, and exquisite ceramics. Please meet at the West Building Information Desk for the tour. Dish with foliate flaring rim; Ming dynasty, Xuande reign, 1426–35; Jingdezhen ware; porcelain with cobalt pigment under colorless glaze; H x Diam: 4.8 × 21.3 cm; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1951.13a-b. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Monday, March 23, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Monday, March 23, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tours | Art of Women

Gallery Talks & Tours Join us for a docent-led tour highlighting women’s untold stories in the art world, where their contributions have frequently been overshadowed. Discover the importance of women artists, subjects, patrons, and collectors who’ve shaped history. Celebrate women’s creativity and resilience by exploring captivating narratives that include inspirational subjects, ruling monarchs, and revered figures of divinity. Image: White Tara; Tibet, mid- to late 18th century; thangka applique; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, S2020.5.19. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Monday, March 23, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Monday, March 23, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Tours | Arts of Japan

Gallery Talks & Tours As the seasons change, enjoy a free, hour-long guided tour of the museum’s renowned collection of Japanese art. Experience a variety of artworks, including paintings, prints, screens, ceramics, metalwork, and more. Trees, Master of I-nen Seal (1600–1630), Japan, mid-17th century, ink, color, and gold on paper, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1962.30. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Japanese Art from the Collection , Knotted Clay: Raku Ceramics and Tea , The Print Generation , The Peacock Room , Striking Objects: Contemporary Japanese Metalwork. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Meditation and Mindfulness

Workshops Register to join the sessions. Join a free online guided meditation. In these 30-minute sessions, DC-based meditation teachers lead a variety of mindfulness practices. Friday sessions take inspiration from art in our museum’s collections. All are welcome! No previous experience is required. Image: Gong Xian (ca. 1610–1689); Winter Landscape; China, mid- to late 17th century; album leaf; ink on paper; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1961.11. Event Location: Online. Online Link: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/8R9H5FxSRciJf6x6PSGd0w. Cost: Free; registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/8R9H5FxSRciJf6x6PSGd0w. Categories: Workshops. Webcasts & Online. Related Events: Meditation and Mindfulness (Online). Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tours | Art of Women

Gallery Talks & Tours Join us for a docent-led tour highlighting women’s untold stories in the art world, where their contributions have frequently been overshadowed. Discover the importance of women artists, subjects, patrons, and collectors who’ve shaped history. Celebrate women’s creativity and resilience by exploring captivating narratives that include inspirational subjects, ruling monarchs, and revered figures of divinity. Image: White Tara; Tibet, mid- to late 18th century; thangka applique; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, S2020.5.19. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

CANCELLED - Curator Tour | Reasons to Gather

Gallery Talks & Tours This event has been cancelled. Explore the world of Japanese tea with curator Sol Jung on this exclusive tour of Reasons to Gather. This exhibition presents eleven historic tea utensils and accessories that accumulated significance over generations of use at tea gatherings. These ceramics, hanging scrolls, boxes, and wrapping cloths tell a story of exchange from across Asia to Japanese tea rooms. Tea caddy, named Sakai Kokatatsuki, with red lacquer tray and scroll; China, Yuan dynasty, 1279–1368; brown stoneware with black iron glaze and ivory lid; lacquer; paper and silk; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Gregory Kinsey, Kinsey Chanoyu Collection, in honor of Louise Cort and in appreciation of her years of scholarship in support of Chanoyu education in the U.S. F2021.3.5.1a–gg–3a–e. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Gallery 8. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Reasons to Gather: Japanese Tea Practice Unwrapped. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tours | Art of Women

Gallery Talks & Tours Join us for a docent-led tour highlighting women’s untold stories in the art world, where their contributions have frequently been overshadowed. Discover the importance of women artists, subjects, patrons, and collectors who’ve shaped history. Celebrate women’s creativity and resilience by exploring captivating narratives that include inspirational subjects, ruling monarchs, and revered figures of divinity. Image: White Tara; Tibet, mid- to late 18th century; thangka applique; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, S2020.5.19. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Tours | Arts of Japan

Gallery Talks & Tours As the seasons change, enjoy a free, hour-long guided tour of the museum’s renowned collection of Japanese art. Experience a variety of artworks, including paintings, prints, screens, ceramics, metalwork, and more. Trees, Master of I-nen Seal (1600–1630), Japan, mid-17th century, ink, color, and gold on paper, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1962.30. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Japanese Art from the Collection , Knotted Clay: Raku Ceramics and Tea , The Print Generation , The Peacock Room , Striking Objects: Contemporary Japanese Metalwork. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Thursday, March 26, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Thursday, March 26, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tours | Art of Women

Gallery Talks & Tours Join us for a docent-led tour highlighting women’s untold stories in the art world, where their contributions have frequently been overshadowed. Discover the importance of women artists, subjects, patrons, and collectors who’ve shaped history. Celebrate women’s creativity and resilience by exploring captivating narratives that include inspirational subjects, ruling monarchs, and revered figures of divinity. Image: White Tara; Tibet, mid- to late 18th century; thangka applique; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, S2020.5.19. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Thursday, March 26, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Thursday, March 26, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Nowruz Traditions from Across Asia

Lectures & Discussions Explore and celebrate Nowruz traditions from across Asia in this showcase featuring displays of art, craft, food, decor, and other meaningful objects. Embassies and DC-based cultural institutions join us for a cherished cultural tradition shared by communities around the world. This event is part of the Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250 celebrations. Nowruz, the Persian word for “new day,” marks the vernal equinox and the first day of spring. Rooted in Zoroastrianism, the religion of Iran before the advent of Islam, Nowruz was celebrated as early as three thousand years ago. Today, Nowruz is celebrated by more than 300 million people around the world, from Asia to the United States. Image: National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Photo by Cory Grace. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Asian Art Museum, West Building. Event Location: Gallery 27. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nowruz-traditions-from-across-asia-tickets-1985329273300?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true. Categories: Lectures & Discussions. Celebrations. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Thursday, March 26, 2026, 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM.

Tours | Arts of China

Gallery Talks & Tours Examine the diverse artistic and cultural traditions of one of the world’s oldest civilizations in this in-person, docent-led tour. Learn about Chinese artworks such as ritual bronze vessels, calligraphy, brush paintings in ink and color, and exquisite ceramics. Please meet at the West Building Information Desk for the tour. Dish with foliate flaring rim; Ming dynasty, Xuande reign, 1426–35; Jingdezhen ware; porcelain with cobalt pigment under colorless glaze; H x Diam: 4.8 × 21.3 cm; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1951.13a-b. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Friday, March 27, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Kyoto Kimono Pop Up

Workshops Kyoto Kimono is back at the National Museum of Asian Art for a Spring Pop Up! Come browse this special collection of vintage Japanese kimono robes, haori jackets, obi sashes, upcycled fabric, and more—it's a treat just to try one on. Casual and formal wear for everyone; dazzling decor options too. Kyoto Kimono owner Nancy McDonough will be on hand to guide you through the many styles and to answer your questions about kimono (or Kyoto!). Image credit: Courtesy of Kyoto Kimono. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: NMAA Shop. Cost: Free. Categories: Shopping/Book Signing. Workshops. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Friday, March 27, 2026, 12:00 PM – 5:30 PM.

Meditation and Mindfulness

Workshops Register to join the sessions. Join a free online guided meditation. In these 30-minute sessions, DC-based meditation teachers lead a variety of mindfulness practices. Friday sessions take inspiration from art in our museum’s collections. All are welcome! No previous experience is required. Image: Gong Xian (ca. 1610–1689); Winter Landscape; China, mid- to late 17th century; album leaf; ink on paper; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1961.11. Event Location: Online. Online Link: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/8R9H5FxSRciJf6x6PSGd0w. Cost: Free; registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/8R9H5FxSRciJf6x6PSGd0w. Categories: Workshops. Webcasts & Online. Related Events: Meditation and Mindfulness (Online). Friday, March 27, 2026, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Friday, March 27, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tours | Art of Women

Gallery Talks & Tours Join us for a docent-led tour highlighting women’s untold stories in the art world, where their contributions have frequently been overshadowed. Discover the importance of women artists, subjects, patrons, and collectors who’ve shaped history. Celebrate women’s creativity and resilience by exploring captivating narratives that include inspirational subjects, ruling monarchs, and revered figures of divinity. Image: White Tara; Tibet, mid- to late 18th century; thangka applique; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, S2020.5.19. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Friday, March 27, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Friday, March 27, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Hands-On Conservation

Gallery Talks & Tours Explore conservation for yourself at our pop-up cart! Touch and see the tools and materials we use to preserve art, manuscripts, and other historic objects. Check out fluorescent glue samples, paper and brushes used for scroll mounting, and more. This is your chance to get a peek at what our conservators and scientists are up to behind the scenes. Department of Conservation and Scientific Research, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Event Location: West Building (Mall Entrance). Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices. Friday, March 27, 2026, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM.

