Autumn is one of the best times to visit Washington, DC. The trees around the Tidal Basin, Rock Creek Park and the cobblestone streets of Georgetown turn gold and red, and this season the US capital adds a run of reopenings, new exhibitions and festivals to the mix. Here is what is coming up over the next few months.
Reopenings and new attractions
The Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden reopens on 31 October after the largest renovation in the museum’s history. Reimagined by artist-architect Hiroshi Sugimoto, the easy-to-access garden will display major works by artists including Auguste Rodin and Henri Matisse.
On 11 November, the National Air and Space Museum unveils its seventh new gallery of the year, completing a renovation that began in 2018. Elsewhere, ARTECHOUSE DC has reopened with an immersive show by 17 artists, the National Geographic Museum of Exploration offers an immersive look at wildlife, and visitors can now explore beneath the Lincoln Memorial, where images of historic events are projected onto its foundation. The National Museum of African American History and Culture is also marking its 10th anniversary this year.
Image courtesy of washington.org
New exhibitions to see
- National Gallery of Art: Remember Me: Picturing African Americans in Early Photography, 7 November 2026 to 14 March 2027
- The Phillips Collection: Avery, Gottlieb & Rothko: By the Sea, on the lifelong friendship of three giants of American art, until 24 January 2027
- National Museum of Asian Art: From the Louvre: Masterpieces of Islamic Art, on view in the US for the first time, until 18 January 2027
- National Museum of Women in the Arts: Routed West: Twentieth-Century African American Quilts in California, until 17 January 2027
- Hirshhorn: Light is a Plastic Medium: The Photography of Carlotta Corpron, until 14 March 2027
Performances and festivals
The Washington Ballet opens its 50th season with Go-Go 50 at the Warner Theatre from 30 October to 1 November, a world premiere celebrating 50 years of go-go music with live music by DC’s own Black Alley. National Gallery Nights continue until 12 November with themed after-hours evenings of music and performance, and Theatre of Magic, an intimate live show by Australian magician Christopher Wayne, runs at Fairmont Washington, DC Georgetown until 27 December.
On 7 November, Adams Morgan PorchFest turns porches, patios and local businesses into stages for live music, and from 13 November to 23 December the DowntownDC Holiday Market transforms F Street NW into a festive winter village.
Image: Robert Urteaga, courtesy of washington.org
For sports fans
Audi Field hosts the National Women’s Soccer League championship on 21 November, Alex Ovechkin is back for his 22nd season with the Capitals, and the city is preparing to host the NFL Draft from 29 April to 1 May 2027.
Where to stay
The Watergate Hotel and the Westin City Center are unveiling renovations this autumn. The former Salamander DC is now The Potomac Hotel, Autograph Collection, and the former Hotel AKA Washington Circle has joined Hilton as One Washington Circle, Tapestry Collection. Newer openings include the Hoya Hotel at Georgetown, citizenM Georgetown and Tempo by Hilton Downtown, with WaterWalk by Wyndham Capitol Hill/Navy Yard due later this year.
“Fall brings an exciting mix of new experiences and celebratory moments to Washington, DC,” says Elliott L. Ferguson, II, President and CEO of Destination DC. “Add a packed calendar of major sports events, outstanding restaurants and neighborhood festivals, plus the beauty of DC in the fall, and the season becomes the perfect time to experience the history, culture and energy of the city.”
Disclaimer: The images used in this article have been provided to The Daily Brunch by Destination DC.
