Featured Events in Washington D.C. in February 2025 (August Updated)

Artificial lights have become such a common nighttime fixture that we take them for granted. But what do brighter nights mean for people and wildlife? The effects of light pollution extend beyond our reduced view of the stars, but solutions can have an immediate impact. Through more than 100 photographs, nearly 250 objects, interactive experiences, tactile models, and a theater program, discover why the dark night matters, rekindle your connection to the night sky, and consider how much light at night is enough—for whom, for what purpose, and who gets to decide?

Celebrate the 100th Birthday of Barro Colorado Island Research Station by immersing yourself in a Panamanian jungle! From monkeys to microbes, research on the “most studied piece of tropical real estate in the world” gave rise to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, which now hosts 1200 scientists from 50 countries at 12 tropical research facilities, trains young biologists, and contributes new knowledge vital to the future of tropical forests and reefs.

Latina journalists wrote the first draft of history for Spanish-speaking communities in the United States.Breaking News! Latinas Report Breaking News is a bilingual exhibition featuring stories from Latina journalists to show how Spanish-language television gave voice and visibility to a broad segment of the American public and how these journalists advocate for Spanish-speaking communities and navigate the fast-paced, ever-changing pace of breaking news. In the approximately 1,000-square-foot gallery, visitors will explore broadcast journalism through the work of journalists such as Ilia Calderón, Dunia Elvir, Marilys Llanos, Gilda Mirós, Lori Montenegro, Maria Elena Salinas, and Blanca Rosa Vílchez. A multimedia piece will illustrate these women's accounts as eyewitnesses to important histories like the Vietnam War, 9/11, and the Black Lives Matter protests, as well as issues of cultural and political significance to local Latinx communities that are sometimes overlooked by English-language news. Working in the characteristic fast-paced, ever-changing environment of news production, these women shaped the narrative of major historical events while collaborating with their local and national Latinx communities to provide news coverage that meets their needs.

Social climbing was a competitive sport in Tudor England, requiring a complex range of skills, strategies, and techniques. How to Be a Power Player: Tudor Edition invites you into a world of lace ruffs, jousting, hawks, bad handwriting, scandal, and political factions. Experience the playbooks, the people, and the spectacular fails, as courtiers tried to navigate the minefield of working for a boss who could shower you with riches or chop off your head. The exhibition features more than 60 objects from the Folger’s collection to demonstrate the “rules” for how to be a successful courtier. They show how historical and literary figures ranging from royal advisors to household staff used cunning, cutthroat, and creative means to acquire power and curry favor with the Tudor monarchs.

The 1970s was a decade of uncertainty in the United States. Americans witnessed soaring inflation, energy crises, and the Watergate scandal, as well as protests about pressing issues such as the Vietnam War, women’s rights, gay liberation, and the environment. The country’s profound upheaval formed the backdrop for a revolution in documentary photography. Activism and a growing awareness and acceptance of diversity opened the field to underrepresented voices. At the same time, artistic experimentation fueled the reimagining of what documentary photographs could look like. Featuring some 100 works by more than 80 artists, The ʼ70s Lens examines how photographers reinvented documentary practice during this radical shift in American life. Mikki Ferrill and Frank Espada used the camera to create complex portraits of their communities. Tseng Kwong Chi and Susan Hiller demonstrated photography’s role in the development of performance and conceptual art. With pictures of suburban sprawl, artists like Lewis Baltz and Joe Deal challenged popular ideas of nature as pristine. And Michael Jang and Joanne Leonard made interior views that examine the social landscape of domestic spaces. The questions these artists explored—about photography’s ethics, truth, and power—continue to be considered today.

The Washington Wizards, established in 1961 and based in Washington, D.C., USA, play their home games at Capital One Arena. The Wizards won the NBA Championship in 1978 under the name Washington Bullets. Current key players include Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole. The Indiana Pacers, established in 1967 and based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, play their home games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Pacers have won three ABA Championships but have not won an NBA Championship. Current key players include Tyrese Haliburton.