Kyoto Kimono Pop Up

Workshops Kyoto Kimono is back at the National Museum of Asian Art for a Spring Pop Up! Come browse this special collection of vintage Japanese kimono robes, haori jackets, obi sashes, upcycled fabric, and more—it's a treat just to try one on. Casual and formal wear for everyone; dazzling decor options too. Kyoto Kimono owner Nancy McDonough will be on hand to guide you through the many styles and to answer your questions about kimono (or Kyoto!). Image credit: Courtesy of Kyoto Kimono. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: NMAA Shop. Cost: Free. Categories: Shopping/Book Signing. Workshops. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, March 28, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM.

Tours | Arts of China

Gallery Talks & Tours Examine the diverse artistic and cultural traditions of one of the world’s oldest civilizations in this in-person, docent-led tour. Learn about Chinese artworks such as ritual bronze vessels, calligraphy, brush paintings in ink and color, and exquisite ceramics. Please meet at the West Building Information Desk for the tour. Dish with foliate flaring rim; Ming dynasty, Xuande reign, 1426–35; Jingdezhen ware; porcelain with cobalt pigment under colorless glaze; H x Diam: 4.8 × 21.3 cm; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1951.13a-b. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, March 28, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Public Chanoyu Presentation with Urasenke Tankokai Washington DC and Artist DG Smalling

Lectures & Discussions Witness a public presentation of a traditional Japanese practice of tea preparation called chanoyu, featuring tea utensils from the museum’s collection. This is our third annual, public chanoyu presentation with the Urasenke Tankokai Washington DC Association. Tea will not be served to audience members during this presentation. The 2026 program marks a significant expansion of this annual event. For the first time, the event will feature a koicha (thick tea) presentation in the museum’s largest indoor venue, the Meyer Auditorium. Master Artist DG Smalling (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma) expands the program with a creative collaboration. Smalling will create live, continuous-line drawings of the presentation in his signature single-line style. He draws upon the historic practice of kaiki (record of a gathering), associated with sixteenth-century tea masters such as Tsuda Sōgyū. His participation celebrates the enduring spirit of US-Japan cultural exchange on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the… Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (required). Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1982898938102?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Lectures & Discussions. Demonstrations. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, March 28, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Saturday, March 28, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tours | Art of Women

Gallery Talks & Tours Join us for a docent-led tour highlighting women’s untold stories in the art world, where their contributions have frequently been overshadowed. Discover the importance of women artists, subjects, patrons, and collectors who’ve shaped history. Celebrate women’s creativity and resilience by exploring captivating narratives that include inspirational subjects, ruling monarchs, and revered figures of divinity. Image: White Tara; Tibet, mid- to late 18th century; thangka applique; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, S2020.5.19. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, March 28, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, March 28, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Kyoto Kimono Pop Up

Workshops Kyoto Kimono is back at the National Museum of Asian Art for a Spring Pop Up! Come browse this special collection of vintage Japanese kimono robes, haori jackets, obi sashes, upcycled fabric, and more—it's a treat just to try one on. Casual and formal wear for everyone; dazzling decor options too. Kyoto Kimono owner Nancy McDonough will be on hand to guide you through the many styles and to answer your questions about kimono (or Kyoto!). Image credit: Courtesy of Kyoto Kimono. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: NMAA Shop. Cost: Free. Categories: Shopping/Book Signing. Workshops. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sunday, March 29, 2026, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.

Tours | Arts of Japan

Gallery Talks & Tours As the seasons change, enjoy a free, hour-long guided tour of the museum’s renowned collection of Japanese art. Experience a variety of artworks, including paintings, prints, screens, ceramics, metalwork, and more. Trees, Master of I-nen Seal (1600–1630), Japan, mid-17th century, ink, color, and gold on paper, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1962.30. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Japanese Art from the Collection , Knotted Clay: Raku Ceramics and Tea , The Print Generation , The Peacock Room , Striking Objects: Contemporary Japanese Metalwork. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sunday, March 29, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Sunday, March 29, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tours | Art of Women

Gallery Talks & Tours Join us for a docent-led tour highlighting women’s untold stories in the art world, where their contributions have frequently been overshadowed. Discover the importance of women artists, subjects, patrons, and collectors who’ve shaped history. Celebrate women’s creativity and resilience by exploring captivating narratives that include inspirational subjects, ruling monarchs, and revered figures of divinity. Image: White Tara; Tibet, mid- to late 18th century; thangka applique; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, S2020.5.19. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sunday, March 29, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sunday, March 29, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Tours | Arts of China

Gallery Talks & Tours Examine the diverse artistic and cultural traditions of one of the world’s oldest civilizations in this in-person, docent-led tour. Learn about Chinese artworks such as ritual bronze vessels, calligraphy, brush paintings in ink and color, and exquisite ceramics. Please meet at the West Building Information Desk for the tour. Dish with foliate flaring rim; Ming dynasty, Xuande reign, 1426–35; Jingdezhen ware; porcelain with cobalt pigment under colorless glaze; H x Diam: 4.8 × 21.3 cm; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1951.13a-b. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Monday, March 30, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Monday, March 30, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tours | Art of Women

Gallery Talks & Tours Join us for a docent-led tour highlighting women’s untold stories in the art world, where their contributions have frequently been overshadowed. Discover the importance of women artists, subjects, patrons, and collectors who’ve shaped history. Celebrate women’s creativity and resilience by exploring captivating narratives that include inspirational subjects, ruling monarchs, and revered figures of divinity. Image: White Tara; Tibet, mid- to late 18th century; thangka applique; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, S2020.5.19. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Monday, March 30, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Monday, March 30, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Tours | Arts of Japan

Gallery Talks & Tours As the seasons change, enjoy a free, hour-long guided tour of the museum’s renowned collection of Japanese art. Experience a variety of artworks, including paintings, prints, screens, ceramics, metalwork, and more. Trees, Master of I-nen Seal (1600–1630), Japan, mid-17th century, ink, color, and gold on paper, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1962.30. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Japanese Art from the Collection , Knotted Clay: Raku Ceramics and Tea , The Print Generation , The Peacock Room , Striking Objects: Contemporary Japanese Metalwork. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Tuesday, March 31, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Meditation and Mindfulness

Workshops Register to join the sessions. Join a free online guided meditation. In these 30-minute sessions, DC-based meditation teachers lead a variety of mindfulness practices. Friday sessions take inspiration from art in our museum’s collections. All are welcome! No previous experience is required. Image: Gong Xian (ca. 1610–1689); Winter Landscape; China, mid- to late 17th century; album leaf; ink on paper; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1961.11. Event Location: Online. Online Link: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/8R9H5FxSRciJf6x6PSGd0w. Cost: Free; registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/8R9H5FxSRciJf6x6PSGd0w. Categories: Workshops. Webcasts & Online. Related Events: Meditation and Mindfulness (Online). Tuesday, March 31, 2026, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Tuesday, March 31, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tours | Art of Women

Gallery Talks & Tours Join us for a docent-led tour highlighting women’s untold stories in the art world, where their contributions have frequently been overshadowed. Discover the importance of women artists, subjects, patrons, and collectors who’ve shaped history. Celebrate women’s creativity and resilience by exploring captivating narratives that include inspirational subjects, ruling monarchs, and revered figures of divinity. Image: White Tara; Tibet, mid- to late 18th century; thangka applique; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, S2020.5.19. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Tuesday, March 31, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Tuesday, March 31, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Wednesday, April 1, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Wednesday, April 1, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Tours | Arts of Japan

Gallery Talks & Tours As the seasons change, enjoy a free, hour-long guided tour of the museum’s renowned collection of Japanese art. Experience a variety of artworks, including paintings, prints, screens, ceramics, metalwork, and more. Trees, Master of I-nen Seal (1600–1630), Japan, mid-17th century, ink, color, and gold on paper, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1962.30. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Japanese Art from the Collection , Knotted Clay: Raku Ceramics and Tea , The Print Generation , The Peacock Room , Striking Objects: Contemporary Japanese Metalwork. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Thursday, April 2, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Thursday, April 2, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tours | Arts Across Asia

Gallery Talks & Tours Enjoy a guided tour of our East Building and its range of exhibitions. These tours can feature art from any of the exhibitions currently on view, with works from cultures as diverse as ancient Iran to contemporary Japan. Please meet at the East Building, B1 Lobby for the tour. Image: Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Arthur M. Sackler Collection, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, Photo by John Bigelow Taylor. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Thursday, April 2, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Thursday, April 2, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Artist Talk: Hiroshi Senju

Lectures & Discussions Can't join us in person at the museum? Join us online for a livestream of the artist's talk, co-presented by Japan House LA. Hear internationally recognized painter Hiroshi Senju talk about his artistic process in person on the opening day of Into the Waters with Senju and Bingyi: Two Contemporary Paintings. Senju is known for his ethereal waterfall paintings, which can be found in art collections globally and in public spaces like Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, the US Embassy in Tokyo, the Buddhist monastery on Mount Kōya, and the Embassy of Japan in Washington, DC. He has traveled around the world to study waterfalls and distills their essence using mineral-based pigments that have been a staple of Japanese painting for centuries. After the talk, Curator of Japanese Art Frank Feltens joins Senju for a conversation and audience Q&A. To celebrate the exhibition opening and program, the galleries will remain open until 6:30 p.m. so attendees can experience these two dynamic artworks before the start of the artist… Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/artist-talk-hiroshi-senju-tickets-1983892713511?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: After Five. Lectures & Discussions. Webcasts & Online. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Thursday, April 2, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM.

