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.

National Portrait Gallery

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.