OMCA Announces Public Programs and Events for June 2026

Juneteenth, Mildred Howard: Poetics of Memory, and Friday Nights Bring Music, Art, and Community to OMCA This June
OMCA PRESS KIT

May 19, 2026

(Oakland, CA) May 19, 2026 – The Oakland Museum of California announces its schedule of public programs for June 2026, inviting visitors to gather for a vibrant month of live music, dance, art, and community celebration. This month marks the opening of Mildred Howard: Poetics of Memory, the first major museum exhibition dedicated to the beloved Bay Area artist’s five-decade career, alongside special Gallery Chats and Juneteenth programming connected to the exhibition. Friday Nights at OMCA continues with weekly evening events featuring live music, DJ sets, dance lessons, Off the Grid food trucks, and late-night access to galleries, while Juneteenth! at the Museum brings a full-day celebration of Black culture, creativity, and community to OMCA’s campus in partnership with Black Freedom Fund. The month also features Spotlight Sundays with Puri Arts and more. See the full calendar at www.museumca.org.

OMCA PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND EVENTS FOR JUNE 2026

Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid

Every Friday, April–October | 5–9 pm | OMCA Campus
Link to Friday Nights Images

The Town’s favorite block party, Friday Nights at OMCA, is in full swing for the 2026 season, inviting the Bay to kick off the weekend with the crew—whether family, friends, or neighbors. Every Friday at 5 pm, the Museum hosts a free evening filled with live music, interactive activities, Off the Grid food trucks, and, with a Museum ticket, exclusive late-night access to our galleries and special exhibitions.

The Museum welcomes guests to a rotating lineup of Off the Grid food trucks stationed along 10th Street between Oak and Fallon Streets, serving up bold flavors and local favorites. Inside, near the Koi Pond, beer, wine, cocktails, and refreshing non-alcoholic options are available for purchase to sip while exploring. In the Garden, picnic tables, blankets, and a dazzling view of Lake Merritt invite visitors to settle in with their meals. With games, engaging museum programs, and a vibrant community atmosphere, it’s the perfect setting for making memories marked with unmistakable Oakland energy, week after week.

OMCA also offers a $10 flat-rate parking in the OMCA Garage until 10 pm. Please note that outside alcohol is not permitted, and event details and performances are subject to change.For more information and a full schedule of events, visit the OMCA website.

Friday Nights June Program Dates:*

Friday, June 5, 2026
Friday, June 12, 2026
Friday, June 26, 2026

*Due to OMCA’s Juneteenth Celebration, there will be no Friday Nights on Friday, June 19, 2026.

Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid is proudly supported by the Oakland Museum Women‘s Board and Bank of America. Additional support provided by OAKLAND ROOTS AND SOUL SC, Donahue Fitzgerald LLP, and Townsend Public Affairs.

Friday, June 5 l 5–9 pm

Live Music by Oakland Rising, Night on the Town with Alameda County Community Food Bank, DJ Set with FELA KUTCHii , Drag Storytime with Per Sia, and Gallery Chats

This Friday Night at the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA), Oakland Rising takes over the Garden Stage with a dynamic live set rooted in the city’s cultural legacy. Known for lush harmonies, original music, and soulful reinterpretations of classics, the collective brings together some of Oakland’s most exciting emerging voices in a celebration of collaboration and community.

Keeping the rhythm alive, FELA KUTCHii delivers a genre-fluid DJ set blending soulful grooves, global influences, and feel-good energy. Her sound invites guests on a vibrant journey designed to move both body and spirit while creating a shared sense of joy on the dance floor.

Throughout the evening, Alameda County Community Food Bank (ACCFB) hosts Night on The Town, featuring interactive experiences for all ages that center community and food justice. From a hands-on art corner and game zone to resource sharing and special activities, this lively space invites guests to connect and engage with meaningful local initiatives.

Families can also gather for a joyful Drag Storytime with Per Sia, reading The Rainbow Parade by Shane Jordan and Rick Hendrix. Through colorful storytelling and themes of acceptance and self-expression, this uplifting experience celebrates the power of community and inclusion.

Alongside an exceptional event experience, Friday Nights at OMCA also features Gallery Chats from 5:30–7:30 pm. Moving beyond the traditional museum tour, Gallery Chats invite visitors to engage in conversation, ask questions, and connect with OMCA facilitators who blend content expertise with lived experience to spark meaningful dialogue and new perspectives. Gallery Chat facilitators can be found in OMCA’s Great Hall Special Exhibitions and the Core Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences. Gallery Chats are included with Museum admission. Facilitators float between galleries throughout the night and can be seen wearing a blue “Let’s Chat” shirt.

