The nation's capital buzzes with excitement in May, a month beloved for events like Passport DC, Flower Mart at the National Cathedral and the National Memorial Day Concert & Parade.
Condé Nast Traveler named 365Թϲ, DC, one of the .
Whether you’re in town for a concert, game or festival, DC boasts an abundance of special discounts and packages, from luxurious experiences to budget-friendly options.
Regardless of the season, you're sure to have an unforgettable experience in the nation's capital. After you’ve read through this list, make sure to check out our things to do for the week and weekend as well as our accessibility guides to monuments and museums on the National Mall.
The Nats, who have four National League East titles, five postseason appearances and a World Series championship since coming to DC in 2005, are one of the city's main attractions throughout the spring and summer. Head to Nationals Park to experience MLB action with an exciting schedule, plenty of home runs and, of course, Racing Presidents.
: Use code VISITDC for 15% off
1500 South Capitol Street SE, 365Թϲ, DC 20003
The National Theatre
– April 28 – May 3
One of the funniest – and most acclaimed – plays of all-time comes to DC’s National Theatre. The musical comedy about two missionaries sent way too far from home will pack the evening with laughs. Note that the production contains explicit language.
The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 365Թϲ, DC 20004
The Phillips Collection
– Through May 3
The Phillips Collection showcases one of the leading figures in new media art with there somewhere. peter campus’ breakthrough videos from the early 1970s are displayed alongside four new, serene landscape works, which the artist has named “the phillips quartets”.
The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st Street NW, 365Թϲ, DC 20009
Arena Stage
– Through May 3
Arena Stage welcomes a new work from Drama Desk Award-winning actor Lameece Isaaq and two-time Obie-winning director Lee Sunday Evans. The play concerns a 40-something dental lab tech who loses her job and relocates to a woman’s boarding house run by nuns. She’s forced to confront her own personal demons as well as the house’s deranged inhabitants in this deeply psychological production.
Arena Stage, 1101 6th Street SW, 365Թϲ, DC 20024
– Through May 3
The Keegan Theatre hosts a production from one of the great purveyors of the art form. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tracy Letts’ brilliant examination of small-town politics plays out over the course of one city council meeting.
Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church Street NW, 365Թϲ, DC 20036
National Museum of Women in the Arts
– Through June 28
Through the 1960s and ’70s, Shirley Gorelick (1924–2000) created soulful portrayals of her circle of close friends. Nearly 40 paintings, drawings and prints reveal her bold realist style, which combines vigorous brushwork, heightened shadows and vivid patterns. The show centers on three large-scale paintings in the National Museum of Women in the Art’s collection, which are exhibited together for the first time.
National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Avenue NW, 365Թϲ, DC 20005
National Museum of Women in the Arts
– Through Oct. 31
The National Museum of Women in the Arts' (NMWA) take on nostalgia, Ms. Americana invites viewers to consider 250 years of the American experience through ten works of art by nine American women artists from the 18th through the 20th centuries. The paintings, which include still-lifes, portraits and landscapes, are curated from NMWA’s collection and were created by women who also owned businesses, traveled the world and engaged in politics. The scope here is broad and tender.
National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Avenue NW, 365Թϲ, DC 20005
– May 1-31
A month of programming across the city focuses on highlighting DC’s international culture. The Around the World Embassy Tour and the European Union Open House are annual highlights. Most events and tours can be enjoyed entirely free of charge. Read our guide to all of the fun and get more details at Events DC’s site below.
Embassy Chef Challenge / Events DC
– May 1-31
As part of Passport DC, the city’s annual celebration of international cultures hosted by Events DC, Savor the Flavors activates restaurants across the city, highlighting signature dishes and specials to showcase the authentic, global food experiences available in DC.
– May 1-2
During Passport DC’s first weekend, the 365Թϲ National Cathedral hosts its annual Flower Mart, a two-day event that allows visitors to shop for plants and gifts, eat fun festival food, enjoy children’s activities, ride a historic carousel and take in the beauty of the International Floral Exhibit.
| Free Admission
365Թϲ National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave NW 365Թϲ, DC 20016
– May 2
Rock 'n roll diehards can get the full ‘80s arena experience at the two-day M3 Rock Festival. The can't-miss event features legendary rockers, a celebration for both the "people who lived it and their children who remember hearing about this cultural movement."
