Don’t miss the electrifying new musical about “the greatest R&B group of all time.” With their signature dance moves and harmonies, The Temptations rose to the top of the charts, and their moving story still resonates five decades later. The show features such iconic hits as “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” and many more.

Everyone’s invited to the joyous Broadway musical that inspired the hit Netflix adaptation. New York Magazine calls it “smart and big-hearted” and The New York Times says the show “makes you believe in musical comedy again!” You belong at The Prom!

From beat making to abstract portraiture and more, the Moonshot Studio offers activities for people of all ages to explore their artistry and learn something new. Each day features one activity for visitors and invites them to “give it shot!” Admission is free, but reservations are required for your group (2-4 people at a table) to collaborate and create with various materials, methods, and media, and leave with an original work of art.

Launched as a partnership between Mark Morris Dance Group and the Brooklyn Parkinson Group, this program offers internationally acclaimed dance classes for people with Parkinson’s Disease in more than 250 communities and 24 countries. 

Explore a large-scale public art 2-dimensional playscape on the REACH Plaza created by Mo Willems and 240 members of the local community!

This year-long free exhibit celebrates the Kennedy Center’s history through the people who have brought it to life. Engaging video and aural snippets, powerful visuals, and novel archival content tell the Center's story in the voices and memories of the leaders, staff, artists, donors, audiences, and larger community that make it a “living” memorial. 

Explore an exclusive collection of art and sculpture located within the REACH campus and its surrounding grounds.

FREE EXHIBIT!

Inspired by the genius of Ludwig van Beethoven, inaugural Kennedy Center Education Artist-in-Residence Mo Willems exhibits a series of large-scale abstractions influenced by each of the composer’s nine symphonies. This is your chance to “see” music and “hear” art!

The REACH glows again with the return of Winter Lanterns, a free display of approximately 100 stunning lanterns made up of 10,000 colored LED lights, all crafted by Chinese artisans.

Presented in collaboration with Kaleido Arts & Entertainment Group LLC

An immersive 30,000 square foot documentary photography exhibition at the REACH visualizing the climate crisis plus a six-week festival of performances, workshops, panel discussions, and educational programs.

From beat making to abstract portraiture and more, the Moonshot Studio offers activities for people of all ages to explore their artistry and learn something new. Each day features one activity for visitors and invites them to “give it shot!” Admission is free, but reservations are required for your group (2-4 people at a table) to collaborate and create with various materials, methods, and media, and leave with an original work of art.

Explore a large-scale public art 2-dimensional playscape on the REACH Plaza created by Mo Willems and 240 members of the local community!

This year-long free exhibit celebrates the Kennedy Center’s history through the people who have brought it to life. Engaging video and aural snippets, powerful visuals, and novel archival content tell the Center's story in the voices and memories of the leaders, staff, artists, donors, audiences, and larger community that make it a “living” memorial. 

Launched as a partnership between Mark Morris Dance Group and the Brooklyn Parkinson Group, this program offers internationally acclaimed dance classes for people with Parkinson’s Disease in more than 250 communities and 24 countries. 

The REACH glows again with the return of Winter Lanterns, a free display of approximately 100 stunning lanterns made up of 10,000 colored LED lights, all crafted by Chinese artisans.

Presented in collaboration with Kaleido Arts & Entertainment Group LLC

Come visit the outdoor and indoor spaces of our expanded campus. Be inspired by the art and architecture, see upcoming events, and enjoy the views with a snack from our wine garden and café.

This year-long free exhibit celebrates the Kennedy Center’s history through the people who have brought it to life. Engaging video and aural snippets, powerful visuals, and novel archival content tell the Center's story in the voices and memories of the leaders, staff, artists, donors, audiences, and larger community that make it a “living” memorial. 

Explore a large-scale public art 2-dimensional playscape on the REACH Plaza created by Mo Willems and 240 members of the local community!