Friday, June 12 | 5–9 pm

Live Music by the Kim Nalley Band, DJ Set by LEXAPEEL, Haitian Folkloric Dance Lesson with Portsha T. Jefferson, Community Tabling with Lake Merritt Institute, and Gallery Chats

Friday Night at the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) comes alive during the opening week of the Museum’s latest Special Exhibition, Mildred Howard: Poetics of Memory, with a lineup inspired by the artist’s deep connection to music, movement, cultural memory, and public engagement. On the Garden Stage, the Kim Nalley Band delivers powerhouse vocals that blend jazz, blues, and soul. Known for captivating audiences from intimate clubs to global concert halls, Nalley brings warmth, wit, and commanding presence to every performance.

Behind the turntables, LEXAPEEL sets the tone with a genre-spanning mix of global sounds, R&B, Hip-Hop, and house. With a seamless style and sharp instinct for reading the crowd, she builds an infectious energy that keeps the dance floor moving all night.

Guests are invited to move with purpose in a Haitian folkloric dance lesson led by Portsha Terae Jefferson. Centered on the celebratory rhythms of the carnival dance known as RARA, this all-levels workshop blends cultural tradition with joyful expression, offering a chance to connect and honor Haiti’s rich living heritage through movement.

Throughout the evening, Lake Merritt Institute hosts interactive community tabling that highlights the beauty and stewardship of Lake Merritt. Through games, puzzles, art-making, and chances to win prizes, guests of all ages can explore ways to care for this beloved local ecosystem while celebrating the vibrant community that surrounds it.

Friday, June 26 | 5–9 pm

Live Music by The Seshen, DJ set by Nikki Diamonds, Dance Lesson by Nora Gomperts and Leo Orringer, and Gallery Chats

Friday Night at the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) brings The Seshen to the Garden Stage with their signature blend of R&B, synth-pop, and electronic sound. Powered by lush synth layers, live percussion, and magnetic vocals, the six-piece crafts a fluid, forward-leaning set that shifts between intimate moments and full-bodied sonic lift.

As the evening unfolds, Nikki Diamonds keeps the floor in motion with a vibrant, genre-hopping mix of house, R&B, funk, disco, and more. Her sets move effortlessly between eras and moods, shaping a dance floor that feels communal, alive, and impossible not to get swept into.

Guests can also step into the rhythm with a beginner-friendly country line dance lesson led by Nora Gomperts and Leo Orringer. Designed for all levels, this easygoing session breaks down accessible moves you can pick up quickly and bring straight to the dance floor.Alongside an exceptional event experience, Friday Nights at OMCA also features Gallery Chats from 5:30–7:30 pm. Moving beyond the traditional museum tour, Gallery Chats invite visitors to engage in conversation, ask questions, and connect with OMCA facilitators who blend content expertise with lived experience to spark meaningful dialogue and new perspectives. Gallery Chat facilitators can be found in OMCA’s Great Hall Special Exhibitions and the Core Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences. Gallery Chats are included with Museum admission. Facilitators float between galleries throughout the night and can be seen wearing a blue “Let’s Chat” shirt.

OMCA’s Latest Special Exhibition | Mildred Howard: Poetics of Memory

Friday, June 12, 2026—Sunday, October 11, 2026 | Great Hall

Mildred Howard: Poetics of Memory is the first major museum exhibition to celebrate the work of beloved Bay Area artist Mildred Howard. Spanning Howard’s five-decade practice, Poetics of Memory brings together her renowned collages, found-object sculptures, and immersive installations that explore memory, identity, and the African American experience. New and never-before-seen pieces punctuate the exhibition, while archival materials from Howard’s Oakland studio illuminate the cultural currents and lived experiences that shape her practice.

Born in San Francisco in 1945, Howard has been a lifelong resident of the East Bay. In the 1970s, she began making art influenced by textiles, African Diasporic dance, and fellow artists like Betye Saar, Raymond Saunders, and David Ireland. Howard’s studio became a space for experimentation, where her work has referenced both personal history and collective, generational experiences—from World War I and rapper Tupac Shakur to her family’s own roots in the Great Migration. Similarly, Howard’s monumental public artworks—found across the Bay Area—have highlighted often overlooked histories, from the Black shipworkers of Hunters Point to the musicians who defined San Francisco jazz.
Mildred Howard: Poetics of Memory invites visitors into Howard’s vibrant, poetic world—to reflect on how personal memory and collective history intertwine, and to connect their own lived experiences to the broader stories that define us.