Tours | Arts of China

Gallery Talks & Tours Examine the diverse artistic and cultural traditions of one of the world’s oldest civilizations in this in-person, docent-led tour. Learn about Chinese artworks such as ritual bronze vessels, calligraphy, brush paintings in ink and color, and exquisite ceramics. Please meet at the West Building Information Desk for the tour. Dish with foliate flaring rim; Ming dynasty, Xuande reign, 1426–35; Jingdezhen ware; porcelain with cobalt pigment under colorless glaze; H x Diam: 4.8 × 21.3 cm; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1951.13a-b. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Friday, April 3, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Meditation and Mindfulness

Workshops Register to join the sessions. Join a free online guided meditation. In these 30-minute sessions, DC-based meditation teachers lead a variety of mindfulness practices. Friday sessions take inspiration from art in our museum’s collections. All are welcome! No previous experience is required. Image: Gong Xian (ca. 1610–1689); Winter Landscape; China, mid- to late 17th century; album leaf; ink on paper; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1961.11. Event Location: Online. Online Link: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/8R9H5FxSRciJf6x6PSGd0w. Cost: Free; registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/8R9H5FxSRciJf6x6PSGd0w. Categories: Workshops. Webcasts & Online. Related Events: Meditation and Mindfulness (Online). Friday, April 3, 2026, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Friday, April 3, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tours | Arts Across Asia

Gallery Talks & Tours Enjoy a guided tour of our East Building and its range of exhibitions. These tours can feature art from any of the exhibitions currently on view, with works from cultures as diverse as ancient Iran to contemporary Japan. Please meet at the East Building, B1 Lobby for the tour. Image: Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Arthur M. Sackler Collection, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, Photo by John Bigelow Taylor. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Friday, April 3, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Friday, April 3, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Hands-On Conservation

Gallery Talks & Tours Explore conservation for yourself at our pop-up cart! Touch and see the tools and materials we use to preserve art, manuscripts, and other historic objects. Check out fluorescent glue samples, paper and brushes used for scroll mounting, and more. This is your chance to get a peek at what our conservators and scientists are up to behind the scenes. Department of Conservation and Scientific Research, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Event Location: West Building (Mall Entrance). Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices. Friday, April 3, 2026, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM.

Highlights Tour in Mandarin 館藏精華導覽

Gallery Talks & Tours Join free walk-in tours in Mandarin. These one-hour, docent-led tours feature highlights from the museum’s collections, including the famous Peacock Room and select masterpieces of Chinese art. Each tour is unique, so you can learn something new every time. No registration is needed. 國立亞洲藝術博物館邀請您參加免費普通話導覽（無需預約）在一小時的導覽中，我們的講解員將帶您聚焦博物館中的精華，包括舉世聞名的孔雀廳和精選的中國藝術品。每場導覽都是獨一無二的，讓您每次對藝術品都能有不同的了解。 Image credit: National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1915.103a-b. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: West Building (Freer Gallery of Art) information desk 西樓（佛利爾美術館）咨詢臺. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Saturday, April 4, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.

Anime Lounge

Films Chill out with your fellow otaku between films during our Anime and More weekend. Devour sweet treats from SakuSaku Flakerie, and sip delicious teas from Teaism. Meanwhile, enjoy talks on Japanese folklore monsters and food demos of anime-inspired recipes. Generous support for this event and the Anime and More festival is provided by an anonymous donor. Image courtesy of SakuSaku Flakerie. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Gallery 27. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Films. Lectures & Discussions. Demonstrations. Culinary Arts. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, April 4, 2026, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM.

Curator Tour | Vishnu's Cosmic Ocean

Gallery Talks & Tours Get an exclusive tour of Vishnu’s Cosmic Ocean with curator Emma Natalya Stein and view the largest bronze ever cast in Southeast Asia. Crafted one thousand years ago in the city of Angkor, this sculpture embodies the Hindu god Vishnu dreaming the universe into existence. Delve into the bronze’s original island-like temple and water’s cultural importance. Meet the present-day Cambodian community and explore the landscape in the exclusive accompanying film. Composite image: (top) Vishnu Reclining on the Serpent Ananta (Endless One); Cambodia, Siem Reap province, second half of 11th century; bronze, mercury gilding; National Museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh; Photograph by Mario Ciampi, ©️ Guicciardini & Magni Architetti / (bottom) Still from the short film Awkun; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Film by praCh Ly. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Gallery 22. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/curator-tour-vishnus-cosmic-ocean-tickets-1984080224361?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, April 4, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Tours | Arts of China

Gallery Talks & Tours Examine the diverse artistic and cultural traditions of one of the world’s oldest civilizations in this in-person, docent-led tour. Learn about Chinese artworks such as ritual bronze vessels, calligraphy, brush paintings in ink and color, and exquisite ceramics. Please meet at the West Building Information Desk for the tour. Dish with foliate flaring rim; Ming dynasty, Xuande reign, 1426–35; Jingdezhen ware; porcelain with cobalt pigment under colorless glaze; H x Diam: 4.8 × 21.3 cm; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1951.13a-b. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, April 4, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Encounters with Yōkai: Monsters, Spirits, and Fantastic Creatures of Japan

Lectures & Discussions In this talk, Japanese folklore expert Michael Dylan Foster introduces the creatures known as yōkai and explores how they have been imagined and portrayed through the centuries. With focus on collection, classification, and play, Dr. Foster shows how these historical approaches resonate with contemporary media and games. Along the way, we encounter many individual yōkai, as well as some of the artists, scholars, and writers who have explored what they have to say. Michael Dylan Foster is a professor in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of California, Davis. He is the author of many works on Japanese folklore and media, including Pandemonium and Parade: Japanese Monsters and the Culture of Yōkai (2009) and most recently, The Book of Yōkai, Expanded Second Edition (2024). Among his coedited volumes are The Folkloresque: Reframing Folklore in a Popular Culture World (2016) and Möbius Media: Popular Culture, Folklore, and the Folkloresque (2024). Since 2022, he has been the… Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Gallery 27. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Lectures & Discussions. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, April 4, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Saturday, April 4, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Perfect Blue

Films New 4K Restoration! Watch the Trailer This iconic psychological thriller has frequently been hailed as one of the most important animated films of all time. In legendary anime director Satoshi Kon’s groundbreaking first feature, rising pop star Mima has quit singing to pursue a career as an actress and model, but her fans aren’t ready to see her go. After Mima takes on a recurring role on a popular TV show, her handlers and collaborators begin turning up murdered. Harboring feelings of guilt and haunted by visions of her former self, Mima’s reality and fantasy meld into a frenzied paranoia. As her stalker closes in both in person and online, the threat they pose is more real than even Mima knows. Description adapted from GKIDS. Intended for mature audiences. Director: Satoshi Kon. Country: Japan. Released: 1997. Length: 81 min. Format: DCP. Language: Japanese with English subtitles. Generous support for this event and the Anime and More festival is provided by an anonymous donor. Image courtesy of GKIDS. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://animenmaa.eventive.org/films. Categories: Films. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Captioning. Assisted listening devices. Saturday, April 4, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM.

Tours | Arts Across Asia

Gallery Talks & Tours Enjoy a guided tour of our East Building and its range of exhibitions. These tours can feature art from any of the exhibitions currently on view, with works from cultures as diverse as ancient Iran to contemporary Japan. Please meet at the East Building, B1 Lobby for the tour. Image: Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Arthur M. Sackler Collection, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, Photo by John Bigelow Taylor. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, April 4, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, April 4, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Ghost in the Shell

Films Watch the Trailer Widely regarded as one of the greatest anime films of all time, Mamoru Oshii’s 1995 masterpiece feels eerily prescient of today’s digitally entwined world. In the year 2029, the world is interconnected by a vast network that permeates every aspect of life. Cyborg Motoko Kusanagi of Tokyo’s security force investigates a powerful hacker who attacks that network, even tapping into human minds and erasing their memories. Through her investigation, Kusanagi is forced to ponder the very nature of her existence and question what is the “ghost”—her essence—in her cybernetic “shell”? Little does she know that the Puppet Master is seeking her as well. Oshii’s pioneering feature is both a gorgeous science fiction adventure and a philosophical rumination on the nature of consciousness. Intended for mature audiences. Director: Mamoru Oshii. Country: Japan. Released: 1995. Length: 83 min. Format: DCP. Language: Japanese with English subtitles. Generous support for this event and the Anime and More fe… Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://animenmaa.eventive.org/films. Categories: Films. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, April 4, 2026, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM.

