National Gallery Nights

National Gallery Nights, the popular after-hours program, returns to the East Building from 6:00 to 9:00 pm on Thursdays, September 14, October 12, and November 9.

This season, visitors will find their favorite National Gallery Nights activities—music, live performances, art making, and pop-up talks—centering the themes of a block party, Halloween, and the exhibition The Land Carries our Ancestors: Contemporary Art by Native Americans. 

Light fare: gelato and beverages such as beer, wine, and specialty cocktails will be available for purchase throughout the East Building, in the Terrace Café and Espresso & Gelato Bar, and on the 4th Street Plaza. As with all National Gallery programs, the events are free.

For the safety of visitors and the art, registration is required for National Gallery Nights indoor activities. To give everyone an equal chance of attending, they'll be offering registration through a lottery system.

The lottery will take place the week before each event. It will open on Monday and close Thursday at noon. All lottery entrants will be notified as to whether or not they were selected to register the Friday before each program. Additional passes will be available at the door—first come, first served—starting at 5:30 pm.

New this season: September and October programs will feature dynamic outdoor activities on the 4th Street Plaza. These will not require registration.

Anyone interested in attending National Gallery Nights can sign up to receive email notifications about the lottery opening for each event here. 

Block Party
 September 14
Outdoor activities on the 4th Street Plaza are open to all, but registration is required to enter the East Building. Lottery for registration opens Monday, September 4, and closes Thursday, September 7, at noon.

The museum block party celebrates the 50th anniversary of hip hop with a sound and dance adventure. The Missing Element bring beatboxing and street dance outdoors to our 4th Street Plaza. Chalk Riot! and other local artists create street art and murals both inside and outside our buildings. Head into the museum for pop-up talks and art making. Enjoy performances by the Ladies of Hip Hop Dance Collective, which is illuminating the strength, power, and diversity of women in hip-hop during its Kennedy Center Office Hours residency. DJ Bizzy and DJ Little Bacon Bear set the beats for this museum dance party.

Nightmare at the Museum
 October 12
Outdoor activities on the 4th Street Plaza are open to all, but registration is required to enter the East Building. Lottery for registration opens Monday, October 2, and closes Thursday, October 5, at noon.

They're your ghost hosts for one night of artsy haunts. Descend on our 4th Street Plaza for a screening of Ghostbusters (1984) with a live, remixed soundtrack by DJ 2-Tone, part of SHAOLIN JAZZ’s Can I Kick It? series. Enter the East Building if you dare to share your best Monster Mash on the dance floor. Level up your costume with custom face painting or a DIY mask station. Plus, hear bone-chilling art stories from museum staff and local experts.

Indigenous Futures
 November 9
Lottery for registration opens Monday, October 30, and closes Thursday, November 2, at noon.
Native peoples have always been here. How are they influencing the world today and shaping our future? Join for a special evening celebrating the exhibition The Land Carries our Ancestors: Contemporary Art by Native Americans. Nicholas Galanin (Tlingit, Unangax̂)—an activist, musician, and visual artist—performs electro-soul as Ya Tseen. Hear pop-up talks in the galleries from curators and community members. Make your own art inspired by the land and environment. Thanks to Dr. Elizabeth Rule, author of Indigenous DC, for designing this program.

Program performances and experiences are subject to change.