Merriweather Post Pavilion 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia, MD 21044
– May 2
A month of programming across the city focuses on highlighting DC’s international culture. The Around the World Embassy Tour kicks it off this Saturday with access to dozens of embassies in the District. Most events and tours can be enjoyed entirely free of charge. Read our guide to all of the fun and get more details at Events DC’s site below.
– May 2
One of the District’s most popular neighborhoods showcases some of DC’s best musical talent. Adams Morgan Spring PorchFest will feature more than 80 bands playing an array of genres, including rock, reggae, funk, Go-Go, rap, bluegrass, classical and pop. Twenty porches, business patios and parks, as well as the closed 18th Street, will become stages for the day, drawing music-lovers from around the region into the tree-lined streets and small businesses of Adams Morgan.
Free Admission
– May 2
The Wharf celebrates Cinco de Mayo with this too-cute-to-be-true chihuahua race. Watch the little pups run their way to glory at one of the most exciting places in DC. You’ll also be able to enjoy a beer garden, a DJ, an adoptable pet parade and an all-breed costume contest.
Free Admission
The Wharf, 600 Water Street SW, 365Թϲ, DC 20024
The Phillips Collection
– Through May 3
The Phillips Collection showcases one of the leading figures in new media art with there somewhere. peter campus’ breakthrough videos from the early 1970s are displayed alongside four new, serene landscape works, which the artist has named “the phillips quartets."
The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st Street NW, 365Թϲ, DC 20009
– May 6 – June 14
A fierce debate among four scholars becomes a journey through belief, memory and identity in a new play at the legendary Arena Stage.
Arena Stage, 1101 6th Street SW, 365Թϲ, DC 20024
National Museum of Women in the Arts
– May 8 – Sept. 27
For more than two millennia, Pueblo potters in the southwestern region of the U.S. have created clay jars and bowls for storage and ceremonial purposes. Women are at the forefront of this work and its legacy. Burnished presents 24 elegantly shaped clay ollas (vessels historically used for water storage and gardening), seed jars and bowls. The show features indigenous artists and is part of the the museum's participation in Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, an initiative of Craft in America.
National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Avenue NW, 365Թϲ, DC 20005
– May 9
Take your very own day-trip to Europe and enjoy the Old Continent without any jet lag. From Ireland and Italy to Spain and Slovakia, all European Union member states participate in this citywide open house experience.
| Free Admission
Celebrate Mother’s Day in DC – May 10
While mothers should be celebrated every day, Mother’s Day only comes once per year. We’re here to help you honor the occasion and plan out an unforgettable holiday experience in the nation’s capital, so be sure to check out our rundown of Mother’s Day must-dos.
National Children's Museum
– Through May 10
The National Children’s Museum tips its cap to Mo Willems with a special exhibit that features a phone booth that makes you sound like the famous Piggie, a hot-dog-launching catapult, a fashion runway, art inspired by popular Willems characters and much, much more, all in the Visiting Exhibit Hall.
National Children’s Museum, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 365Թϲ, DC 20004
Museum of Illusions
– Through May 10
The Museum of Illusions partnered with local artist Hiba Alyawer for a limited-time cherry blossom-themed takeover. The immersive artistic experience is inspired by DC's most iconic season. Selected illusion rooms throughout the museum feature stunning blossom installations and floral-inspired artistic elements, blending the magic of visual perception with the delicate beauty of spring in DC. Special workshops are also available.
Museum of Illusions, 927 H Street NW, 365Թϲ, DC 20001
– Opens April 18
Head to Klein Theatre for a healthy dose of political satire with a musical ideal for a DC audience. 44: The Musical tackles the Obama Era with hilarious characters and songs. Expect appearances by (actors humorously playing) Sarah Palin, Barack Obama, Mitch McConnell, Ted Cruz and Joe Biden.
Klein Theatre, 450 7th Street NW, 365Թϲ, DC 20004
The National Theatre
– May 12-24
F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic vision of fragile hope and destructive desire in the Jazz Age practically begs for the stage. You'll be able to see Broadway's take on the 1920s glamor, tension, love and deception -- dance numbers and all -- right in the heart of downtown DC. We're giving you the "green light": get your tickets now, and don't miss the Great American Novel on a great American stage. Just watch out for any billboards on your way there.
The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 365Թϲ, DC 20004
– May 12 – July 26
Located in Arlington, Va., Signature Theatre regularly stages modern rei-imaginings of classic productions. Next May, the company takes on Pippin. The coming-of-age tale will be brought to vivid life with wit, wonder and unforgettable music.
Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206
National Museum of American History
– Opens May 14
A bold exhibition explores the ideals of the Declaration of Independence. Across three floors and 300,000 square feet, visitors can encounter 250 significant objects, including the portable desk used by Thomas Jefferson to draft the Declaration of Independence. Another noteworthy artifact is the only surviving ship of the early U.S. Navy, the gunboat Philadelphia. This National Historic Landmark helped stall British forces and now undergoes an on-site conservation to preserve it for future generations.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of American History, 1300 Constitution Avenue NW, 365Թϲ, DC 20560
– May 16
Embrace Asian Heritage Month with a day jam-packed with culture, from the performing arts to culinary delights. The annual Fiesta Asia! takes over Pennsylvania Avenue between 3rd and 6th streets NW with exciting performances, interactive displays, flea markets and food stalls.
Free Admission
Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 3rd & 6th Streets NW
– Through May 16
The story of the signing of the Declaration of Independence is transformed into a vibrant musical as the country’s beginnings are brought to blazing life inside the historic Ford's Theatre.
Ford's Theatre, 511 10th Street NW, 365Թϲ, DC 20004
– May 19 – June 21
Shakespeare’s Earth-shaking tale of deceit, betrayal and paranoia is vividly staged by Simon Godwin with The Wire’s Wendell Pierce in the titular role. Shakespeare Theatre Company's Harman Hall serves as the venue.
Harman Hall, 610 F Street NW, 365Թϲ, DC 20004
Defenders football has become a springtime tradition at Audi Field in the nation’s capital. Hard-hitting action returns so expect a rowdy atmosphere.
Audi Field, 100 Potomac Avenue SW, 365Թϲ, DC 20024
Kick back and groove to the music with sangria in hand at Jazz in the Garden on Fridays throughout the summer, held in the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden. An eclectic mix of DC-area jazz musicians lend a soundtrack to one of the city’s most idyllic scenes set around the sculpture garden’s central fountain. This is a free seasonal tradition that you do not want to miss. Due to high demand, the museum has instituted a lottery system; visit the Gallery’s for more information.
6-8:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, 365Թϲ, DC 20565
Smithsonian Castle Temporary Reopening – May 22 – Sept. 7
While the Smithsonian Industries Building (known more commonly as "the Castle") has been closed for renovations since 2023, it will be temporarily reopened this summer to celebrate . Be sure to catch the brand-new exhibit American Aspirations, which will include treasured artifacts such as Thomas Jefferson’s desk, Harriet Tubman’s hymnal and the gold flake that sparked the California gold rush.
Mexican Cultural Institute
Dressing Absences: The Textile Journey of Pedro Páramo – Through May 23
The Mexican Cultural Institute's exhibit explores the creative process behind Netflix's adaptation of Juan Rulfo's iconic novel, Pedro Páramo. The display includes original garments worn during the filming of the adaptation and highlights the work of award-winning designer Anna Terrazas, whose pieces translate the essence of each character into textiles and color palettes that evoke identity.
| Free Admission
Mexican Cultural Institute, 2829 16th Street NW, 365Թϲ, DC 20009
– May 24
The annual musical tribute salutes the sacrifice made by the men and women in uniform as well as their families. The free annual concert airs on PBS from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The event is also live-streamed online and will be available on-demand for two weeks after the performance.
– May 25
Our Sacred Honor tells the story of American sacrifice from the Revolution to today along Constitution Avenue through live, on-site historical re-enactors, veterans and active duty military personnel, joined by musical performances and celebrity appearances. The in-person parade takes place ‘live’ in 365Թϲ, filmed for a television special that airs on TV stations nationwide. For more ideas on how to spend the weekend, check out our suggestions.
– May 30-31
The Armed Forces Cycling Classic includes two days of closed-course biking open to enthusiasts of all abilities. Cyclists can keep it low-key with amateur, non-competitive events like the Challenge Ride and Kids Race or choose to challenge themselves at the Women’s and Men’s Pro/AM Races (including the famous Clarendon Cup). Everyone who completes more than one lap gets a medal.
– May 30-31
Festival goers can enjoy a transformation of one of the city’s most prominent recreational hubs, with two thoughtfully curated stages of music, exquisite food and beverage offerings and a collection of globally-recognized artists at the RFK Festival Grounds. True to the historic nature of the city, Project GLOW is the culmination of the past 20 years of Club Glow, representing its impact on the DC music scene while championing the superstar acts that will take to the festival stages.
