Upcoming Events

Events on the National Mall

Memorial Day Events Across the National Mall

The public is invited and encouraged to attend the following events on the National Mall in observance of Memorial Day to gather in remembrance and reflection, paying tribute to those who gave their lives in defense of freedom. Please join us on the following dates at the corresponding locations: 

Thursday, May 21

Gary Sinise & The Lt. Dan Band Invincible Spirit Festival at Ft. Belvoir - 5 PM
Join recent Trust History, Heroes & Hope Award honoree the Gary Sinise Foundation and its founder acclaimed actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise for a free, family-friendly event bringing the community together to honor our nation's military service members and military families. The event is hosted by the USO. Base access to Ft. Belvoir is required. Learn more here.

Saturday, May 23

Memorial Day Observance at the World War II Memorial – 10 AM
The National Park Service and the Friends of the National World War II Memorial will pay tribute to the more than 400,000 Americans who lost their lives during WWII in a special Memorial Day Observance on Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 10 a.m. The program will also be streamed live to the Friends Facebook page. As part of the ceremony, World War II veterans will lay wreaths at the Freedom Wall in remembrance of their fallen comrades. The ceremony is free and open to the public, but advance registration is requested.

Sunday, May 24

National Memorial Day Concert – 8 PM
Featuring all-star musical performances and tributes, the 90-minute broadcast of the 37th annual National Memorial Day Concert will air on PBS and stream on YouTube on Sunday, May 24, 2026 at 8 p.m. E.T., honoring our men and women in uniform, veterans, their families and all those who have given their lives for our country. The general public is invited to attend the live concert broadcast on the West Lawn of the United States Capitol.

Monday, May 25

Freedom 250 National Memorial Day Parade - 10 AM
This year, the National Memorial Day Parade returns with one of the most anticipated events of the year, hosted along Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C., kicking off Memorial Day commemorations in our nation's capital. The parade will begin at 10:00 AM, sharing the story of service and sacrifice across our first 250 years, featuring musical performances, marching bands, uniformed service members and veterans, historical re-enactors and celebrities, along with honored families of our fallen. Join in person or watch the television special airing on local ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and CW stations. Learn more here. We hope to see you there!

Vietnam Women's Memorial – 10 AM
The ongoing series “Vietnam: In Their Own Words - Story Telling at the Vietnam Women’s Memorial” continues on Memorial Day, with remembrances shared by Vietnam veterans.

Arlington National Cemetery – 12:00 PM
The 158th National Memorial Day Observance, recognizing and commemorating the fallen men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, will take place on Monday, May 25 in the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery. Pre-event programming will begin at 10:45 a.m., with the formal program starting at approximately 12 p.m. Please note, this is a change from previous years’ schedule.
 
The annual event is free and open to the public. Seating in the amphitheater is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

United States Navy Memorial – 12:30 PM
The Navy Memorial will host a Memorial Day wreath laying ceremony in honor and memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. This event will feature the U.S. Navy Band and U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard. A light reception will follow in the Navy Memorial Visitor Center. The U.S. Navy Memorial is located at 701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, immediately adjacent to the Archives/Navy Memorial Metro station (Green-Yellow lines).

Vietnam Veterans Memorial – 1 PM
The annual Memorial Day ceremony is co-hosted yearly by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund and the National Park Service to pay tribute to members of America’s armed forces who have made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam and in all conflicts. The ceremony is free and open to the public, though advance registration is requested.

Featured speakers include Chuck Hagel, 24th Secretary of Defense and Vietnam War veteran; General Barry McCaffrey, USA (Ret.) and Vietnam War veteran; Janet Southby, Colonel, USA Nurse (Ret.) and Vietnam War veteran; and Captain France Hoang, USA (Fmr.), Afghanistan War veteran.

Korean War Veterans Memorial – 2:15 PM
The Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation will host a ceremony and wreath presentation at the Korean War Veterans Memorial on Memorial Day, to honor all who served and made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of freedom. The ceremony is free and open to the public, though advance registration is requested. For more information please visit the foundation’s Facebook page.

Arlington National Cemetery – 8:00 PM Freedom250 National Memorial Day Observance: An Evening of Stories of Service
A candlelight storytelling experience will be held at Arlington National Cemetery to honor Americans who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Through perspectives from veterans, family members, and historians, the program brings their stories forward, with musical performances—including selections sung by Gretchen Wilson—woven throughout.
There is a maximum of 5 tickets per sign-up and you can register on the Freedom 250 website. 

Movies at the Memorial
June 6, 11, 18, 25 at dusk
Celebrate America’s 250th birthday with Movies on the Memorial at the United States Navy Memorial. Featuring a lineup of iconic, America-themed films that honor courage, service, teamwork, and the stories that have shaped our nation over the last 250 years, this free outdoor movie series invites you to bring your friends, family, and lawn chairs for unforgettable experience under the stars in the heart of Washington, D.C. Learn more.

Past Events