For its annual Kennedy Center engagement, the beloved company presents Ailey classics and new works, including Ailey’s signature Revelations.

The Washington Post described Gemma New’s 2019 NSO debut as “meticulously calibrated beauty.” Now, the New Zealand-born conductor leads the world premiere of Missy Mazzoli’s Violin Concerto (Procession), commissioned by the NSO and performed by superstar Jennifer Koh.

POSTPONED TO MAY 22, 2002. After their sold-out performance in 2019, The legendary Roots crew make their electrifying return to the Kennedy Center Concert Hall as a part of their 2021 Holiday Tour. Presented as part of #KenCenHipHop’s For the Culture Artist Residency program and The Bridge Concert Series.   

Two-time Edison Award-winning and Grammy®-nominated trumpeter, composer, and producer Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah comes to the Kennedy Center for a special one-night-only engagement.

Road to Roots Picnic presents influential Black voices and creatives across genres in an inspired evening of live music and performance, curated by The Roots. Part of #KenCenHipHop’s For the Culture Artist Residency program and The Bridge Concert Series.

Experience the very best in DJ culture and live performance as we close out each night of BGR!FEST™ with BGR!FEST™ After Dark.

Experience the very best in DJ culture and live performance as we close out each night of BGR!FEST™ with BGR!FEST™ After Dark.

Featuring leading voices in the fields of entertainment, entrepreneurship, social justice, and beyond, the BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® Empowerment Speaker Series spotlights dynamic and accomplished women in inspiring, thought-provoking panels.

This intimate music series immerses fans in a world of the most talented artists performing stripped down versions of their greatest works. Past performers have included Jazmine Sullivan and Teedra Moses.

Do people even party anymore? If ladies aren’t walking back to the car with heels in hand, did they have a good time? Did the clean-up crew find a random pair of lashes? No Weird Sh*t is bringing the boogie back to the dance floor. This is a no-flex zone! No sections to keep us separated—only a fire DJ and host to keep the vibes high as hell! Soul train lines, gospel sing-a-longs, and unofficial twerk offs are the mandate. At this party, No Weird Sh*t is allowed.

HOORAE hosts its first “Find Your People” party since 2019—rebranded for the HOORAE x Kennedy Center Takeover.

Experience uniquely different stories from brilliantly talented creators of color. At this special Saturday edition of HOORAE’s signature showcase, audiences will get a first-look at a short film by Kid Fury and his producing partner Michael Troll—plus an exclusive screening of Issa Rae’s next project.

Throwing shade and spilling tea with a flippant and humorous attitude as only they can, The Read stars Kid Fury and Crissle descend on the Kennedy Center for a special one-night-only activation in collaboration with Issa Rae’s audio everywhere company Raedio to preview their upcoming original comedy album.

Moderated by Issa Rae, A Sip is a series of intimate and unscripted, “fireside chats” over drinks with influential creatives about their unconventional journeys. Past guests have included Ava DuVernay, Barry Jenkins, Regina King, Michael B. Jordan, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Zendaya, and more.

Hip Hop Icon and Founding Kennedy Center Hip Hop Culture Council Member MC Lyte presents I Am Woman: A Celebration of Women in Hip Hop. Join us for an incredible evening of sisterhood and celebration as part of the Kennedy Center’s 50th Anniversary featuring Da Brat, Mumu Fresh, Monie Love, Remy Ma, Tierra Whack, Yo Yo, and more.

Beats, Brains and Business is presented by Hip Hop Legend MC Lyte and her business partner, financial expert Dr. Lynn Richardson. Together, they’ve built and expanded MC Lyte’s business empire and are creating financial legacies for some of the world’s most notable icons. This session will give you the tools you need to achieve your personal and professional goals as well as tips for successfully navigating the entertainment world.

Set today in the Shear Madness hairstyling salon, this record-breaking comedy is Washington's hilarious whodunit. After more than 13,500 performances, the show has stayed in great shape. Performances are ongoing.