Major support for Mildred Howard: Poetics of Memory is provided by The Oakland Museum Women’s Board and The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.

Additional support is provided by Rosemary Chang in memory of Ted Buttner, Jill Cowan and Stephen Davis, Ann McKeever Hatch, F. Noel Perry, Polaris Fund, and the Sanger Family Foundation.

Juneteenth! at the Museum

Friday, June 19,2026 | 11 am–4 pm | OMCA Campus

The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) and Black Freedom Fund present Juneteenth! at the Museum—a vibrant, full-day celebration of Black culture, creativity, and community. Guests can expect live performances and DJ sets from boundary-pushing artists, delicious offerings from standout Bay Area Black chefs and food vendors, and hands-on activities that honor the richness and diversity of Black culture. From music and movement to art-making and community connection, the day invites visitors of all ages to celebrate together across OMCA’s campus. The celebration also features OMCA’s latest Special Exhibition, Mildred Howard: Poetics of Memory, alongside special programming that reflects on Black memory, identity, and artistic expression. OMCA welcomes guests to this joyful, can’t-miss tribute to Black heritage, resilience, and community.

Gallery Chats Presents: Leigh Raiford

June 19, 2026 | 1–2 pm | Great Hall—Mildred Howard: Poetics of Memory

As part of its Juneteenth programming, the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) welcomes visitors to a special edition of Gallery Chats inside Mildred Howard: Poetics of Memory led by author and Professor of African American and African Diaspora Studies, Leigh Raiford. In this informal conversation, Raiford will draw from her personal and professional experiences with Howard’s life, art practice, and this unique exhibition. The first major show to celebrate the artist’s work, this project explores memory, identity, and the African American experience. Raiford will interweave her own in-depth knowledge and background in teaching, researching, curating, and writing about Black visuality. This Gallery Chat will invite visitors to reflect on how personal memory and collective history shape the broader stories that define us through the lens of this beloved Bay Area artist.

**Spotlight Sundays: Land as Body—A Community Ritual with Puri Arts**

Sunday, June 21, 2026 | Free | 1–4 pm | Garden

This Spotlight Sundays, the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is excited to welcome back Dohee Lee and Puri Arts with their project Land as Body: Belonging, a powerful community ritual that interweaves ceremony, storytelling, and drumming. This spirited offering provides a ceremonial bridge for healing between ancestors and the people of all lands that have endured ruptures due to deportation, incarceration, and all forms of colonial violence.

In collaboration with Asian Refugees United-Connect-Reflect-Enact (ARU-CRE) and Asian Prisoner Support Committee (APSC) (including members inside and out of San Quentin Prison), Land as Body cultivates a collective of immigrants, refugees, and settlers on the indigenous lands of Turtle Island where they live and belong. The Museum welcomes guests to join in this potent expression of healing and connection.

Program Schedule:
1–1:30 pm | Welcome Ceremony
1:30–3 pm | Traditional Jeju Island Ritual – Storytelling and Offerings
3–4 pm | Community Circle – Drumming and Dance

This program is free and open to the public (no tickets required)

Gallery Chats at OMCA

First Sunday of each month atSaturdays, 1–3 pm | All Galleries
Thursdays, 5:30–7:30 pm | All Galleries

Gallery Chats at OMCA takes an informal approach to the traditional museum tour. Visitors are invited to chat, ask questions, and connect in the galleries with our OMCA facilitators, who combine content knowledge with lived experience to encourage meaningful dialogue and fresh interpretations of our Special Exhibitions. Facilitators float between galleries throughout the shift and can be seen wearing a blue “Let’s Chat” shirt.

Weekly Gallery Chats take place every Saturday from 1–3 pm and during Friday Nights (April-Oct) & ThursDates (Jan-March) from 5:30–7:30 pm in our Galleries of California Art, History, Natural Science, and the Great Hall. Gallery Chats are included with Museum admission. No reservation necessary.

