What's on
There’s something for everyone. From theater and music, to poetry and exhibitions, experience the power of the arts with us.
Shakespeare this spring: As You Like It
See the play at Folger Theatre and take a course with The Humanities Lab.
As You Like It
As You Like It
Rosalind and her cousin Celia are forced to leave the court where they find respite and adventure in nature, inevitably succumbing to the madness of love and delightfully unpredictable circumstances.
Tue, Mar 10 – Sun, Apr 12, 2026
The Humanities Lab: As You Like It
The Humanities Lab: As You Like It
Learn more about As You Like It by talking with scholars, exploring the Folger collection, and seeing a play as part of this two-day course.
Wed, Mar 11 & Wed, Mar 18, 2026
Upcoming music and poetry
Love Songs of the 15th Century
Love Songs of the 15th Century
Performing the sole surviving musical setting of a ballad written by poet Christine de Pisan, author of the early feminist utopia The City of Ladies, Folger Consort’s February concert will be an affair to remember.
Fri, Feb 13 – Sun, Feb 15, 2026
The 2026 Anthony Hecht Poetry Prize Reading
The 2026 Anthony Hecht Poetry Prize Reading
The Anthony Hecht Poetry Prize is awarded annually for a poetry collection by a writer who has published no more than one book of poetry. This February, we celebrate the 20th winner, Anna Lena Phillips Bell, for her manuscript Might Could, as selected by judge Shane McCrae, who will also read.
Tue, Feb 24, 2026 at 7:30pm
An English Garden
An English Garden
Folger Consort presents a program of Elizabethan songs and instrumental music interspersed with short readings of poems, garden descriptions, and advice from contemporary authors.
Fri, May 8 – Sun, May 10, 2026
The 2026 O.B. Hardison Poetry Series Finale Reading
The 2026 O.B. Hardison Poetry Series Finale Reading
The Poetry season concludes with a finale reading by a poet chosen by a group of Folger Poetry supporters. The evening’s honored guest will read from the work of other poets cited as their literary influences as well as from their own work.
Tue, May 19, 2026 at 7:30pm
Our 2025-2026 season
Explore upcoming events in our season and ticket packages for Folger Theatre, Folger Consort, and the O.B. Hardison Poetry Series. Subscriptions are now on sale for Folger Theatre’s 2026-2027 season; dates and play titles will be announced in March.
Folger Theatre subscriptions
Folger Theatre
Folger Consort subscriptions
Folger Consort
O.B. Hardison Poetry Series subscriptions
O.B. Hardison Poetry Series
Featured talks with Folger fellows
Folger Salon with Jareema Hylton, Sarah Koval, and Victoria McAlister
Folger Salon with Jareema Hylton, Sarah Koval, and Victoria McAlister
Learn about research happening at the Folger in real time! Each month, Folger Institute scholar and artist fellows will share their most exciting finds and thought-provoking challenges, followed by casual open conversation.
Thu, Feb 12, 2026 at 4:30pm
Current and upcoming exhibitions
Imagining Shakespeare: Mythmaking and Storytelling in the Regency Era
Imagining Shakespeare: Mythmaking and Storytelling in the Regency Era
Displayed together for the first time since 1805, 14 paintings from the influential Boydell Shakespeare Gallery in London will be on view at the Folger, offering visitors the chance to consider both the stories Shakespeare created and the stories that were created about him.
Sat, Oct 4, 2025 – Sun, Aug 2, 2026
On View: Dominick Porras
On View: Dominick Porras
In this small solo exhibition, artist Dominick Porras pairs research with his own linguistic and cultural knowledge of the Coahuiltecan peoples to complicate ideas of contact, survival, and transformation.
Fri, Jan 9, 2026 – Sun, Feb 15, 2026
Shakespeare Exhibition
Our Shakespeare Exhibition
See the Folger First Folios, learn more about Shakespeare and his plays, and explore the complexities of his cultural legacy.
Ongoing
Out of the Vault: Into the Heart of the Folger
Out of the Vault
Encounter remarkable books and manuscripts that connect with the multifaceted work of the Folger in this ongoing exhibition.
Ongoing
Exhibition halls
Exhibitions
Explore our world-class collection and enjoy interactive experiences created for visitors of all ages and stages.
- Our Shakespeare Exhibition Hall is devoted to the works of William Shakespeare then and there, here and now — including for the first time a display of all 82 copies of the Folger’s First Folios; and
- In our Stuart and Mimi Rose Rare Book and Manuscript Exhibition Hall, you’ll discover exhibits of significant collection items that inspire the Folger’s work, deep dives into our vault, and special exhibitions.
Activities for families
Family Workshop: My Shakespearean Monologue
Family Workshop: My Shakespearean Monologue
Attendees will use words and phrases from Shakespeare’s plays to create a personal monologue about who they are, with a chance to proudly perform it for everyone to hear.
Sat, Feb 21, 2026 at 11:30am & 1pm
Family Workshop: From Print to Paint
Family Workshop: From Print to Paint
Use your artistic skills to create a performance-inspired artwork that will be displayed in our Rose Exhibition Hall, alongside paintings depicting famous Shakespearean scenes.
Sat, Mar 21, 2026 at 11:30am & 1pm
Professional development for teachers
Getting Inside Lady Macbeth’s Head
Getting Inside Lady Macbeth’s Head
This professional development session for teachers focuses on on engaging with Lady Macbeth as a character to build confidence and agency in the classroom.
Wed, Feb 11, 2026, 8pm ET
All the Folger’s a Classroom: Teacher Weekend Intensive on Shakespeare’s Comedies
All the Folger’s a Classroom: Teacher Weekend Intensive on Shakespeare’s Comedies
Folger Education is offering a two-day professional development workshop for teachers focused on Shakespeare's comedies.
Fri, Mar 13 – Sat, Mar 14, 2026
Teacher Weekend Intensive: Exploring the New Folger Guides to Teaching Shakespeare
Teacher Weekend Intensive: Exploring the New Folger Guides to Teaching Shakespeare
Folger Education is offering a two-day professional development workshop for teachers focused on new resources for teaching Shakespeare.
Fri, May 1 – Sat, May 2, 2026
What’s next for Book Club
Our virtual, monthly Book Club is free and open to all.
Folger Book Club: 'Well Met' by Jen DeLuca
Folger Book Club: 'Well Met' by Jen DeLuca
Love is in the air with our February pick set in the world of Renaissance Faires, with author Jen DeLuca joining for the session.
Thu, Feb 5, 2026, 6:30pm
Folger Book Club: 'Queen Hereafter' by Isabelle Schuler
Folger Book Club: 'Queen Hereafter' by Isabelle Schuler
Love is in the air with our February pick set in the world of Renaissance Faires, with author Jen DeLuca joining for the session.
Thu, Mar 5, 2026, 6:30pm
Ticket information
Contact the Folger Box Office at (202) 544-7077 or folgerboxoffice@folger.edu.