Spirited Away

Films 25th Anniversary Screening! Watch the Trailer Teeming with mythical beasts and complex characters alike, Hayao Miyazaki’s masterpiece won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival and the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, and it remains beloved the world over. Spirited Away tells the engrossing tale of a young girl who stumbles into a mysterious spirit world populated by a host of creatures from the depths of Japanese mythology. “An out-and-out charmer. It's almost impossible to do justice in words either to the visual richness of the movie . . . or to the character-filled storyline” (Derek Elley, Variety). Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki. Country: Japan. Released: 2001. Length: 125 min. Format: DCP. Language: English. Generous support for this event and the Anime and More festival is provided by an anonymous donor. Image courtesy of GKIDS. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://animenmaa.eventive.org/films. Categories: Films. After Five. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices. Saturday, April 4, 2026, 6:00 PM – 8:15 PM.

Sketch & Discover Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours Join docent Sushmita Mazumdar every first Sunday of the month as she guides you to use pencil and paper to consider the unique ideas and expressions of Asian artists from various traditions spanning the continent across centuries. All materials will be provided. No reservation needed. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sunday, April 5, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tours | Arts of Japan

Gallery Talks & Tours As the seasons change, enjoy a free, hour-long guided tour of the museum’s renowned collection of Japanese art. Experience a variety of artworks, including paintings, prints, screens, ceramics, metalwork, and more. Trees, Master of I-nen Seal (1600–1630), Japan, mid-17th century, ink, color, and gold on paper, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1962.30. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Japanese Art from the Collection , Knotted Clay: Raku Ceramics and Tea , The Print Generation , The Peacock Room , Striking Objects: Contemporary Japanese Metalwork. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sunday, April 5, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Folkloresque Transformations: From Japanese Folklore to Global Media Product

Lectures & Discussions Michael Dylan Foster, author of The Book of Yōkai How does pop culture media like games and anime draw on and reimagine folklore? In this talk, Japanese folklore expert Michael Dylan Foster explores this question, referencing contemporary media such as Yo-kai Watch and the animated films of Studio Ghibli. Dr. Foster analyzes how the open-access nature of folklore facilitates creativity in the commercial realm of popular culture. The concept of the “folkloresque” sheds light on the different ways contemporary media invokes the authority and “authenticity” of traditional narratives, beliefs, and legendary characters to create “new” products for a global media marketplace. Michael Dylan Foster is a professor in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of California, Davis. He is the author of many works on Japanese folklore and media, including Pandemonium and Parade: Japanese Monsters and the Culture of Yōkai (2009) and most recently, The Book of Yōkai, Expanded Second Edition… Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Gallery 27. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Lectures & Discussions. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sunday, April 5, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Sunday, April 5, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Scarlet

Films Watch the Trailer Loosely based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the latest anime from Mamoru Hosoda (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Belle) features a time-traveling, sword-wielding heroine on a quest to avenge the death of her father, the king of Denmark. After her wicked great uncle poisons her, Scarlet finds herself in the “otherworld,” a land of the dead where she battles evil forces. There, she meets an idealistic young man from the future—our present day—who encourages her to break the cycle of vengeance and envision a future free of bitterness and rage. Shakespeare may be spinning in his grave at the liberties Hosoda takes with his play, but Scarlet stands on its own as a ravishing fantasy adventure. Director: Mamoru Hosoda. Country: Japan. Released: 2025. Length: 111 min. Format: DCP. Language: Japanese with English subtitles. Generous support for this event and the Anime and More festival is provided by an anonymous donor. Image courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://animenmaa.eventive.org/films. Categories: Films. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Sunday, April 5, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.

Tours | Arts Across Asia

Gallery Talks & Tours Enjoy a guided tour of our East Building and its range of exhibitions. These tours can feature art from any of the exhibitions currently on view, with works from cultures as diverse as ancient Iran to contemporary Japan. Please meet at the East Building, B1 Lobby for the tour. Image: Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Arthur M. Sackler Collection, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, Photo by John Bigelow Taylor. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sunday, April 5, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sunday, April 5, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Paprika

Films 20th Anniversary Screening! Watch the Trailer One of anime’s most creative minds, the late Satoshi Kon’s work has been compared to such cinematic mindblowers as David Lynch, Christopher Nolan, and the Wachowskis. In this “jaw-dropping feat of the imagination” (Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News), a psychiatrist uses an invention to enter her patients’ dreams. Tempted by its possibilities, she starts using it for her own purposes, wandering in people’s subconsciouses as a detective named Paprika. But when “sleep terrorists” steal the device, the sleeping world starts mixing with the waking one, with psychedelic results that build into some of the most astonishingly inventive scenes in all of anime. Director: Satoshi Kon. Country: Japan. Released: 2006. Length: 90 min. Format: DCP. Language: Japanese with English subtitles. Generous support for this event and the Anime and More festival is provided by an anonymous donor. Image courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://animenmaa.eventive.org/films. Categories: Films. After Five. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Captioning. Assisted listening devices. Sunday, April 5, 2026, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM.

Tours | Arts of China

Gallery Talks & Tours Examine the diverse artistic and cultural traditions of one of the world’s oldest civilizations in this in-person, docent-led tour. Learn about Chinese artworks such as ritual bronze vessels, calligraphy, brush paintings in ink and color, and exquisite ceramics. Please meet at the West Building Information Desk for the tour. Dish with foliate flaring rim; Ming dynasty, Xuande reign, 1426–35; Jingdezhen ware; porcelain with cobalt pigment under colorless glaze; H x Diam: 4.8 × 21.3 cm; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1951.13a-b. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Monday, April 6, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Monday, April 6, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Monday, April 6, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Tea, Plastic, and Performance in the Global Pacific

Lectures & Discussions What can a tea ceremony teach us about ocean plastic pollution? Quite a lot, according to the art and research collective Tea Ceremony with Pacific Plastics. Founded in 2022 by a group of students and faculty at UCLA, this initiative aims to address sustainability and oceanic plastic pollution through the cultural practice of chanoyu (commonly called “Japanese tea ceremony” in English.) Chanoyu conveys a legacy of Pacific Rim cultural exchange and migration, a tradition of integrating unlike and unusual items into a cohesive whole, and a focus on mindfulness and co-presence with others. All these characteristics can be effectively incorporated into a creative response to a pressing global concern. Over the past three years, the collective has cultivated relationships with artists, designers, engineers, craftspeople, scholars, and culture bearers across California, Boston, and Japan. Leading an interdisciplinary team, they built a tea house from salvaged and recycled materials and use tea-inspired performan… Event Location: Zoom. Cost: Free. Register in advance (required). Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hwWHMmmEQBWdfdfmJ430VQ. Categories: Lectures & Discussions. Webcasts & Online. Accessibility: Captioning. Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Tours | Arts of Japan

Gallery Talks & Tours As the seasons change, enjoy a free, hour-long guided tour of the museum’s renowned collection of Japanese art. Experience a variety of artworks, including paintings, prints, screens, ceramics, metalwork, and more. Trees, Master of I-nen Seal (1600–1630), Japan, mid-17th century, ink, color, and gold on paper, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1962.30. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Japanese Art from the Collection , Knotted Clay: Raku Ceramics and Tea , The Print Generation , The Peacock Room , Striking Objects: Contemporary Japanese Metalwork. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Meditation and Mindfulness

Workshops Register to join the sessions. Join a free online guided meditation. In these 30-minute sessions, DC-based meditation teachers lead a variety of mindfulness practices. Friday sessions take inspiration from art in our museum’s collections. All are welcome! No previous experience is required. Image: Gong Xian (ca. 1610–1689); Winter Landscape; China, mid- to late 17th century; album leaf; ink on paper; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1961.11. Event Location: Online. Online Link: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/8R9H5FxSRciJf6x6PSGd0w. Cost: Free; registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/8R9H5FxSRciJf6x6PSGd0w. Categories: Workshops. Webcasts & Online. Related Events: Meditation and Mindfulness (Online). Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Virtual Tour | Cherry Blossoms

Gallery Talks & Tours Embrace hanami, the traditional Japanese custom of “flower viewing” across our Japanese collections, with works from medieval Japan to Hokusai and beyond. In this virtual tour, you’ll explore Japanese symbols, values, and traditions associated with cherry blossoms, or sakura, through paintings, woodblock prints, and more. Wind-screen and cherry tree 桜に幔幕図屏風; Japan, 1615–86; color over gold on paper; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1897.3. Event Location: Zoom. Cost: Free. Register in advance (required). Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PoHtDtJpS_eOTQt5Ol0jXw. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Webcasts & Online. Accessibility: Captioning. Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Rashomon

