Washington, DC—DC’s favorite summer concert series is back! Our Sculpture Garden turns 25 this summer and comes alive with musical performances. They will include jazz, Afro-Latin fusion, and more. Concerts will run on Fridays from May 31 through August 9, with a break on July 5. 

The season kicks off with Grammy-nominated Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas on May 31. Other highlights include a Juneteenth celebration concert with the Muneer Nasser Quintet on June 21, Caribbean steelpan from Josanne Francis on June 28, and contemporary jazz from saxophonist Brent Birckhead on July 26.

To give everyone an equal chance of attending, we’ll once again offer registration through a lottery. The lottery will take place the week before each concert. It will open on Monday at 10:00 a.m. and close Friday at noon. We’ll notify all entrants whether or not they were selected the Monday before each concert. Those who are selected are welcome to register for up to four passes. Registration is required for all ages 2 and above.

A few additional passes will be available at all entrance gates—first-come, first-served—starting at 5:00 p.m. the night of each concert.

New this year: we will offer rain dates to registrants whose concerts are canceled due to weather. If a concert is canceled, we’ll contact those registrants directly.

On concert days, the Sculpture Garden closes from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Gates reopen at 5:00 p.m., and concerts begin at 6:00 p.m.

The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden is located on the north side of the National Mall. Entrances are at 7th Street NW, 9th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, and 9th Street and Madison Drive NW.

 
Scheduled Performances and Lottery Dates
May 31
Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas, zydeco
Lottery opens: Monday, May 20, 10:00 a.m.
Lottery closes: Friday, May 24, noon
Results announced: Monday, May 27, 10:00 a.m.

June 7
Anderson Quartet, Indigenous fusion
Lottery opens: Monday, May 27, 10:00 a.m.
Lottery closes: Friday, May 31, noon
Results announced: Monday, June 3, 10:00 a.m.

June 14
8 Ohms Band, horn-heavy funk and soul
Lottery opens: Monday, June 3, 10:00 a.m.
Lottery closes: Friday, June 7, noon
Results announced: Monday, June 10, 10:00 a.m.

June 21
A Juneteenth celebration with Muneer Nasser Quintet, jazz
Lottery opens: Monday, June 10, 10:00 a.m.
Lottery closes: Friday, June 14, noon
Results announced: Monday, June 17, 10:00 a.m.

June 28
Josanne Francis, Caribbean steelpan
Lottery opens: Monday, June 17, 10:00 a.m.
Lottery closes: Friday, June 21, noon
Results announced: Monday, June 24, 10:00 a.m.

July 5
No concert

July 12
US Air Force Band’s Airmen of Note, big band jazz
Lottery opens: Monday, July 1, 10:00 a.m.
Lottery closes: Friday, July 5, noon
Results announced: Monday, July 8, 10:00 a.m.

July 19
Jake Blount, Afrofuturist roots
Lottery opens: Monday, July 8, 10:00 a.m.
Lottery closes: Friday, July 12, noon
Results announced: Monday, July 15, 10:00 a.m.

July 26
Brent Birckhead, contemporary jazz
Lottery opens: Monday, July 15, 10:00 a.m.
Lottery closes: Friday, July 19, noon
Results announced: Monday, July 22, 10:00 a.m.

August 2
Plena Libre, Afro-Latin fusion
Lottery opens: Monday, July 22, 10:00 a.m.
Lottery closes: Friday, July 26, noon
Results announced: Monday, July 29, 10:00 a.m.

August 9
Leigh Pilzer's Seven Pointed Star, jazz septet
Lottery opens: Monday, July 29, 10:00 a.m.
Lottery closes: Friday, August 2, noon
Results announced: Monday, August 5, 10:00 a.m.

See more details on each performance at nga.gov/jazz.
 
Concerts may be canceled due to inclement weather, including excessive heat. Visitors who have reserved passes will be notified of cancelations via email. We will do our best to offer passes to a rain date later in the summer. Weather-related updates will also be available at nga.gov/jazz or by calling 202.842.6997. Send further questions to [email protected].
 
Refreshments from the Pavilion Café
Visitors will be able to buy refreshments inside the Pavilion Café and at pop-up bars throughout the Sculpture Garden. The menu will feature sandwiches, salads, snacks, and sweets. A variety of beverages, including beer, wine, the crowd-favorite sangria, and sodas will also be available for sale. While visitors are welcome to bring their own picnics, outside alcoholic beverages are not allowed and may be confiscated.