Every Friday from May 20 through July 22, our Sculpture Garden will come alive with musical performances ranging in style from jazz to Afro-Cuban and bluegrass.
On concert days, the Pavilion Café closes at 3:00 p.m. and the Sculpture Garden closes at 4:00 p.m. Gates reopen at 5:00 p.m. and concerts begin at 6:00 p.m.
Registration is free but required for all attendees ages 2 and up. Registration opens at noon one week before each concert.
Highlights from this season include several award-winning artists in a variety of genres. Pedrito Martinez, widely recognized as the leading percussionist in Afro-Cuban music, performs on June 3. Grammy-nominated Daniel Ho performs with his band on June 10. Delfeayo Marsalis, National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master and part of the famed Marsalis family, brings his trombone to the Sculpture Garden on July 1. Ho and Marsalis also appear in this season of the National Gallery’s first podcast, Sound Thoughts on Art, in which guests respond musically to a work of art in our collection.
The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden is located on the north side of the National Mall. Entrances are located at 7th Street NW, 9th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, and Madison Drive NW.
Concerts may be canceled due to excessive heat or inclement weather. In the event of a cancellation, visitors who have reserved passes will receive an email. Weather-related updates are also available on the National Gallery’s website and social media, or by calling 202.842.6997. Further questions can be emailed to [email protected].
Visitors may purchase refreshments from a special menu of sandwiches, salads, snacks, and sweets inside the Pavilion Café and at pop-up bars throughout the Sculpture Garden. A variety of beverages, including beer, wine, the crowd-favorite sangria, and sodas, are also available for sale. While visitors are welcome to provide their own picnics, outside alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited and are subject to confiscation.