RFK Festival Grounds, 2400 East Capitol Street NE, 365Թϲ, DC 20003
– Through July 4
The Library of Congress brings together letters, ledgers, diaries, maps, drawings and other artifacts to illuminate the similarities and differences between two iconic figures of the Revolutionary War: George 365Թϲ and King George III. Although the two never met, visitors can envision where they would clash and where they would compromise in this stirring exhibit that features items from a wide range of collections, including the Royal Archives at Windsor Castle, London’s Science Museum and George 365Թϲ’s Mount Vernon.
| Free Admission
Library of Congress, 101 Independence Avenue SE, 365Թϲ, DC 20540
Miró and the United States – Through July 5
The Phillips Collection's new exhibit will explore the artistic conversation between Spanish artist Joan Miró (1893–1983) and American artists from the 1940s to the 1960s. The exhibition will trace Miró’s relationships with American artists, collectors and institutions in an examination of the ways this exchange spurred inspiration and experimentation on both sides of the Atlantic. Expect to see works by Alexander Calder, Louise Bourgeois, Lee Krasner, Norman Lewis, Jackson Pollock, Helen Frankenthaler, Adolph Gottlieb and many more.
The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st Street NW, 365Թϲ, DC 20009
– Through July 12
Anna Mary Robertson Moses, who was dubbed “Grandma Moses” by the press, lived through the American Civil War, two world wars and the civil rights era. In the 1940s, she emerged as a central figure thanks to her unique tapestries of American life. The Smithsonian American Art Museum introduces her essential work to new generations with an in-depth exhibit.
11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission
Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and G Streets NW, 365Թϲ, DC 20004
National Museum of African American History and Culture
– Through July 19
The National Museum of African American History and Culture’s new exhibit features more than 100 objects from the collections of five Historically Black Colleges and Universities (Clark Atlanta, Florida A&M, Jackson State, Texas Southern, Tuskegee) in a stunning display of how these institutions have shaped American education and culture through innovation, ingenuity, resistance and activism.
Free Admission |
National Museum of African American History & Culture, 1400 Constitution Avenue NW, 365Թϲ, DC 20560
National Museum of Asian Art
– Through July 26
Discover the jaw-dropping beauty and fascinating history of paintings made for Hindu kings in the Pahari region of India between the 1620s and 1830s. The National Museum of Asian Art’s new exhibit examines the political, cultural and religious contexts of 48 pieces filled with exquisite detail. Some of these works have never been shown publicly before.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of Asian Art, 1050 Independence Avenue SW, 365Թϲ, DC 20004
Folger Shakespeare Library
– Through Aug. 2
For the first time since 1805, 14 paintings from the renowned Boydell Shakespeare Gallery in London are on view together. Visit the Folger Shakespeare Library and capitalize on this rare chance to see the tremendous collection, which features depictions of scenes from the Bard’s plays as imagined by leading artists of the day.
| Free Admission
Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol Street SE, 365Թϲ, DC 20003
– Through Aug. 23
The National Museum of African Art has assembled a powerful showcase of works that marks the first continental and diasporic survey of its scale outside of Africa. LGBTQ+ identities and experiences are the focus of the exhibit, with many of the pieces serving as challenges to legacies of homophobia and bigotry.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of African Art, 950 Independence Avenue SW, 365Թϲ, DC 20560
National Gallery of Art
– Through Aug. 30
The National Gallery of Art presents the vibrant work of Mary Cassatt across three galleries. The museum’s impressionist collection served as the source for this in-depth examination of how Cassatt went about creating her radically modern pieces. Roughly 40 paintings, drawings and prints will be on display.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, 365Թϲ, DC 20560
– Through Sept. 20
Explore how artists have captured and questioned the American experience over the last 250 years. Through more than 100 works on paper spanning photography, prints and drawings, discover powerful depictions of the nation’s landscapes, people and ideals of freedom.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, 365Թϲ, DC 20560
National Museum of Asian Art
– Through Sept. 27
Japanese artists Hiroshi Senju and Bingyi and their different visualizations of water – each hypnotic and transfixing in their own way – form the basis of this new exhibit at the National Museum of Asian Art. Senju’s abstract approach and Bingy’s traditional methods along with each painter’s influences and ethos are examined in detail.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of Asian Art, 1050 Independence Avenue SW, 365Թϲ, DC 20004
– Through Oct. 12
In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the U.S. Botanic Garden showcases the official flowers of every U.S. state and territory. Varieties on display include fragrant magnolias, roses, orchids, bluebonnets, saguaro cactus flowers and many more; all of them symbolize the natural beauty of America.