Films A riveting psychological thriller that investigates the nature of truth and the meaning of justice, Rashomon is widely considered one of the greatest films ever made. Four people give different accounts of a man’s murder and the rape of his wife, which director Akira Kurosawa presents with striking imagery and an ingenious use of flashbacks. This eloquent masterwork and international sensation revolutionized film language and introduced Japanese cinema—and a commanding new star by the name of Toshiro Mifune—to the Western world. Description courtesy of Janus Films. Director: Akira Kurosawa. Country: Japan. Released: 1950. Length: 88 min. Format: DCP. Language: Japanese with English subtitles. Image courtesy of Janus Films. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://nmaamatinees.eventive.org/films/69496cc4335ee12f50d1cf66. Categories: Films. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Tours | Arts of Japan

Gallery Talks & Tours As the seasons change, enjoy a free, hour-long guided tour of the museum’s renowned collection of Japanese art. Experience a variety of artworks, including paintings, prints, screens, ceramics, metalwork, and more. Trees, Master of I-nen Seal (1600–1630), Japan, mid-17th century, ink, color, and gold on paper, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1962.30. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Japanese Art from the Collection , Knotted Clay: Raku Ceramics and Tea , The Print Generation , The Peacock Room , Striking Objects: Contemporary Japanese Metalwork. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Thursday, April 9, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Thursday, April 9, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tours | Arts Across Asia

Gallery Talks & Tours Enjoy a guided tour of our East Building and its range of exhibitions. These tours can feature art from any of the exhibitions currently on view, with works from cultures as diverse as ancient Iran to contemporary Japan. Please meet at the East Building, B1 Lobby for the tour. Image: Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Arthur M. Sackler Collection, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, Photo by John Bigelow Taylor. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Thursday, April 9, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Thursday, April 9, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Shanghai Quartet

Performances Seating is limited. Reserve your seat in advance to pick where you sit ($6 fee per seat). Join the standby line for remaining seats on the day of the concert, free of charge. Over the past forty-two years, the Shanghai Quartet has become one of the world’s foremost chamber ensembles. Their elegant style, impressive technique, and emotional breadth allow the group to move seamlessly between masterpieces of Western music, traditional Chinese folk music, and cutting-edge contemporary works. In their long history of championing new music, the quartet highlight works that juxtapose the traditions of Eastern and Western music. Formed at the Shanghai Conservatory in 1983, soon after the end of China’s harrowing Cultural Revolution, the group came to the United States to complete its studies and were based in the US for more than thirty-five years while touring throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. In September 2020, the Shanghai Quartet moved back to China to join the resident faculty of The Tianjin… Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/shanghai-quartet-tickets-1977543413584?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: After Five. Performances. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Thursday, April 9, 2026, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM.

Tours | Arts of China

Gallery Talks & Tours Examine the diverse artistic and cultural traditions of one of the world’s oldest civilizations in this in-person, docent-led tour. Learn about Chinese artworks such as ritual bronze vessels, calligraphy, brush paintings in ink and color, and exquisite ceramics. Please meet at the West Building Information Desk for the tour. Dish with foliate flaring rim; Ming dynasty, Xuande reign, 1426–35; Jingdezhen ware; porcelain with cobalt pigment under colorless glaze; H x Diam: 4.8 × 21.3 cm; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1951.13a-b. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Friday, April 10, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Meditation and Mindfulness

Workshops Register to join the sessions. Join a free online guided meditation. In these 30-minute sessions, DC-based meditation teachers lead a variety of mindfulness practices. Friday sessions take inspiration from art in our museum’s collections. All are welcome! No previous experience is required. Image: Gong Xian (ca. 1610–1689); Winter Landscape; China, mid- to late 17th century; album leaf; ink on paper; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1961.11. Event Location: Online. Online Link: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/8R9H5FxSRciJf6x6PSGd0w. Cost: Free; registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/8R9H5FxSRciJf6x6PSGd0w. Categories: Workshops. Webcasts & Online. Related Events: Meditation and Mindfulness (Online). Friday, April 10, 2026, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.

Artful Movement | SEL Webinar for Students K–3

Kids and Family Get ready to observe, chat, and move with art! In these webinars, students (grades K–3) will look carefully at a work of art through facilitated exploration. Then, they will breathe, stretch, and flow through a guided mindful movement. This month’s theme is “Water Play.” These sessions are perfect for families, homeschool groups, virtual schools, and teachers who may want to review a recording with their students after the live session. Everyone who registers gets a link to the recording. Each session includes American Sign Language interpretation. Sessions take place on Fridays from 1 to 1:30 p.m. We present these webinars in partnership with Create Calm. Toyokuni II (1777–1835); Carp; Japan, 1827–35; ink and color on paper; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Dr. John Fuegi, F1996.27a-b. Event Location: Zoom. Cost: Free. Register in advance (required). Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_T2wnDAXXSCm9ZerxUvoNdw. Categories: Kids & Families. Webcasts & Online. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Friday, April 10, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Friday, April 10, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tours | Arts Across Asia

Gallery Talks & Tours Enjoy a guided tour of our East Building and its range of exhibitions. These tours can feature art from any of the exhibitions currently on view, with works from cultures as diverse as ancient Iran to contemporary Japan. Please meet at the East Building, B1 Lobby for the tour. Image: Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Arthur M. Sackler Collection, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, Photo by John Bigelow Taylor. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Friday, April 10, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Friday, April 10, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Hands-On Conservation

Gallery Talks & Tours Explore conservation for yourself at our pop-up cart! Touch and see the tools and materials we use to preserve art, manuscripts, and other historic objects. Check out fluorescent glue samples, paper and brushes used for scroll mounting, and more. This is your chance to get a peek at what our conservators and scientists are up to behind the scenes. Department of Conservation and Scientific Research, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Event Location: West Building (Mall Entrance). Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices. Friday, April 10, 2026, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM.

Art & Me | Family Workshop: Tea Time

Kids and Family In this hands‑on workshop, kids ages 3–8 and their caregivers explore Japanese tea traditions, make decaf matcha, and learn how we take care of tea utensils. First, families take a guided tour of Reasons to Gather: Japanese Tea Practice Unwrapped. Then art conservators show how we treat tea bowls used in gatherings and compare them to the ones we display. Kids then create a decorative tea bowl to take home. Image: National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: ImaginAsia Studio. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1984384326940?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Kids & Families. Workshops. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices. Saturday, April 11, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM.

International Slow Art Day

Gallery Talks & Tours Experience the joy of art by slowing down and taking time to look closely with guided activities. Join staff and docents as they lead viewing of and conversations about Japanese screens. Or learn to make origami with an art-making workshop. Prefer to explore at your own pace? Pick up a slow-looking guide to sketch, write, and connect with works of art of your choice. Image: National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Photo by Amy Abraham. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Freer Gallery of Art. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Kids & Families. Workshops. Lectures & Discussions. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, April 11, 2026, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM.

Tours | Arts of China

Gallery Talks & Tours Examine the diverse artistic and cultural traditions of one of the world’s oldest civilizations in this in-person, docent-led tour. Learn about Chinese artworks such as ritual bronze vessels, calligraphy, brush paintings in ink and color, and exquisite ceramics. Please meet at the West Building Information Desk for the tour. Dish with foliate flaring rim; Ming dynasty, Xuande reign, 1426–35; Jingdezhen ware; porcelain with cobalt pigment under colorless glaze; H x Diam: 4.8 × 21.3 cm; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1951.13a-b. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, April 11, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Saturday, April 11, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Art & Me | Family Workshop: Tea Time

Kids and Family In this hands‑on workshop, kids ages 3–8 and their caregivers explore Japanese tea traditions, make decaf matcha, and learn how we take care of tea utensils. First, families take a guided tour of Reasons to Gather: Japanese Tea Practice Unwrapped. Then art conservators show how we treat tea bowls used in gatherings and compare them to the ones we display. Kids then create a decorative tea bowl to take home. Image: National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: ImaginAsia Studio. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1984384326940?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Kids & Families. Workshops. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices. Saturday, April 11, 2026, 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM.

Screening and Discussion: Black Box Diaries

Films In Person: Shiori Ito, director In 2017, journalist Shiori Ito shocked Japan by publicly accusing a prominent media executive of raping her. Black Box, the book she published about her experience, became a bestseller and touched off Japan’s #MeToo movement. With the urgency and suspense of a thriller, Black Box Diaries documents her sexual assault and its aftermath, melding her own video diaries, secret audio recordings, and dramatic courtroom footage to forge a damning case against her attacker. Meanwhile, the film exposes law enforcement negligence and a network of the powerful bent on protecting their own. This event is copresented with the Georgetown University Department of Performing Arts and the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival. After the film, Ito will participate in a panel discussion and audience Q&A, followed by a book signing. Director: Shiori Ito. Countries: Japan, United States, United Kingdom. Released: 2024. Length: 103 min. Format: DCP. Language: English and Japanese with… Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/screening-and-discussion-black-box-diaries-tickets-1984570868892?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Films. Lectures & Discussions. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices. Saturday, April 11, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM.