The Washington Wizards, established in 1961 and based in Washington, D.C., USA, play their home games at Capital One Arena. The Wizards won the NBA Championship in 1978 under the name Washington Bullets. Current key players include Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole. The Brooklyn Nets, established in 1967 and based in Brooklyn, New York, USA, play their home games at Barclays Center. The Nets have reached the NBA Finals twice but have not won a championship. Current key players include Cam Thomas and Cameron Johnson.

¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States tells U.S. history from the perspectives of the diverse Latinas and Latinos who lived it and live it today. This exhibition uncovers hidden and forgotten stories, connects visitors to Latino culture, and lays the foundation for understanding how Latinas and Latinos inform and shape U.S. history and culture. The intentional diversity of objects, images, and stories clarifies that Latinhood is a dynamic exchange between related but distinct communities under the Latino identity.

Learn about some of the most celebrated Haitian artists of the 20th century. In the mid-1900s, art flourished in Haiti, the world's first black republic. Painters such as Hector Hypolite, Rigaud Benoit, and Philome Aubin became internationally renowned for their depictions of Haitian daily life, religious traditions, and history. Their work influenced generations of African American artists. Several members, including Lois Mailou Jones and Eldzier Cortor, traveled to and worked in Haiti. Spirit & Strength is the first opportunity to see 21 works by Haitian artists recently donated by the National Gallery of Art. Learn about modern Haitian art and experience extraordinary creations by some of the most prominent artists in Haitian history, as well as works by artists building on the present day. Learn about Haiti's significant but underappreciated importance in African diaspora culture through its art.

The Washington Wizards, established in 1961 and based in Washington, D.C., USA, play their home games at Capital One Arena. The Wizards won the NBA Championship in 1978 under the name Washington Bullets. Current key players include Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole. The Cleveland Cavaliers, established in 1970 and based in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, play their home games at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The Cavaliers won the NBA Championship in 2016. Current key players include Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland.

The Washington Wizards, established in 1961 and based in Washington, D.C., USA, play their home games at Capital One Arena. The Wizards won the NBA Championship in 1978 under the name Washington Bullets. Current key players include Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole. The Atlanta Hawks, established in 1946 and based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, play their home games at State Farm Arena. The Hawks won the NBA Championship in 1958. Current key players include Trae Young and Jalen Johnson.

The Washington Wizards, established in 1961 and based in Washington, D.C., USA, play their home games at Capital One Arena. The Wizards won the NBA Championship in 1978 under the name Washington Bullets. Current key players include Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole. The San Antonio Spurs, established in 1967 and based in San Antonio, Texas, USA, play their home games at Frost Bank Center. The Spurs have won the NBA Championship five times, in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014. Current key players include Victor Wembanyama.

The Washington Wizards, established in 1961 and based in Washington, D.C., USA, play their home games at Capital One Arena. The Wizards won the NBA Championship in 1978 under the name Washington Bullets. Current key players include Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole. The Milwaukee Bucks, established in 1968 and based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, play their home games at Fiserv Forum. The Bucks have won the NBA Championship twice, in 1971 and 2021. Current key players include Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Timeless Muchasurveys Czech painter and decorative artist Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939), exploring his revolutionary contributions to graphic design and the enduring influence of his signature style. Featuring over 100 works from the Mucha Trust Collection, the exhibition traces Mucha’s artistic evolution—from his early training to his rise as a leading figure in the Art Nouveau movement—highlighting his intricate linework, flowing forms, and highly stylized designs that transformed poster art, commercial illustration, and visual aesthetics worldwide. In the 1960s, Mucha’s distinctive style was revived in the vibrant poster art of the counterculture movement, becoming a hallmark of psychedelic rock posters, album covers, comic books, and Japanesemanga.

The Washington Wizards, established in 1961 and based in Washington, D.C., USA, play their home games at Capital One Arena. The Wizards won the NBA Championship in 1978 under the name Washington Bullets. Current key players include Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole. The Portland Trail Blazers, established in 1970 and based in Portland, Oregon, USA, play their home games at Moda Center. The Trail Blazers have won the NBA Championship once, in 1977. Current key players include Anfernee Simons.