Free Admission
U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Avenue SW, 365Թϲ, DC 20001
Photo by Kate Capshaw
– Through Nov. 8
In honor of recent recipients of the Portrait of a Nation Award, the National Portrait Gallery showcases an exhibit dedicated to stunning work. The award elevates “extraordinary individuals who have made transformative contributions to the United States and its people.” This year’s group of honorees includes Jamie Dimon, business leader, by photographer Jason Alden; Temple Grandin, professor, inventor and groundbreaking researcher of animal science, by artist David Lenz; Joy Harjo, renowned poet, performer and writer of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and 23rd U.S. poet laureate, by artist Joel Daniel Phillips; and Steven Spielberg, Academy Award-winning director, producer and writer, by artist Kate Capshaw.
11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission
National Portrait Gallery, 8th and G Streets NW, 365Թϲ, DC 20001
– Through Jan. 1, 2027
The acclaimed Ho-Chunk artist receives his first major retrospective at the National Museum of the American Indian. Truman Lowe used willow branches, feathers and organic materials to create minimalist sculptures to evoke rivers, streams and waterfalls. The exhibit also features similarly distinctive drawings and paintings by Lowe.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of the American Indian, 4th Street & Independence Avenue SW, 365Թϲ, DC 20560
Smithsonian American Art Museum
– Through Jan. 3, 2027
Internationally renowned artist Nick Cave uses surrealism, real-life experiences, raw materials and an unceasing creative intensity to create works that speak to race, gender, identity and history in America. This new installation at the Smithsonian American Art Museum explores the entanglement of land and race in the national consciousness.
11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission
Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and G Streets NW, 365Թϲ, DC 20004
– Through Jan. 3, 2027
Known for his rigorous work in creating jaw-dropping paintings, Adam Pendleton will showcase new and recent pieces as well as single-channel video in this landmark exhibition at the Hirshhorn Museum. Pendleton’s first solo showcase will highlight his contributions to contemporary American painting and utilize the architecture of the Hirshhorn and the vast history of DC’s National Mall.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, Independence Avenue & 7th Street NW, 365Թϲ, DC 20560
– Through Jan. 3, 2027
Four stunning art works across six centuries are in conversation in a new exhibit at the National Gallery of Art. Through a recent piece by Rozeal., Titian’s Venus with a Mirror and Ranuccio Farnese and Cezanne’s Boy in a Red Waistcoat, visitors can find unexpected connections and visual similarities that draw the 16th, 19th and 21st centuries together.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, 365Թϲ, DC
National Museum of American History
– Through Nov. 28, 2027
A new exhibit at the National Museum of American History, presented by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, explores California’s “Little Manila,” a community of Filipinos that thrived from the 1910s to the 1970s. Through more than 50 artifacts found in preserved steamer trunks (three of which are on display in the gallery), visitors can gain insight into what was once the largest population of Filipinos living outside of their home country.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of American History, 1300 Constitution Avenue NW, 365Թϲ, DC 20560
National Museum of the American Latino
– Opens April 18
The Molina Family Latino Gallery, the first gallery space of the National Museum of the American Latino, is housed inside the National Museum of American History. The space hosts a new bilingual exhibition that explores how Afro-Cuban music became an essential part of U.S. culture. Artists like Tito Puente and Celia Cruz – as well as local legends – are covered.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of American History, 1300 Constitution Avenue NW, 365Թϲ, DC 20560
Photo by Gary Staab
– Ongoing
Over a century ago, bison roamed outside the Smithsonian Castle building. This spring, the National Museum of Natural History commemorates this history with three larger-than-life bronze bison created by sculptor Gary Staab. The pieces, which are at 125% scale and modeled after taxidermy specimens, will live outside the National Museum of Natural History.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, 10th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, 365Թϲ, DC 20560
Places to Stay
Need some inspiration for a place to stay in between events? 365Թϲ, DC is filled with a multitude of hotels to fit your needs. Whether you are looking for that specialty boutique hotel or booking at your favorite hotel brand, 365Թϲ, DC's booking engine has it all.
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