Tours | Arts Across Asia

Gallery Talks & Tours Enjoy a guided tour of our East Building and its range of exhibitions. These tours can feature art from any of the exhibitions currently on view, with works from cultures as diverse as ancient Iran to contemporary Japan. Please meet at the East Building, B1 Lobby for the tour. Image: Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Arthur M. Sackler Collection, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, Photo by John Bigelow Taylor. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, April 11, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, April 11, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Tours | Arts of Japan

Gallery Talks & Tours As the seasons change, enjoy a free, hour-long guided tour of the museum’s renowned collection of Japanese art. Experience a variety of artworks, including paintings, prints, screens, ceramics, metalwork, and more. Trees, Master of I-nen Seal (1600–1630), Japan, mid-17th century, ink, color, and gold on paper, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1962.30. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Japanese Art from the Collection , Knotted Clay: Raku Ceramics and Tea , The Print Generation , The Peacock Room , Striking Objects: Contemporary Japanese Metalwork. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sunday, April 12, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Sunday, April 12, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tours | Arts Across Asia

Gallery Talks & Tours Enjoy a guided tour of our East Building and its range of exhibitions. These tours can feature art from any of the exhibitions currently on view, with works from cultures as diverse as ancient Iran to contemporary Japan. Please meet at the East Building, B1 Lobby for the tour. Image: Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Arthur M. Sackler Collection, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, Photo by John Bigelow Taylor. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sunday, April 12, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sunday, April 12, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Tours | Arts of China

Gallery Talks & Tours Examine the diverse artistic and cultural traditions of one of the world’s oldest civilizations in this in-person, docent-led tour. Learn about Chinese artworks such as ritual bronze vessels, calligraphy, brush paintings in ink and color, and exquisite ceramics. Please meet at the West Building Information Desk for the tour. Dish with foliate flaring rim; Ming dynasty, Xuande reign, 1426–35; Jingdezhen ware; porcelain with cobalt pigment under colorless glaze; H x Diam: 4.8 × 21.3 cm; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1951.13a-b. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Monday, April 13, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Monday, April 13, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Monday, April 13, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Tours | Arts of Japan

Gallery Talks & Tours As the seasons change, enjoy a free, hour-long guided tour of the museum’s renowned collection of Japanese art. Experience a variety of artworks, including paintings, prints, screens, ceramics, metalwork, and more. Trees, Master of I-nen Seal (1600–1630), Japan, mid-17th century, ink, color, and gold on paper, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1962.30. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Japanese Art from the Collection , Knotted Clay: Raku Ceramics and Tea , The Print Generation , The Peacock Room , Striking Objects: Contemporary Japanese Metalwork. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Meditation and Mindfulness

Workshops Register to join the sessions. Join a free online guided meditation. In these 30-minute sessions, DC-based meditation teachers lead a variety of mindfulness practices. Friday sessions take inspiration from art in our museum’s collections. All are welcome! No previous experience is required. Image: Gong Xian (ca. 1610–1689); Winter Landscape; China, mid- to late 17th century; album leaf; ink on paper; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1961.11. Event Location: Online. Online Link: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/8R9H5FxSRciJf6x6PSGd0w. Cost: Free; registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/8R9H5FxSRciJf6x6PSGd0w. Categories: Workshops. Webcasts & Online. Related Events: Meditation and Mindfulness (Online). Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Musicians from Marlboro III

Performances Seating is limited. Reserve your seat in advance to pick where you sit ($6 fee per seat). Join the standby line for remaining seats on the day of the concert, free of charge. This season’s third Musicians from Marlboro ensemble showcases three outstanding, emerging singers performing vocal duets by Schumann, Britten, and Brahms, alongside a pair of Haydn’s most inviting piano trios. For 60 years, the Musicians from Marlboro touring program has brought memorable performances from Vermont’s legendary chamber music school and festival to national audiences. The program features: Haydn’s Piano Trio No. 41 in E-flat minor, Hob. XV:31 , Brahms’s Three Duets, Op. 20 , Britten’s Canticle II: Abraham and Isaac , Schumann’s Four Duets, Op. 78 , Haydn’s Piano Trio in C major, Hob. XV:27, Artists include soprano Bridget Esler, mezzo-soprano Chihiro Asano, tenor Patrick Bessenbacher, pianists Lydia Brown and Solomon Ge, violinist Oliver Neubauer, and cellist Judith Serkin. This performance is part of the Bill and Mary… Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/musicians-from-marlboro-iii-tickets-1977527540106?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: After Five. Performances. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices. Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM.

Peacock Room Shutters Open

Third Thursday of every month. Free, no registration required. See the Peacock Room in a whole new light! Please join us for a beloved NMAA tradition: our third Thursday opening of the Peacock Room shutters. Experience this unique masterwork of art and design in a whole new way as natural light reveals details of James McNeill Whistler's painted interior and accents the gleaming surfaces of Charles Lang Freer's collection of Asian ceramics. The shutters are open from noon to 5:30 p.m. every third Thursday of each month. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Freer gallery 12 (Peacock Room). Cost: Free. Categories: Demonstrations. Gallery Talks & Tours. Thursday, April 16, 2026, 12:00 PM – 5:30 PM.

Tours | Arts of Japan

Gallery Talks & Tours As the seasons change, enjoy a free, hour-long guided tour of the museum’s renowned collection of Japanese art. Experience a variety of artworks, including paintings, prints, screens, ceramics, metalwork, and more. Trees, Master of I-nen Seal (1600–1630), Japan, mid-17th century, ink, color, and gold on paper, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1962.30. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Japanese Art from the Collection , Knotted Clay: Raku Ceramics and Tea , The Print Generation , The Peacock Room , Striking Objects: Contemporary Japanese Metalwork. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Thursday, April 16, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Thursday, April 16, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tours | Arts Across Asia

Gallery Talks & Tours Enjoy a guided tour of our East Building and its range of exhibitions. These tours can feature art from any of the exhibitions currently on view, with works from cultures as diverse as ancient Iran to contemporary Japan. Please meet at the East Building, B1 Lobby for the tour. Image: Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Arthur M. Sackler Collection, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, Photo by John Bigelow Taylor. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Thursday, April 16, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Thursday, April 16, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Tours | Arts of China

Gallery Talks & Tours Examine the diverse artistic and cultural traditions of one of the world’s oldest civilizations in this in-person, docent-led tour. Learn about Chinese artworks such as ritual bronze vessels, calligraphy, brush paintings in ink and color, and exquisite ceramics. Please meet at the West Building Information Desk for the tour. Dish with foliate flaring rim; Ming dynasty, Xuande reign, 1426–35; Jingdezhen ware; porcelain with cobalt pigment under colorless glaze; H x Diam: 4.8 × 21.3 cm; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1951.13a-b. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Friday, April 17, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Meditation and Mindfulness

Workshops Register to join the sessions. Join a free online guided meditation. In these 30-minute sessions, DC-based meditation teachers lead a variety of mindfulness practices. Friday sessions take inspiration from art in our museum’s collections. All are welcome! No previous experience is required. Image: Gong Xian (ca. 1610–1689); Winter Landscape; China, mid- to late 17th century; album leaf; ink on paper; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1961.11. Event Location: Online. Online Link: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/8R9H5FxSRciJf6x6PSGd0w. Cost: Free; registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/8R9H5FxSRciJf6x6PSGd0w. Categories: Workshops. Webcasts & Online. Related Events: Meditation and Mindfulness (Online). Friday, April 17, 2026, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Friday, April 17, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tours | Arts Across Asia

Gallery Talks & Tours Enjoy a guided tour of our East Building and its range of exhibitions. These tours can feature art from any of the exhibitions currently on view, with works from cultures as diverse as ancient Iran to contemporary Japan. Please meet at the East Building, B1 Lobby for the tour. Image: Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Arthur M. Sackler Collection, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, Photo by John Bigelow Taylor. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Friday, April 17, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Friday, April 17, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Hands-On Conservation

Gallery Talks & Tours Explore conservation for yourself at our pop-up cart! Touch and see the tools and materials we use to preserve art, manuscripts, and other historic objects. Check out fluorescent glue samples, paper and brushes used for scroll mounting, and more. This is your chance to get a peek at what our conservators and scientists are up to behind the scenes. Department of Conservation and Scientific Research, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Event Location: West Building (Mall Entrance). Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices. Friday, April 17, 2026, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM.

