Bits

Every year on April 16, Washington, D.C. commemorates one of the most significant and least-known moments in American history: the signing of the Compensated Emancipation Act of 1862, which freed over 3,000 enslaved people in the District of Columbia — nearly nine months before the Emancipation Proclamation. On April 19, 2026, the city hosts its … Read more

Imagine walking through a museum and hearing the pulse of clave, the shimmer of brass, and the memory of crowded dance halls where something new was being born. That’s the experience awaiting visitors to ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa — a landmark new exhibition opening April 18, 2026 at the Smithsonian’s National Museum … Read more

Washington, D.C. has always had a complicated relationship with political satire. But in a city where history is made on every street corner, there’s something uniquely thrilling about watching it laughed at from a theater seat. On April 18, 2026, Klein Theatre in Penn Quarter becomes the stage for 44: The Musical — a biting, … Read more

Half a century of boundary-pushing contemporary art. One epic free party in Queens. On Saturday, April 18, 2026, MoMA PS1 — one of the most important contemporary art institutions in the world — throws its doors open and invites the public to celebrate its 50th anniversary with a massive Block Party running from 10:00 AM … Read more

Not every great cultural festival requires a plane ticket to paradise. On April 18, 2026, the spirit of Hawaii comes alive right in the heart of Tacoma, Washington, at the Aha Mele Hawaiian Festival — a joyful, family-friendly celebration of Hawaiian music, hula, culture, food, and community. What Is the Aha Mele Hawaiian Festival? Aha … Read more

One of the most theatrical, powerful, and emotionally cathartic live performers of her generation is coming to the nation’s capital. Florence Welch and her band Florence + The Machine take the stage at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, April 18, 2026 — and it’s already being called one of the can’t-miss concert … Read more