July Culture Guide: 38 Things to Do in the DC Area

Happy July, DC!

Fourth of July kicks off the month with concerts, museum exhibitions, and community festivals to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday. Also, the National Air and Space Museum unveils their gallery renovations, and tennis fans can watch Frances Tiafoe compete in Mubadala Citi DC Open.

10 Best Things to Do in DC

by Pat Padua

Museums

“The Ascent of Rauschenberg: Reinventing the Art of Flight”

July 1

The museum, celebrating its 50th anniversary, is reopening the final galleries in its years-long renovation project. New exhibits include this exploration of artist Robert Rauschenberg’s long fascination with flight.

Museums

The Playground

July 3–August 30

Snarkitecture, the New York design team that converted the Building Museum’s Great Hall into a sandy beach, is back with an immersive installation that uses everyday construction materials to create a new kind of play space for children of all ages.

Museums

Smithsonian Sleepover

July 10, 18, 24, and 31

Inspired by every child’s dream of spending the night in a museum, these Smithsonian sleepovers offer after-hours adventures and overnight activities at two of the institution’s most beloved sites.

Music

American Football

July 11–12

The influential Illinois band reunites to perform its soaring, intricately layered songs, including tracks from its new album, American Football (LP4) .

Books

Sigrid Nunez

July 16

The author discusses her first short-story collection, It Will Come Back to You, following renewed attention from the recent film adaptation of her celebrated novel The Friend, starring Bill Murray.

Opera

Eugene Onegin

July 17–25

Tchaikovsky’s lyric opera traces the emotional arc of Pushkin’s romantic antihero from youthful detachment to painful regret, with a fresh new cast bringing the classic to life.

Music

Kurt Vile and the Violators

July 22

Indie-rock singer-songwriter Kurt Vile blends Neil Young–inspired guitar work with melodic lo-fi textures. His ninth studio album, Philadelphia’s Been Good to Me, is as shaggy and tuneful as ever.

Theater

The Jury Experience: An Immersive Courtroom Case

July 24

This interactive production invites audiences into a courtroom investigation centered on a rogue driverless car, challenging attendees to decide who should be held responsible.

Sports

Mubadala Citi DC Open

July 25–August 2

DC’s longtime summer tradition returns, with some of tennis’s big names competing and hometown favorite Frances Tiafoe looking for another shot at a local title after reaching last year’s quarterfinals.

Books

Colson Whitehead

July 27

Following Harlem Shuffle and Crook Manifesto, the acclaimed novelist closes out his Harlem Trilogy with Cool Machine, a journey through 1980s Manhattan.

Want More Things to Do?

by Briana Thomas

Arts and culture:

• Car history buffs can browse Ford’s last Model T ever built and other iconic classic cars at Union Station (July 1-14, free, Union Station).
• “The Declaration’s Promise” exhibit at the Library of Congress unpacks the principles of the country’s founding document (opens July 3, free, but timed-entry passes required, Library of Congress).
• There’s storytime, a Lego sculpture of the US Constitution, and musical and spoken word performances at Library Fest (July 18, free, Arlington).
• Swap paint brushes, canvases, ceramic materials, and other craft items with a neighbor (July 18, free, MLK Library).
• Watch a movie screening of 2002 crime-comedy Catch Me If You Can (July 22, free, Wharf).
• See a fashion show, listen to local bands, and munch on bites from food vendors at Rhizome (July 25, $15, Takoma).

Community and heritage:

• Don your red, white, and blue and head to Constitution Avenue for the annual National Independence Day Parade (July 4, free, Downtown).
• Museum-goers get to listen to a reading of the Declaration of Independence by Founding Father reenactors as well as live musical performances at the National Archives (July 4, free, Downtown).
• Sing along to anthems of the civil rights movement and American folk tunes with DC’s Nolan Williams Jr. at Franklin Park (July 4, free, Downtown).
• There’s a huge Fourth of July celebration lighting up the National Mall with fireworks (July 4, free, registration encouraged, National Mall).
• See blooming flowers, do morning yoga, and unwind with forest bathing at Lotus and Lily Festival (July 18-19, free, Anacostia).

Theater and shows:

• Comedian and actor DeRay Davis does stand-up (July 3, $40+, National Harbor).
• Beetlejuice The Musical returns to National Theatre; prepare to be rolling in the aisles with laughter (July 7-19, $44+, National Theatre).
• Experience the action of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi accompanied by a live soundtrack courtesy of the National Symphony Orchestra (July 9, $57+, Vienna).

Music:

• Live from the Lawn outdoor jam sessions are back at Strathmore for adults and kids (July 1, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, August 1, 5, 12, pay-what-you-can, Bethesda).
• Join an interfaith spiritual gathering and listen to readings, live music, and more at Washington National Cathedral (July 3, free, virtual, Northwest DC).
• Concert ensembles such as Patrick Lundy and the Ministers of Music, The Choral Arts Society of Washington, and others ring in a Capitol Fourth Concert (July 3, free, virtual, US Capitol).
• Singer Madison Beer arrives in DC to promote her latest album Locket (July 6, $69+, Wharf).
• Alt-rock artist Poppy brings her genre-blending tunes to the Anthem (July 7, $56+, Wharf).
• One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson has a solo concert (July 7, $95+, Wharf).
• Bop to your your favorite Lizzo pop songs accompanied live by the National Symphony Orchestra (July 7, $65.50+, Vienna).
• Billboard-charting artists Usher and Chris Brown perform R&B hits together live at Northwest Stadium for three nights; tickets are going fast (July 10-11, 13, $110+, Northwest Stadium).
• Jazzy Sundays showcases local bands this summer (July 12 through August 30, free, Anacostia).
• Folk-pop vocalist Noah Kahan and viral TikTok singer-songwriter Gigi Perez team up over acoustics and banjo melodies at Nats Park (July 22, $490+, Nationals Park).
• Legendary songwriter Bob Dylan returns to Wolf Trap for two evenings to sing some of his greatest rock and roll poems from the ’60s (July 24-25, $65+, Vienna).

Things to do with kids:

• Get a sneak peek of Independence Day sparkles at Nats Park as the home team takes on the Pittsburgh Pirates (July 3, $26+, Nationals Park).
• Build vintage Legos, go on a Jewish history scavenger hunt, and find more educational fun at Capital Jewish Museum’s Family Day (July 5, free, Downtown).

Bites and beverages:

• Attend a BBQ block party in style at Willard Intercontinental (July 4, free entry, Downtown).
• Taste cuisines from more than 65 local eateries and sip unlimited cocktails at Washingtonian’s Best of Washington culinary bash; tickets are on sale now (July 23, $195+, Wharf).

This article appears in the July 2026 issue of Washingtonian.