7 Late-Night Museum Events in Northern Virginia and DC

These after-hours events include drinks, food, music, and more.

By Kate Oczypok • Posted February 23, 2026 at 7:00 a.m.

Photo by Derek Baker

If you can’t make it to a museum during daytime hours, you’ll be excited to know that there are lots of late-night options perfect for your next outing with family, friends, or perhaps a date night. Best of all, many are recurring, so if you miss one you can always catch an upcoming date.

Stargazing at the Udvar-Hazy Center

February 28, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Museum staff and members of the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club help the public learn to stargaze at this free event. Stargazing takes place outside the center in the bus parking lot. Telescopes will be provided by the Smithsonian and pre-approved members of the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club. No other personal telescopes are allowed at the event. The evening is weather permitting and may be canceled due to rain or cloudy conditions. Layers of clothing are recommended, as well as comfortable shoes. 14390 Air and Space Museum Pkwy., Chantilly

a child looks into a telescope at aSmithsonian National Air and Space Museum stargazing event — *Courtesy Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum*

National Gallery Nights at the National Gallery of Art

Now through April 9

This after-hours program has themed evenings with pop-up talks, live music, artmaking, and more. Due to their popularity, registration is required through a lottery system, which opens on Mondays at 10 a.m. one week before each event. You are notified if you are selected the Friday before each specific program. The next two themes are a garden party and “United We Create,” which is about the visual soul of America and rhythms of American music. 6^th and Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC

Live! At the Library of Congress

Thursdays, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Live! At the Library of Congress is a weekly, after-hours series that includes live music and performances as well as film screenings. Sessions will often include access to the Main Reading Room, too. 101 Independence Ave. SE, Washington, DC

A room full of people at an after-hours event at the Library of Congress — *Courtesy Shawn Miller/Library of Congress*

Covert Cocktails at the International Spy Museum

April 23, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Dive into the espionage world and see artifacts from the spy vault. Plus, meet former officers from the CIA and FBI at this after-hours event. There will be drinks, bites, and museum staff will be on hand to chat about how the museum collects its artifacts. The dress code is cocktail attire, and the event is a fundraiser for the Spy Museum. 700 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC

David M. Brown Planetarium Stars Tonight Program

First Monday of the month (holidays excluded), 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Enjoy a monthly program that explores visible stars and constellations. The program is usually around 90 minutes and includes a guided tour of the night sky. The program isn’t recommended for young children. There are no reservations, and admission is on a first-come, first-served basis. 1426 N. Quincy St., Arlington

NMWA Nights

Third Wednesday of each month

The National Museum of Women in the Arts hosts an after-hours event on the third Wednesday of the month. Guests can check out the galleries, enjoy a drink, try their hand at artmaking, or listen to performances. Two drink tickets are included with admission; anything additional must be purchased. The next event is Wednesday, March 18. 1250 New York Ave. NW, Washington, DC

Guests attend an after-hours event at The National Museum of Women in the Arts — *Photo by Derek Baker*

Phillips After 5

First Thursday of the month, 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The Phillips Collection offers an after-hours event on the first Thursday of the month. The ticketed experience includes live music. The next program, which will be March 5, is “Techno Takeover.” It will include a DJ, hands-on session investigating creative music-making, and more. 1600 21^st NW, Washington, DC

Feature image of National Museum of Women in the Arts courtesy Derek Baker

Kate Oczypok

Contributing Writer

Kate Oczypok has been a freelance writer since 2011, and is proud to be a regular contributor to Northern Virginia Magazine in digital and print since 2020. Her bylines have appeared in The New York Times, People.com, Better Homes and Gardens, and locally The Georgetowner and Washingtonian Magazine, among others. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Print Journalism from American University and a M.Ed. in Education from Penn State. She also teaches virtual piano lessons in the after school hours and does portrait photography on weekends.