Tours | Arts of China

Gallery Talks & Tours Examine the diverse artistic and cultural traditions of one of the world’s oldest civilizations in this in-person, docent-led tour. Learn about Chinese artworks such as ritual bronze vessels, calligraphy, brush paintings in ink and color, and exquisite ceramics. Please meet at the West Building Information Desk for the tour. Dish with foliate flaring rim; Ming dynasty, Xuande reign, 1426–35; Jingdezhen ware; porcelain with cobalt pigment under colorless glaze; H x Diam: 4.8 × 21.3 cm; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1951.13a-b. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, April 18, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Saturday, April 18, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tours | Arts Across Asia

Gallery Talks & Tours Enjoy a guided tour of our East Building and its range of exhibitions. These tours can feature art from any of the exhibitions currently on view, with works from cultures as diverse as ancient Iran to contemporary Japan. Please meet at the East Building, B1 Lobby for the tour. Image: Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Arthur M. Sackler Collection, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, Photo by John Bigelow Taylor. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, April 18, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, April 18, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Highlights Tour in Mandarin 館藏精華導覽

Gallery Talks & Tours Join free walk-in tours in Mandarin. These one-hour, docent-led tours feature highlights from the museum’s collections, including the famous Peacock Room and select masterpieces of Chinese art. Each docent chooses an artwork to present in their own way, so you can learn something new every time. No registration is needed. 國立亞洲藝術博物館邀請您參加免費普通話導覽（無需預約）在一小時的導覽中，我們的講解員將帶您聚焦博物館中的精華，包括舉世聞名的孔雀廳和精選的中國藝術品。每場導覽都是獨一無二的，讓您每次對藝術品都能有不同的了解。 Image credit: National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1915.103a-b. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: West Building (Freer Gallery of Art) information desk 西樓（佛利爾美術館）咨詢臺. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Sunday, April 19, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.

Tours | Arts of Japan

Gallery Talks & Tours As the seasons change, enjoy a free, hour-long guided tour of the museum’s renowned collection of Japanese art. Experience a variety of artworks, including paintings, prints, screens, ceramics, metalwork, and more. Trees, Master of I-nen Seal (1600–1630), Japan, mid-17th century, ink, color, and gold on paper, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1962.30. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Japanese Art from the Collection , Knotted Clay: Raku Ceramics and Tea , The Print Generation , The Peacock Room , Striking Objects: Contemporary Japanese Metalwork. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sunday, April 19, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Sunday, April 19, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tours | Arts Across Asia

Gallery Talks & Tours Enjoy a guided tour of our East Building and its range of exhibitions. These tours can feature art from any of the exhibitions currently on view, with works from cultures as diverse as ancient Iran to contemporary Japan. Please meet at the East Building, B1 Lobby for the tour. Image: Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Arthur M. Sackler Collection, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, Photo by John Bigelow Taylor. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sunday, April 19, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sunday, April 19, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Tours | Arts of China

Gallery Talks & Tours Examine the diverse artistic and cultural traditions of one of the world’s oldest civilizations in this in-person, docent-led tour. Learn about Chinese artworks such as ritual bronze vessels, calligraphy, brush paintings in ink and color, and exquisite ceramics. Please meet at the West Building Information Desk for the tour. Dish with foliate flaring rim; Ming dynasty, Xuande reign, 1426–35; Jingdezhen ware; porcelain with cobalt pigment under colorless glaze; H x Diam: 4.8 × 21.3 cm; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1951.13a-b. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Monday, April 20, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Monday, April 20, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Monday, April 20, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Tours | Arts of Japan

Gallery Talks & Tours As the seasons change, enjoy a free, hour-long guided tour of the museum’s renowned collection of Japanese art. Experience a variety of artworks, including paintings, prints, screens, ceramics, metalwork, and more. Trees, Master of I-nen Seal (1600–1630), Japan, mid-17th century, ink, color, and gold on paper, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1962.30. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Japanese Art from the Collection , Knotted Clay: Raku Ceramics and Tea , The Print Generation , The Peacock Room , Striking Objects: Contemporary Japanese Metalwork. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Meditation and Mindfulness

Workshops Register to join the sessions. Join a free online guided meditation. In these 30-minute sessions, DC-based meditation teachers lead a variety of mindfulness practices. Friday sessions take inspiration from art in our museum’s collections. All are welcome! No previous experience is required. Image: Gong Xian (ca. 1610–1689); Winter Landscape; China, mid- to late 17th century; album leaf; ink on paper; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1961.11. Event Location: Online. Online Link: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/8R9H5FxSRciJf6x6PSGd0w. Cost: Free; registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/8R9H5FxSRciJf6x6PSGd0w. Categories: Workshops. Webcasts & Online. Related Events: Meditation and Mindfulness (Online). Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Virtual Tour | Cherry Blossoms

Gallery Talks & Tours Embrace hanami, the traditional Japanese custom of “flower viewing” across our Japanese collections, with works from medieval Japan to Hokusai and beyond. In this virtual tour, you’ll explore Japanese symbols, values, and traditions associated with cherry blossoms, or sakura, through paintings, woodblock prints, and more. Wind-screen and cherry tree 桜に幔幕図屏風; Japan, 1615–86; color over gold on paper; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1897.3. Event Location: Zoom. Cost: Free. Register in advance (required). Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fuE09wjJQZWm20pZjnp1sA. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Webcasts & Online. Accessibility: Captioning. Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM.

Curator Tour | Japanese Paintings from the Collection

Gallery Talks & Tours Join curator Frank Feltens for a tour of Japanese paintings from our collection, showcasing both iconic and lesser-known aspects of Japanese culture. Our latest rotation includes captivating waterscapes and works that delve into spooky themes. Please meet at gallery 5 for the tour. We recommend you register in advance. Image: Maruyama Okyo 円山応挙; Geese over a Beach; Japan, 18th century; ink on paper; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1898.143. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Gallery 5, Gallery 6, Gallery 6a, Gallery 7. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1982233130654?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Wednesday, April 22, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Wednesday, April 22, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Wednesday, April 22, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Tours | Arts of Japan

Gallery Talks & Tours As the seasons change, enjoy a free, hour-long guided tour of the museum’s renowned collection of Japanese art. Experience a variety of artworks, including paintings, prints, screens, ceramics, metalwork, and more. Trees, Master of I-nen Seal (1600–1630), Japan, mid-17th century, ink, color, and gold on paper, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1962.30. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Japanese Art from the Collection , Knotted Clay: Raku Ceramics and Tea , The Print Generation , The Peacock Room , Striking Objects: Contemporary Japanese Metalwork. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Thursday, April 23, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Thursday, April 23, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tours | Arts Across Asia

Gallery Talks & Tours Enjoy a guided tour of our East Building and its range of exhibitions. These tours can feature art from any of the exhibitions currently on view, with works from cultures as diverse as ancient Iran to contemporary Japan. Please meet at the East Building, B1 Lobby for the tour. Image: Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Arthur M. Sackler Collection, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, Photo by John Bigelow Taylor. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Thursday, April 23, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Thursday, April 23, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Curator Tour | Of the Hills

Gallery Talks & Tours In this tour exploring Of the Hills, curator Debra Diamond reveals how Pahari painting emerged and developed over two hundred years from circa 1620 to 1830. Please meet at gallery 23 for the tour. We recommend you register in advance. Attributed to Nainsukh (act. ca. 1710–78); The Poet Sundar Das Before Emperor Shah Jahan, folio from a Sundar Shringar; India, Himachal Pradesh state, Guler, ca. 1750–60; painting; opaque watercolor and gold on paper; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F2017.13.4. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Gallery 23 & 24. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1985139897873?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Friday, April 24, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Tours | Arts of China

Gallery Talks & Tours Examine the diverse artistic and cultural traditions of one of the world’s oldest civilizations in this in-person, docent-led tour. Learn about Chinese artworks such as ritual bronze vessels, calligraphy, brush paintings in ink and color, and exquisite ceramics. Please meet at the West Building Information Desk for the tour. Dish with foliate flaring rim; Ming dynasty, Xuande reign, 1426–35; Jingdezhen ware; porcelain with cobalt pigment under colorless glaze; H x Diam: 4.8 × 21.3 cm; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1951.13a-b. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Friday, April 24, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Meditation and Mindfulness

Workshops Register to join the sessions. Join a free online guided meditation. In these 30-minute sessions, DC-based meditation teachers lead a variety of mindfulness practices. Friday sessions take inspiration from art in our museum’s collections. All are welcome! No previous experience is required. Image: Gong Xian (ca. 1610–1689); Winter Landscape; China, mid- to late 17th century; album leaf; ink on paper; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1961.11. Event Location: Online. Online Link: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/8R9H5FxSRciJf6x6PSGd0w. Cost: Free; registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/8R9H5FxSRciJf6x6PSGd0w. Categories: Workshops. Webcasts & Online. Related Events: Meditation and Mindfulness (Online). Friday, April 24, 2026, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Friday, April 24, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tours | Arts Across Asia

Gallery Talks & Tours Enjoy a guided tour of our East Building and its range of exhibitions. These tours can feature art from any of the exhibitions currently on view, with works from cultures as diverse as ancient Iran to contemporary Japan. Please meet at the East Building, B1 Lobby for the tour. Image: Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Arthur M. Sackler Collection, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, Photo by John Bigelow Taylor. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Friday, April 24, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Friday, April 24, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Conservation Cart Talk | Choosing Materials for Chinese Hanging Scrolls

Lectures & Discussions Join Chinese painting conservator Xiangmei Gu to explore how she selects materials when mounting paintings as hanging scrolls. Learn how she chooses silks for the borders, lines them with Xuan paper, and dyes them with Chinese watercolors to create harmony with the delicate Chinese paintings. Try your hand at picking the right color and experience the trial and error process. Plus, examine and handle the silks, papers, pigments, and brushes used in this traditional practice. Ultimately, you'll learn how these materials support the conservation of Chinese paintings in our collections. Image: Department of Conservation and Scientific Research, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Gallery 13. Cost: Free. Registration is optional. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1984382944806?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Lectures & Discussions. Gallery Talks & Tours. Demonstrations. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices. Friday, April 24, 2026, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM.

