615 Battle of the Drummers
2026-03-21 12:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | National Museum of African American Music, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
Marching Matters Presents: 615 Battle of the Drummers
Nashville, get ready to feel the rhythm like never before!
Join us for an electrifying showdown as some of your favorite local Nashville high school drumlines go head-to-head, alongside dynamic college drumlines bringing the heat from beyond the city! From precision cadences to explosive beats, this is all about skill, sound, and showmanship!
Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: The Roots Theater at NMAAM – 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203
Parking: The 5th & Broadway Retail Garage (Metropolis) – parking discount available with license plate inside the museum.

Bring your crew, rep your school, and come experience the power of drumline culture right here in the 615!

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Women In Harmony® Summit
2026-03-28 09:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | National Museum of African American Music, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
Women in Harmony® is an intimate morning summit and signature luncheon designed to inspire women as they step confidently into positions of leadership, creativity, and cultural influence.
Join us for a powerful half-day experience featuring Grammy-winning performances, authentic conversations with industry leaders, and a beautifully curated luncheon celebrating women who are shaping the future of music and entertainment.
For more information on Women in Harmony® weekend, visit the full webpage at nmaam.org/wih.

NMAAM Presents: Sounds In Cinema
2026-04-01 03:30 - 2027-04-07 17:00, 2026-05-06 03:30 - 2027-05-12 17:00, 2026-06-03 03:30 - 2027-06-09 17:00, 2026-07-01 03:30 - 2027-07-07 17:00, 2026-08-05 03:30 - 2027-08-11 17:00 (America/New_York)
SOUNDS IN CINEMA
Where film meets music history. Join us for curated documentary screenings that explore the intersection of African American music and cinema, featuring authentic industry conversations and special guest appearances. Part of our Nissan Free Wednesdays programming, these screenings often include live discussions with the artists, producers, and music professionals who created the stories we preserve.
Free admission | Presented by Nissan
ABOUT NISSAN FREE WEDNESDAYS

Experience NMAAM without the cost on our special Free Admission Days, sponsored by our generous partner, Nissan.
Free Wednesdays: Every first Wednesday of the month, all visitors enjoy complimentary access to the museum galleries. On these days, simply show up and immerse yourself in the history and influence of African American music at no cost!

RFID Interactive Wristbands are $5.00 each on Nissan Free Wednesdays and Community Days.

Heartbeat Saturdays
2026-04-04 11:30 - 14:30, 2026-04-11 11:30 - 14:30, 2026-04-18 11:30 - 14:30, 2026-04-25 11:30 - 14:30, 2026-05-02 11:30 - 14:30, 2026-05-09 11:30 - 14:30, 2026-05-16 11:30 - 14:30, 2026-05-23 11:30 - 14:30 (America/Chicago) and 11 more dates | National Museum of African American Music, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
Join us every Saturday in the NMAAM lobby from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM for Heartbeat Saturday, a curated event that is free and open to the public. Experience vibrant music and community engagement with our resident DJ, Smoke!
DJ Smoke is a dynamic force in the music scene, known for blending contemporary beats with classic tracks to create an unforgettable atmosphere. With a keen ear for rhythm and an unmatched ability to read the crowd, DJ Smoke transforms every performance into a high-energy experience.
Heartbeat Saturdays are NMAAM’s community health initiative, meant to get your heart pumping and your feet grooving. We can’t wait to welcome you to our dance floor!

R&B Bingo
2026-04-11 21:00 - 2026-04-12 12:00 (America/New_York)
The chips will fall wherever the music lands! Prepare for an electrifying night of musical bingo at the National Museum of African American Music. Let the rhythm guide your luck in five epic rounds of bingo, spanning the most iconic decades—’70s, ’80s, ’90s, 2000s, 2010s, and Trap.
Think you really know music? Our bingo game challenges even the sharpest music connoisseurs.
Win exclusive prizes in each round and compete for a grand finale treasure chest featuring goods from local Black-owned businesses to explore and support.
Come for the music, stay for the vibes. Let’s make it a night to remember—where the only thing more exciting than your bingo card is the soundtrack to your victory!
$25 General Admission | $20 Member
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Drummer Boy
2026-04-12 15:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | National Museum of African American Music, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
AfricaNashville, Fort Negley, and the National Museum of African American Music present: Drummer Boy
Drummer Boy honors the bravery of Black soldiers who played a decisive role in the outcome of the US Civil War. It acknowledges the fierce legacy of their African ancestors and the real, hard challenges these men and women faced to win their freedom. AfricaNashville will feature musicians & dancers from Guinea, South Africa, Congo and the United States, this talented group of artists will be joined by a voice over by Landry Butler as well as a Gary Burke, a descendant of USCT troops for a Q & A at the end of the performance.
This event will take place in the Roots Theater at the National Museum of African American Music (510 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203), at 3pm on Sunday, April 12, 2026.
Pre-registration is required, but there is no cost to attend.
Free Registration

Parking discounts available at the 5th & Broadway retail garage. Please register your vehicle and payment information digitally with Metropolis, then enter your license plate number at the parking validation kiosks inside the museum.

Tiny Beatz
2026-04-18 10:30 - 11:30 (America/Chicago) | National Museum of African American Music, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
Join us for Tiny Beatz, a hands-on music and movement program designed for young learners! Children will explore rhythm, sound, and creativity through playful music-making and movement activities.
EXPERIENCE THE PROGRAM:
Rhythm Exploration – Discover the joy of making music through hands-on rhythm activities
Movement & Music – Develop coordination and confidence through playful movement exercises
Creative Sound-Making – Explore different sounds and instruments in an interactive environment
Listening Skills – Build essential listening and musical awareness through engaging activities
Admission is free with registration

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Playing Beyond The Field: Jock Jams
2026-04-23 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | National Museum of African American Music, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
Jock Jams: A Listening Session with Soul’d Creative Collective
Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026
Time: 6 pm
Location: The Roots Theater, National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM), 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203
Event Description:
Join us for a live listening session with Nashville’s Soul’d Creative Collective dedicated to exploring the “jock jam”—a category of songs and musical anthems that have become closely associated with sport. Audiences will be invited to consider: What does sport sound like? How do music and sport collide in real time? What does Nashville sound like through sport? With the help of a DJ, audience members will create a distinctive soundtrack to commemorate the event and put new songs and sports in conversation.
Join us before the event, beginning at 5 pm, for special after-hours at the Museum, featuring FREE admission, guided tours and light bites and drinks for purchase.
About Soul’d Creative Collective: Founded by Creative Director Christian Sinclair and Vanderbilt alum and former NFL player Jonathan Wynn, Soul’d Creative Collective is a Nashville-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that brings people together over the love of BIPOC arts and culture by focusing on education, collaboration, and access.
Jock Jams is part of Playing Beyond the Field, a free, three-part series exploring the historic relationship between music and sport, with a particular focus on Nashville’s robust African American musical and sporting legacies. Curated by the co-directors of The Sound of Victory, Courtney M. Cox and Perry B. Johnson, Playing Beyond the Field is organized in collaboration with the Vanderbilt Sports & Society Initiative and the National Museum of African American Music.

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