Jesus Christ Superstar is an iconic musical phenomenon with a worldwide fan base. In celebration of its 50th anniversary, a new mesmerizing production comes to North America. 

Riverdance, as you’ve never seen it before! This powerful and stirring reinvention of a beloved favorite is celebrated the world over for its Grammy Award-winning score and the thrilling energy and passion of Irish and international dance.

This is OKLAHOMA! as you’ve never seen or heard it before—reimagined for the 21st century, and now the Tony winner for Best Revival of a Musical.

New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Acevedo’s collection of folkloric poems comes to the stage with live music.

Education Artist-in-Residence Jacqueline Woodson’s simple yet powerful book comes to life with movement from choreographer and Kennedy Center Artistic Advisor for Dance Education Hope Boykin.

The Sphinx Symphony Orchestra, a unique all Black and Latinx orchestra comprised of top professionals from around the country, presents a varied program that includes Seven Last Words of the Unarmed, a moving work quoting the last words of seven African-American men killed by police or authority figures.

The Washington Post described Gemma New’s 2019 NSO debut as “meticulously calibrated beauty.” Now, the New Zealand-born conductor leads the world premiere of Missy Mazzoli’s Violin Concerto (Procession), commissioned by the NSO and performed by superstar Jennifer Koh.

A night of American heroes. Six-time Grammy winner Christian McBride presents The Movement Revisited, a suite honoring Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Martin Luther King Jr., and President Barack Obama. Blending jazz and big bands with gospel choirs and powerful narration, McBride’s moving musical tribute equals the achievements of those it exalts.

Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros featuring The Wolfpack join the NSO for a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration. Formed in 2018 by Weir, Grammy®-winning producer and bassist Don Was, drummer Jay Lane, and pianist Jeff Chimenti, Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros perform the expansive catalogue of Grateful Dead, Bobby’s solo albums, and more. The orchestration is provided by Stanford professor Dr. Giancarlo Aquilanti.

NSO principal musicians take the spotlight in Haydn’s Sinfonia Concertante. Then, Noseda conducts the energetic Third Symphony by Louise Farrenc. Though often overlooked, Farrenc flourished at the center of 19th century Parisian music—admired in her lifetime as a teacher, scholar, and brilliant composer.

Three Fourths! Gianandrea Noseda opens the program with Bach’s G major Brandenburg Concerto No. 4—a staple of the repertory that has influenced countless composers. Listen for traces of the famous work in Bachianas Brasileiras No. 4, Villa-Lobos’s symphonic blend of Bach and the passions of Brazil; as well as Mahler’s heavenly Symphony No. 4, also in G major.

The Grammy Award®–winning Emerson String Quartet reunites with Kennedy Center Artistic Advisor at Large Renée Fleming for another “rapturous recital” (The Washington Post).

Under the direction of Gianandrea Noseda, the National Symphony Orchestra presents Tales - A Folklore Symphony by Composer-in-Residence Carlos Simon. Also on the program, two-time Grammy Award®-winning violinist James Ehnes plays Beethoven’s famous Violin Concerto.

Explore the rhythm and magic of percussion instruments through two imaginative stories from timpanist Scott Christian!

Today’s most exciting artists offer four unmissable world premieres! Creative teams Jason Moran and Alicia Hall Moran, Huang Ruo and David Henry Hwang, Kamala Sankaram and A.M. Homes, and Carlos Simon and Marc Bamuthi Joseph present intimate and interwoven works.

Following previous engagements at the Kennedy Center including sold-out concerts, discussions, workshops, secret shows, community events, and the annual BGR!FEST, BLACK GIRLS ROCK! returns for its anticipated first-time collaboration with the NSO—presented in partnership with the Kennedy Center’s Hip Hop Culture program.

“Sweet” Cherie Mitchell-Agurs brings the rhythm and funk of Go-go music.

Fidelity is frivolous—or is it?—in Mozart’s rom-com. A cast of opera’s rising international stars assembles to sing Mozart’s sublime music backed by an onstage orchestra.