Saeb Eigner, Artists of the Middle East: Book Talk and Signing

Lectures & Discussions In this lecture, Saeb Eigner offers a journey through more than a century of modern and contemporary art from the Middle East and North Africa, as documented in Artists of the Middle East: 1900 to Now. The book brings together over 250 major artists—from early modernists to today’s leading contemporary voices—across a vast geographic area stretching from Morocco to Iran. Eigner will highlight how cultural heritage, linguistic and literary traditions, and regional socio‑political realities have shaped different art movements and individual practices. By examining landmark artists such as those active in the mid‑20th century alongside contemporary figures, the lecture will trace continuities and ruptures: how earlier modernist expressions gave way to new forms; how political upheaval, migration, globalization, and cultural exchange influenced artistic production; and how art from the region today speaks to global audiences while remaining rooted in local histories. After the talk, participate in a Q&A… Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (required). Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/saeb-eigner-artists-of-the-middle-east-book-talk-and-signing-tickets-1981810960933?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Shopping/Book Signing. Lectures & Discussions. After Five. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Friday, April 24, 2026, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM.

Tours | Arts of China

Gallery Talks & Tours Examine the diverse artistic and cultural traditions of one of the world’s oldest civilizations in this in-person, docent-led tour. Learn about Chinese artworks such as ritual bronze vessels, calligraphy, brush paintings in ink and color, and exquisite ceramics. Please meet at the West Building Information Desk for the tour. Dish with foliate flaring rim; Ming dynasty, Xuande reign, 1426–35; Jingdezhen ware; porcelain with cobalt pigment under colorless glaze; H x Diam: 4.8 × 21.3 cm; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1951.13a-b. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, April 25, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Saturday, April 25, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tours | Arts Across Asia

Gallery Talks & Tours Enjoy a guided tour of our East Building and its range of exhibitions. These tours can feature art from any of the exhibitions currently on view, with works from cultures as diverse as ancient Iran to contemporary Japan. Please meet at the East Building, B1 Lobby for the tour. Image: Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Arthur M. Sackler Collection, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, Photo by John Bigelow Taylor. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, April 25, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, April 25, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Tours | Arts of Japan

Gallery Talks & Tours As the seasons change, enjoy a free, hour-long guided tour of the museum’s renowned collection of Japanese art. Experience a variety of artworks, including paintings, prints, screens, ceramics, metalwork, and more. Trees, Master of I-nen Seal (1600–1630), Japan, mid-17th century, ink, color, and gold on paper, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1962.30. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Japanese Art from the Collection , Knotted Clay: Raku Ceramics and Tea , The Print Generation , The Peacock Room , Striking Objects: Contemporary Japanese Metalwork. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sunday, April 26, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Sunday, April 26, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tours | Arts Across Asia

Gallery Talks & Tours Enjoy a guided tour of our East Building and its range of exhibitions. These tours can feature art from any of the exhibitions currently on view, with works from cultures as diverse as ancient Iran to contemporary Japan. Please meet at the East Building, B1 Lobby for the tour. Image: Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Arthur M. Sackler Collection, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, Photo by John Bigelow Taylor. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sunday, April 26, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Sunday, April 26, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Tours | Arts of China

Gallery Talks & Tours Examine the diverse artistic and cultural traditions of one of the world’s oldest civilizations in this in-person, docent-led tour. Learn about Chinese artworks such as ritual bronze vessels, calligraphy, brush paintings in ink and color, and exquisite ceramics. Please meet at the West Building Information Desk for the tour. Dish with foliate flaring rim; Ming dynasty, Xuande reign, 1426–35; Jingdezhen ware; porcelain with cobalt pigment under colorless glaze; H x Diam: 4.8 × 21.3 cm; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1951.13a-b. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Monday, April 27, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Monday, April 27, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Monday, April 27, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Tours | Arts of Japan

Gallery Talks & Tours As the seasons change, enjoy a free, hour-long guided tour of the museum’s renowned collection of Japanese art. Experience a variety of artworks, including paintings, prints, screens, ceramics, metalwork, and more. Trees, Master of I-nen Seal (1600–1630), Japan, mid-17th century, ink, color, and gold on paper, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1962.30. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Japanese Art from the Collection , Knotted Clay: Raku Ceramics and Tea , The Print Generation , The Peacock Room , Striking Objects: Contemporary Japanese Metalwork. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Tuesday, April 28, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Meditation and Mindfulness

Workshops Register to join the sessions. Join a free online guided meditation. In these 30-minute sessions, DC-based meditation teachers lead a variety of mindfulness practices. Friday sessions take inspiration from art in our museum’s collections. All are welcome! No previous experience is required. Image: Gong Xian (ca. 1610–1689); Winter Landscape; China, mid- to late 17th century; album leaf; ink on paper; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1961.11. Event Location: Online. Online Link: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/8R9H5FxSRciJf6x6PSGd0w. Cost: Free; registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/8R9H5FxSRciJf6x6PSGd0w. Categories: Workshops. Webcasts & Online. Related Events: Meditation and Mindfulness (Online). Tuesday, April 28, 2026, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Tuesday, April 28, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Tuesday, April 28, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Wednesday, April 29, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Wednesday, April 29, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

Tours | Arts of Japan

Gallery Talks & Tours As the seasons change, enjoy a free, hour-long guided tour of the museum’s renowned collection of Japanese art. Experience a variety of artworks, including paintings, prints, screens, ceramics, metalwork, and more. Trees, Master of I-nen Seal (1600–1630), Japan, mid-17th century, ink, color, and gold on paper, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1962.30. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Japanese Art from the Collection , Knotted Clay: Raku Ceramics and Tea , The Print Generation , The Peacock Room , Striking Objects: Contemporary Japanese Metalwork. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Thursday, April 30, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

Permanent Collection Tour

Gallery Talks & Tours The National Museum of Asian Art has over 46,000 artworks from across Asia. Enjoy some of the finest on a docent-led tour and learn about commonalities and differences in cultures, aesthetics, and ideas. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Thursday, April 30, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit asia.si.edu.

Tours | Arts Across Asia

Gallery Talks & Tours Enjoy a guided tour of our East Building and its range of exhibitions. These tours can feature art from any of the exhibitions currently on view, with works from cultures as diverse as ancient Iran to contemporary Japan. Please meet at the East Building, B1 Lobby for the tour. Image: Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Arthur M. Sackler Collection, The Alice S. Kandell Collection, Photo by John Bigelow Taylor. Venue: Asian Art Museum, East Building. Building: East Building. Event Location: Meet at B1 Lobby. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Thursday, April 30, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Tour | The Peacock Room at 150

Gallery Talks & Tours Learn how a dining room built in London 150 years ago has become one of the most famous artworks in the United States today. This free guided tour closely examines American artist James McNeill Whistler’s famed Peacock Room, inspired by Asian art and decorated with Chinese blue and white porcelain. James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903); Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (detail); United Kingdom, 1876–77; room installation, oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, mosaic tile, glass, and wood; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1904.61. Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meet at Information Desk. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Thursday, April 30, 2026, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM.

CANCELLED - Traversées – Constantinople and Ablaye Cissoko

Performances This event is cancelled and will be rescheduled for a future season. Join ensemble Constantinople and griot Ablaye Cissoko for an evening of musical storytelling that blends traditions from Iran, Senegal, and beyond. The kora and setar, traditional string instruments from two different cultures, meet with vocals, double bass, and percussion. In this collaboration, these traditions merge as though they had always existed side by side. Constantinople and Cissoko’s music has been heard over one hundred times in various festivals and halls around the world. About Constantinople Constantinople aims to anchor music in the heart of our community and encourage cross-cultural exchange among artists from around the world. Since its founding, the ensemble has promoted the creation of works that incorporate diverse musical traditions, drawing a range from medieval manuscripts to contemporary aesthetics, from Mediterranean Europe to Eastern traditions and New World Baroque. About Ablaye Cissoko Kimintang Mahamadou… Venue: Asian Art Museum, West Building. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Categories: Performances. After Five. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible. Thursday, April 30, 2026, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM.