Ten years after opening its doors on the National Mall, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) is preparing for a major homecoming.
From September 24–27, 2026, the museum will celebrate its 10th anniversary with “The Reunion: Welcome Home — Our Legacy Continues,” a four-day celebration of Black history, culture, music and community.
And this isn’t happening only inside the museum.
Events stretch from the National Mall to The Wharf, making The Reunion a great reason to turn a museum visit into a full Black cultural weekend in Washington, D.C.
Where to Stay for the NMAAHC 10th Anniversary
Where you stay can become part of the experience, too.
Washington, D.C. and nearby Maryland offer hotels connected to Black ownership, leadership and hospitality heritage, ranging from luxury city stays to more affordable options outside downtown.
The Potomac Hotel, Autograph Collection — Washington, D.C.
For The Reunion weekend, The Potomac Hotel has a particularly appealing location.
Formerly Salamander Washington DC, the luxury hotel sits near both the National Mall and The Wharf—the two areas at the center of the anniversary festivities.
The hotel’s Black hospitality story was shaped by entrepreneur and Salamander Collection founder Sheila Johnson, who created the former Salamander Washington DC identity and remains a minority ownership partner following its transition to Marriott’s Autograph Collection.
Guests will also find Dōgon, chef Kwame Onwuachi’s Afro-Caribbean-inspired restaurant, and Groom Guy, a Black-owned men’s grooming and wellness company, inside the hotel.
Best for: Luxury stays, couples, wellness and travelers attending events at both NMAAHC and The Wharf.
→ Explore The Potomac Hotel on Black Hotel Guide
The Ivy Hotel — Baltimore, Maryland
For travelers extending their trip into Baltimore, The Ivy Hotel offers an intimate Black-owned luxury alternative.
Set within a historic mansion, The Ivy combines individually designed rooms and suites with a spa, afternoon tea and Magdalena restaurant.
It’s particularly well suited to travelers turning The Reunion into a longer Washington–Baltimore Black cultural getaway.
Best for: Romantic getaways, luxury travelers, spa weekends and Washington–Baltimore trips.
→ Explore The Ivy Hotel on Black Hotel Guide
Affordable Black-Owned & Black-Led Stays in Maryland
You don’t have to book a five-star hotel to make your lodging dollars more intentional.
Travelers driving into Washington or flying through BWI can also consider verified Black-owned or Black-led options including:
- The Westin Baltimore Washington Airport – BWI
- TownePlace Suites Fort Meade National Business Park
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Columbia
These properties can provide more affordable alternatives to central Washington, particularly if downtown hotel rates rise around the anniversary weekend.
→ Explore many more Black-owned and Black-led hotels in Washington, D.C. & Maryland
What Is “The Reunion”?
NMAAHC opened on September 24, 2016, following generations of efforts to establish a national museum dedicated to African American history and culture.
Ten years later, The Reunion invites visitors back for four days of music, food, conversations, family activities and cultural programming under the theme “Welcome Home: Our Legacy Continues.”
Visitors are also encouraged to wear purple, the museum’s signature color, throughout the celebration.
NMAAHC 10th Anniversary Weekend Highlights
Community Weekend at NMAAHC
The museum itself becomes a celebration space with live music, dance, art, food, workshops and family activities throughout the weekend.
Programming includes a children’s 10th birthday celebration, Washington’s homegrown go-go music, and special anniversary experiences at Sweet Home Café.
The Purple Ball at The Wharf
On Saturday, September 26, the celebration moves to The Wharf for The Purple Ball: Echoes of the Pearl.
The waterfront location carries powerful history. In 1848, 77 enslaved people boarded the schooner Pearl from Washington’s waterfront in an attempt to escape slavery.
The evening at The Anthem honors that legacy while celebrating the museum’s first decade.
Violet Vibes
On Sunday, September 27, Violet Vibes brings music, food and community programming to The Wharf for a family-friendly finale to the anniversary weekend.
Make It a Black Cultural Weekend in Washington, D.C.
If you’re traveling for The Reunion, leave some time to explore beyond the museum.
Visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, explore historic U Street, experience the campus and surrounding neighborhood of Howard University, or visit the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site.
And make room for D.C.’s Black culinary scene.
The result can be something much richer than a museum trip: a weekend built around Black history, food, culture and hospitality.
Planning Your NMAAHC Visit
The National Museum of African American History and Culture is located at 1400 Constitution Avenue NW, beside the Washington Monument on the National Mall.
The Reunion runs September 24–27, 2026. Museum admission is free, but some anniversary events require separate advance registration. Travelers should check the official schedule before arriving.
View the official NMAAHC 10th Anniversary schedule
Ten Years Later, Come Home
NMAAHC’s opening represented generations of persistence—the belief that African American history deserved a permanent home on America’s National Mall.
Ten years later, The Reunion is an invitation to come back.
Come for the museum. Stay for the culture. Explore the city.
And while you’re here, consider making where you stay part of the experience, too.
Because intentional travel isn’t only about where we go.
It’s also about who benefits when we get there.
