Jazz in the Garden — free Friday concerts

The National Gallery of Art launched its 2026 Jazz in the Garden season on Friday, May 22, with free evening concerts set to run through August 14 in the Sculpture Garden on the National Mall. The museum said this year’s series is titled “Jazz in the Garden: American Sounds” and will feature artists from across the country performing genres including indie soul-funk, alternative bluegrass, salsa, jazz, rhythm and blues, Americana and brass band music. The Gallery said the Friday program is free, but attendance is managed through a lottery because of demand. Concerts are scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., with no performances on June 5 or July 3. ### When are the concerts, and are all Fridays included? The 2026 series runs from May 22 through August 14, according to the National Gallery’s calendar. The posted lineup lists Oh He Dead for May 22, The Fly Birds for May 29, Orquesta Manplesa for June 12, Georgia Heers for June 19, Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars for June 26, Garry Burnside for July 10, Joe Pug for July 17, Red Baraat for July 24, Eric Byrd Trio for July 31, The Honey Dewdrops for August 7 and Brass Queens for August 14. June 5 and July 3 are the two dark Fridays in the schedule. The museum said the season’s “American Sounds” theme is tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary. ### How do free tickets work if admission is free? The National Gallery said passes are distributed through a free lottery system held the week before each concert. The lottery opens on Monday at 10 a.m. and closes Friday at noon, and entrants are notified the Monday before each program whether they were selected to register for passes. Selected entrants may register for up to four passes, according to the museum’s ticketing page. Passes are required for visitors age 2 and older. The Gallery also said limited day-of passes are available at signs by the Sculpture Garden entrances starting at 5 p.m. on concert days. May 29’s concert by The Fly Birds is the next scheduled performance. The Gallery’s ticket page says results for that lottery are to be announced Monday, May 25. ### What time should people arrive, and where do they enter? The Sculpture Garden reopens for concertgoers at 5 p.m., and the music starts at 6 p.m., the museum said. Entrances are at 7th Street Northwest, 9th Street and Constitution Avenue Northwest, and 9th Street and Madison Drive Northwest. The Sculpture Garden sits on the north side of the National Mall between 7th and 9th Streets Northwest. The nearest Metro stations are Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter and Smithsonian, according to the Gallery’s visitor guidance. The museum said parking on surrounding streets is limited and advised visitors to use public transportation and allow extra time because nearby events can affect access. ### What can people bring into the Sculpture Garden? The National Gallery said seating is first-come, first-served and mostly on the grass. Visitors may bring a blanket or a small folding chair, but not large items such as tents, folding tables or beach umbrellas. Food and beverages are sold on site, and visitors may also bring their own picnics, the museum said. Outside alcoholic beverages are prohibited. Bicycles and scooters are not allowed inside the Sculpture Garden during the concerts, according to the Gallery. The museum also bars skateboards, skates, knives for food preparation, mace, pepper spray, firearms and other weapons. ### Are there any extras beyond the concerts? The National Gallery said select nights this season will include informal dance lessons before and during the concert. The listed pre-show dance-class dates are May 22, May 29, June 12 and July 24. The April 15 announcement for the series said the program has run for more than 20 years. The museum described the event as a summer concert series that turns the Sculpture Garden into an outdoor stage surrounded by art. August 14 is the final scheduled concert of the season, with Brass Queens closing the series. The National Gallery said updated schedule information, lottery entry and visitor rules are available on its Jazz in the Garden and ticketing pages. (nga.gov)