For its annual Kennedy Center engagement, the beloved company presents Ailey classics and new works, including Ailey’s signature Revelations.

Dance Master Classes at the Kennedy Center offer an opportunity to take classes led by some of the most talented and creative artists in the world of dance.

One performace only! Okinawa’s most exquisite dancers perform a diverse repertoire of traditional performing arts accompanied by live music.

The star-studded company returns with Don Quixote (Thursday through Sunday) and a program featuring works by ABT Artist-in-Residence Alexei Ratmansky, Jessica Lang, and Alonzo King (Tuesday & Wednesday)!

The company marks its first Kennedy Center full engagement with the highly anticipated D.C. premiere of Abraham’s newest evening-length work.

For its 19th annual appearance with us, the Mariinsky presents Jewels, one of George Balanchine’s best-loved ballets in Russia and a glittering calling card of the company’s repertoire.

Mortified is a comic excavation of teen angst artifacts—journals, letters, poems, lyrics, home movies, stories, and more—as shared by their original authors in front of total strangers.

iMusical joins the unpredictable playfulness of comedic improvisation with the emotional power of musical theater.

A spicy Kennedy Center favorite returns! 

Join us for a RIOT!, a special three-night comedy event featuring nine hilarious comics in celebration of Women’s History Month.

Thursday, March 3: Cristela Alonzo, Sydnee Washington, Jenny Questell

Friday, March 4: Natasha Leggero, Liza Treyger, Brittaney Carney

Saturday, March 5: Megan Stalter, Ali Kolbert, Denise Taylor

Story District returns to Studio K with Funnier Than Fiction: Real Hot Girl Sh*t  – a showcase of true stories by extraordinary women (in honor of Women's History Month).

Hannah Gadsby, world class, award-winning funny person, has a brand new live show—Body of Work—hitting stages across North America. 

Standup comedian and podcast star Marc Maron returns to the Kennedy Center Concert Hall.

America’s foremost song parodist brings his Grammy Award®-winning humor.

A limited number of VIP packages are available for this performance for $329. More information below.

Jason Moran keeps Fats Waller’s life-of-the-party spirit alive in this multimedia/dance party event, reimagining the legendary Harlem pianist’s hits as Afrobeat, funk, house music, and more modern grooves.

The Chicago Tribune calls Laurin Talese “some of the most luxuriant, sumptuously phrased jazz vocals you could hope to hear.” Naturally gifted, yet well studied, the 2018 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition winner has been captivating audiences since childhood.

With lyrical, original music and spoken passages, jazz saxophonist Mark Turner and his ensemble reflect upon The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man, the landmark novel by James Weldon Johnson about a young biracial man in post-Reconstruction era America. This poignant musical exploration of race, class, and privilege is not to be missed.

The music of saxophonist and composer Immanuel Wilkins is filled with empathy and conviction, bonding arcs of melody and lamentation to pluming gestures of space and breath. Listeners were introduced to this riveting sound with his acclaimed debut album Omega, which was named the #1 Jazz Album of 2020 by The New York Times.

It takes a bold talent to step into the shoes of Nina Simone. Ledisi has already shown she’s up for the challenge, taking on the legendary musician’s emotionally searing and socially conscious songs on her PBS special Ledisi Live: A Tribute to Nina Simone. Join the powerhouse vocalist and 2021 Grammy-winning singer as she pays tribute to one of the icons of 20th century music!

Often sought as musical collaborator and producer by the likes of Dev Hynes, Erykah Badu, Bilal, and Mos Def, a singular descriptive word does not fit for vocalist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Georgia Anne Muldrow. Last seen at Kennedy Center in spring 2017 with Jason Moran in “Muldrow Meets Mingus,” the Grammy nominee returns to perform her multi-genre blend of jazz, R&B, Hip Hop, electronica, rock, and funk in the intimate setting of the Club at Studio K.