National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden to Host JAZZ IN THE GARDEN from May 31 to August 09

DC’s favorite summer concert series is back! National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden will come alive with ten musical performances including jazz, Afro-Latin fusion, and more. Concerts will run on Fridays from May 31 through August 9, with a mid-season break on July 5. Washington DC’s iconic National Gallery of art plays host to this concert series every year and the attendees can be part of a sublime experience where they will get to listen to groovy jazz tunes while surrounded by lovely art!

The season kicks off with zydeco from 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 award-winning musician Josanne Francis on June 28, and contemporary jazz from award-winning saxophonist Brent Birckhead on July 26.

Due to the popularity of Jazz in the Garden, and to give everyone an equal chance of attending, NGA once again offer registration through a lottery system. The lottery will take place the week before each event. It will open on Monday at 10:00 a.m. and close on Friday at noon. NGA will notify all lottery entrants whether or not they were selected to register the Monday before each program. If selected, you’re welcome to register for up to 4 passes. Registration is required for all ages 2 and above.

In addition to the passes distributed through our lottery, a few additional passes will be available at all entrance gates—first-come, first-served—starting at 5:00 p.m.

New this year: we will offer rain dates for registrants whose concerts are canceled due to weather. We’ll contact registrants who are affected directly. On concert days, the Sculpture Garden closes from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.; gates reopen at 5:00 p.m. and the concert begins at 6:00 p.m.

The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden is located on the north side of the National Mall. Entrances are located 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: Muneer Nasser Quintet, a Juneteenth celebration
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 12: U.S. 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.

Refreshments from the Pavilion Café

Visitors may purchase refreshments from a special menu of sandwiches, salads, snacks, and sweets inside the Pavilion Café and at pop-up bars throughout the Sculpture Garden. A variety of beverages, including beer, wine, the crowd-favorite sangria, and sodas, are also available for sale. While visitors are welcome to provide their own picnics, outside alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited and are subject to confiscation.

See more details on each performance by visiting their calendar pages at nga.gov/jazz.

Concerts may be canceled due to excessive heat or inclement weather. In the event of a cancelation, visitors who have reserved passes will receive an email. We will do our best to offer passes to a rain date later in the summer. Weather-related updates are also available on calendar event pages or by calling 202.842.6997. Further questions can be emailed to tickets@nga.gov.