The Brooklyn Museum Kicks Off the 2026 Season of First Saturdays on February 7

The Brooklyn Museum is pleased to announce the return of First Saturdays for its 2026 season, beginning in February. This free after-hours series—the Museum’s marquee public program—is held on the first Saturday of select months throughout the year. Each edition boasts a rich lineup of offerings, such as live music and performances by Brooklyn-based artists, film screenings, curator-led tours, intergenerational art-making, pop-up talks, and a marketplace showcasing local businesses.

“We are thrilled to welcome visitors to our upcoming season of spectacular performances, curiosity-sparking programming, and most importantly, joy,” says Lauren Zelaya, Director of Public Programs. “First Saturdays is an essential part of the Brooklyn Museum’s identity, and we are excited to amplify and celebrate the creativity of our borough and create new memories with our community.”

Founded in 1998, First Saturdays is both a longstanding tradition and one of Brooklyn’s hottest events. The series has set the standard for free, community-centered museum programming around the world. Each edition is linked with themes from the Museum’s exhibitions and collections, and comprises dynamic events that attract a wide array of guests. Together the programming celebrates national heritage months as well as Brooklyn’s unique cultural landscape.

The 2026 season kicks off on Saturday, February 7, with First Saturday:​ Imitate No One, honoring Black History Month by paying homage to innovative artists who reenvision tradition while building community. Titled after Jayne Cortez’s rallying cry to “imitate no one,” the evening includes a tribute to the late poet, featuring a performance by her band The Firespitters alongside readings by contemporary poets she has influenced.

February’s lineup is also inspired by Seydou Keïta: A Tactile Lens, dedicated to the life and work of the renowned Malian photographer. Art historian and curator Catherine E. McKinley will lead a tour of this landmark exhibition, delving into Keïta’s influential portraits of Bamako community members in the 1940s–1960s and exploring themes of self-fashioning and African independence. Hands-On Art, an art-making experience, will encourage participants to follow in the photographer’s footsteps by experimenting with Polaroids. Later in the evening, the collective Cue the Record hosts a listening session of Fela Kuti’s 1973 album Gentleman, whose sound and spirit echo the era that Keïta captured in his photographs.

As at most First Saturdays, music will be omnipresent at the February edition: DJs Auntie Spice and Monday Blue will pump up the Beaux-Arts Court while the Brooklyn Ecumenical Choir, Nailah Hunter, and Timmy Regisford light up the lobby, inviting guests to hit the dance floor. Magician Nicole Cardoza will dazzle audiences with her narrative-driven show that highlights the underacknowledged history of Black and women magicians. The Brooklyn Pop-Up Market, Teen Talks, and a lounge exclusively for Members round out an unmissable event.

This program is free; registration  is required and includes Museum general admission. Tickets are released on a rolling basis starting January 16 for Members and January 20 for the public. February’s First Saturday is presented by UGG®.

First Saturdays continues March 7 with Freedom Is an Everyday Struggle, celebrating Women’s History Month and the exhibition Everyday Rebellions: Collection Conversations. Next up are Inkwells for National Poetry Month (April 4), First Saturdays celebrating AAPI Heritage Month (May 2), Pride Month (June 6), and Caribbean culture and community (August 1). Revisit the First Saturdays webpage for more details and announcements of future events.