The museum exhibits Editor Ava is looking forward to in 2026

Many museums in the area offer ever-changing museum exhibits. Here are some you can expect in the new year.

A painting in the Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC.

The Portrait Gallery is one of the many museums offering new exhibits in 2026. | Photo by NOVAtoday

Another year means another round of new museum exhibits coming to Northern Virginia and DC. These are the exhibits that I, Newsletter Editor Ava, can’t wait to see.

Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington

There are four upcoming exhibits at this Arlington museum. From Friday, Feb. 13 to Sunday, May 24, you can see Stephanie Lane: “Meta Physika”, where she experiments with material in both photographs and paintings.

It was a hard choice — the other three look fantastic, too.

The Lee-Fendall House

From Sunday, Feb. 8 to Sunday, May 31, the exhibit “Shall Not Be Denied: Alexandria Women and the Fight for the Ballot” will be open to the public. Learn about the role of Alexandrian women in the women’s suffrage movement.

The National Air and Space Museum

In July, seven exhibits will open at this popular DC museum. I’m looking forward to “The Art of Air and Space: Interpretations of Flight” exhibit, which will explore the connection between art and space.

A couple of exhibits are coming to this art museum in DC. One to look out for is “Photographic Memory: Fifty Years of Photography at the National Portrait Gallery”, opening in November. You’ll be able to see the transformation of photographic portraits from the Daguerreian era to today. This one is my top pick.

American History Museum

Learn about the evolution of salsa and how it has defined the US at the "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa” exhibit. With nearly 300 objects, you will learn about the past and present of this dance style.

Mount Vernon

While it’s not a new exhibit, the Education Center at Mount Vernon is expected to reopen in March 2026 after a rebuild.

See what other exhibits are coming to the Smithsonian museums.

More from NOVAtoday
Explore sustainability workshops across NOVA and learn how you can earn compensation for installing a rain barrel.
Pitbull? Check. Zara Larsson? Check. It’s not a bad idea to triple-check this list and get your concert tickets before they sell out.
Move aside pickleball, there’s a new racket sport in town.
Looking for some last-minute plans this Valentine’s Day? Here are ideas on how you can celebrate around Northern Virginia.
The Blue and Yellow lines will be impacted by various closures throughout the spring. Plan your travel accordingly, as the National Airport stop will be impacted.
While the Washington Commanders are not playing in the Super Bowl this year, there’s still time to reminisce. Learn more about the history of the Commanders in the Super Bowl.
The following projects are scheduled to either begin construction or reach completion later this year. From the Commanders Stadium to road construction, there are many Northern Virginia developments coming this year.
The Kingstowne Community Library will soon close, paving the way for the opening of the new Kingstowne Regional Library at the Franconia Governmental Center.
Give back by helping with the Adopt a Fire Hydrant Program in Fairfax County.
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.