NMAAM

NMAAM Presents: Sounds In Cinema
2026-07-01 03:30 - 2027-07-07 17:00, 2026-06-03 03:30 - 2027-06-09 17:00, 2026-05-06 03:30 - 2027-05-12 17:00, 2026-04-01 03:30 - 2027-04-07 17:00 (America/New_York) | TN
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
2026-06-27 11:30 - 14:30, 2026-06-20 11:30 - 14:30, 2026-06-13 11:30 - 14:30, 2026-06-06 11:30 - 14:30, 2026-05-30 11:30 - 14:30, 2026-05-23 11:30 - 14:30, 2026-05-16 11:30 - 14:30, 2026-05-09 11:30 - 14:30 (America/Chicago) and 5 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!

Nissan Free Wednesdays
2026-06-03 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-05-06 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-01 10:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | NMAAM, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
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, enjoy complimentary access to the museum galleries.
On these days, simply show up, check in at the front desk, 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.

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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Booty's Back! But He Never Left!
2026-04-21 18:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | TN
Bootsy’s Back — But He Never Left
An Intimate Celebration with Bootsy Collins

Join us for an intimate celebration honoring the legendary Bootsy Collins and his 50th anniversary of Stretchin’ Out in Bootsy’s Rubber Band. As an architect of funk, Bootsy helped reshape a sound rooted in his unmistakeable style, fearless showmanship, and commitment to creative freedom. —A sound that extends far beyond the stage — influencing Black music and culture across generations.
This one-night experience invites audiences into a rare conversation with Bootsy, reflecting on his groundbreaking career, enduring influence, and ever-evolving artistry. Featuring a one-night-only installation of his iconic performance ensemble, a tribute performance honoring his funkadelic legacy, and curated sounds spotlighting his new music, the evening is designed to celebrate both the legacy and living impact of a true funk pioneer—up close, personal, and unmistakably Bootsy.
Help us celebrate the living legacy of an artist who never left, but continues to lead.

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NMAAM Presents: ARTchives
2026-04-18 17:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | TN
The archive is alive. And this time, you’re in it!
On Saturday, April 18th, ARTchives transforms NMAAM into a living canvas—where art, culture, and community converge. From a curated art exhibit, live music, and the creative energy shaped by Nashville’s Black art scene — we want YOU to add your own story as NMAAM’s living ARTchitects.
Presale tickets are available now!
Get your ticket and become part of the ARTchive!

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Drummer Boy
2026-04-12 15:00 - 16:00 (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.

R&B Bingo
2026-04-11 21:00 - 2026-04-12 12:00 (America/New_York) | TN
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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Women In Harmony® Summit
2026-03-28 08:30 - 13:00 (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.

Destiny's Child Iconic Reimagined Tribute [LATE SHOW]
2026-03-27 20:15 - 23:00 (America/New_York) | National Museum of African American Music, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
Experience the songs of a generation like never before. Reimagined through the elegance of a live string quintet and the glow of thousands of candles. The Destiny’s Child: Iconic Reimagined Tribute transforms the trio’s legendary catalog into a breathtaking live experience, where beloved hits are performed by a stunning string ensemble in an intimate, candlelit setting.
Hosted at the National Museum of African American Music, this unforgettable evening celebrates the harmony, empowerment, and cultural impact of the best-selling female group of all time.
The night will feature a special guest appearance from Mathew Knowles, who will narrate the experience and share exclusive stories about the rise of the iconic trio. VIP and Front Row ticketholders will enjoy an exclusive reception with Mr. Knowles.
Bar and Concessions Available: Signature Cocktails, Elevated Snacks and Light Bites.
Dress to impress, sing along, and celebrate the songs that shaped a generation.
Location: National Museum of African American Music
Show times: 7:00 PM CST & 9.00 PM CST
Early Show:
Doors Open: 5:30 PM
VIP Reception: 6:00 PM
Concert Begins: 7:00PM
Late Show:
Doors Open: 8:15 PM
Concert Begins: 9:00 PM
VIP Reception: 10:00 PM

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Destiny's Child Iconic Reimagined Tribute [EARLY SHOW]
2026-03-27 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | National Museum of African American Music, 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States

NMAAM Presents: WOVEN WIND
2026-03-26 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | TN
Woven Wind
March 26 – June 12, 2026
NMAAM Galleries
Opening Reception: March 26, 5:00-7:00 PM
Woven Wind is a groundbreaking multidisciplinary project that explores the complex harmonies between music, memory, and the African American experience. Drawing from the Lovell Quitman archive, a collection of plantation records and Civil War-era photographs, this exhibition constructs an artistic platform for education, conversation, empathy, and healing.
Artist Vesna Pavlović, in collaboration with Courtney Adair Johnson, Marlos E’van, Mélisande Short-Colomb, Rod McGaha, Jan Hillegas, and Woody Register, weaves together photography, video, sculpture, and sound to uncover buried histories and amplify unheard voices. Archival research, community engagement, and conversations with descendants of the enslaved inform every aspect of the installation.
Central to Woven Wind is a mesmerizing soundscape composed by jazz luminary Rod McGaha, which fills the galleries and invites listeners to connect with the resilience and artistry of the African American musical tradition. Large-scale photographic tapestries and immersive video works create a powerful visual landscape that bridges past and present.
“We are thrilled to showcase Vesna’s boundary-pushing work,” says Dr. Bryan Pierce, NMAAM’s Director of Curation. “Her multisensory approach invites viewers to experience music in a whole new dimension.”
“Through Woven Wind, we aim to activate the archive and attend to the voices of the enslaved and their descendants,” adds Pavlović. “It’s an invitation to remember together and work towards healing in the present.”
Don’t miss the premiere of the Woven Wind film during the opening reception on March 26, 5:00-7:00 PM. Meet the artists and special guests Sarah Hawkins and Terry Minor Jr., descendants featured in the project, as we gather to engage with this transformative work. The exhibition will remain on view through June 12.
Woven Wind is made possible by the Vanderbilt University Provost Office Bridge Fund, The National Endowment for the Arts Grant for Arts Projects, The Tennessee Arts Commission Arts Access Grant, Vanderbilt University Scaling Success Grant, Mellon Partners for Humanities Education Collaboration Grant, Curb Center for Art, Enterprise and Public Policy Catalyst Grant, Engine for Art, Democracy, and Justice, and the Roberson Project on Slavery, Race, and Reconciliation University of the South, Sewanee. Special thanks to the Toles family for welcoming us and allowing us to listen.

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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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