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

This season, visitors will find their favorite National Gallery Nights activities—music, live performances, artmaking, 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 our visitors and the art, registration is required for National Gallery Nights indoor activities. To give everyone an equal chance of attending, we’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. We’ll notify all lottery entrants 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 p.m.

New this season: our 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 at nga.gov/nights.

Program Descriptions

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.

Our 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 artmaking. 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.

We’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 us 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. We thank Dr. Elizabeth Rule, author of Indigenous DC, for designing this program.

Program performances and experiences are subject to change.