First Sundays at OMCA

First Sunday of each month

Every first Sunday of the month, enjoy free admission to the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA)—now including all Special Exhibitions! Explore the Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences, shop for locally made goods, or relax in our garden—all for free.

Visitors are encouraged to reserve tickets online in advance to secure preferred entry times and reduce wait times. Tickets are also available at the admissions desk on a first-come, first-served basis.

OMCA Architecture Walk and Talk

First Sunday of each month at 1 pm

Walk through OMCA’s landmark building and gardens with members of the Council on Architecture, and learn about the history, design, and evolution of this award-winning structure with guides who are passionate about OMCA and Oakland.

No reservations or tickets are required. Walk and Talk begins near the Mid Level ticketing desk and lasts approximately one hour.

If you’d like to visit OMCA’s Galleries or Special Exhibitions, please purchase a ticket online in advance or at the ticketing desk on the day of your visit.

ALSO ON VIEW AT OMCA

Konkow Maidu Baskets
Ongoing | Gallery of California History

Learn about historic Konkow Maidu master weavers and their descendants carrying forward the living tradition of basketry from generation to generation. Originally in the Oakland Museum of California’s collection, the baskets from this display are part of a group of items repatriated to the Berry Creek Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California in 2024.

The baskets on view represent an intergenerational exchange of knowledge that is essential to Konkow Maidu daily life, food systems, ceremony, and survival. Visitors will encounter Native voices directly through text from members of the Berry Creek Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California.

Fairyland @ 75: A Legacy of Magic
Ongoing | Gallery of California Natural Sciences Corridor

This collaborative installation invites visitors to learn more about Fairyland’s history, evolution, and enduring magic. Explore a timeline of Fairyland’s journey, a “then-and-now” look at its beloved park attractions, and a glimpse into the park’s bright future. Visitors will discover miniatures created by local artists, photos of Magic Keys through the decades, and even one of Fairyland’s original Jolly Trolly cars for kids and families to climb aboard. This feature celebrates Fairyland’s lasting legacy and role in shaping Oakland’s cultural landscape.

OMCA Kids: Nature Playspace
Ongoing | Gallery of California Natural Sciences

Little learners can unleash their curiosity and imagination in OMCA Kids: Nature Playspace. Located inside the Gallery of California Natural Sciences, the playspace is focused on the unique needs of children ages 2 to 5, along with their families and caregivers. Play is critical to every child’s healthy development and the playroom offers something for everyone—from building materials and nature-themed puzzles to hands-on activities that spark creativity, wonder, and joy. Our youngest museum visitors can also discover the animals that make their homes in Oakland’s streams, hills, and backyards. The playspace gives families a fun, safe place to play and build community with other families.

You Are Here: California Stories on the Map
Ongoing | Gallery of California Natural Sciences

We all use maps in our everyday lives—to navigate public transportation, find places to eat, and visualize big data like weather patterns or political opinions. But have you ever considered the deeper stories maps tell us? In You Are Here: California Stories on the Map, you’ll discover there’s more to maps than meets the eye. Showcasing a diverse range of maps from Oakland, the Bay Area, and California—from environmental surroundings and health conditions to community perspectives and creative artworks—experience how maps can be a powerful tool to share unique points of view and imagine a better future. Explore new perspectives of familiar places through maps made by the community, and mark your own stories on the community map inside the exhibition.

Black Power
Ongoing | Gallery of California History

Uncover the history of the Black Power movements in California with a compelling addition to the Gallery of California History. In response to the widely popular 2016 exhibition All Power to the People: Black Panthers at 50, Black Power illustrates the creative ways Black anti-racist activists in California supported their communities and challenged the U.S. government. Focusing on the example of the Black Panther Party, Black Power brings to light the tensions between a culturally and socially progressive California and examples of economic racism and oppression in the state. This moment in California history is represented through historic photographs, provocative objects, iconic posters, paintings, and interactive prompts that encourage visitors to take action out in the world. Learn more about the Bay Area’s role in this national story and the impacts this history continues to have today.

Question Bridge: Black Males
Ongoing | Gallery of California Art

Immerse yourself in intimate videos—woven together and arranged to simulate face-to-face conversations between participants—among a diverse group of over 160 Black men across the United States. Hear these men answer each other’s questions with exceptional honesty and vulnerability, and share stories, beliefs, and values in a personal portrayal of their lives. Encompassing themes of family, love, interracial relationships, community, education, and wisdom, Question Bridge: Black Males presents nuanced portraits of the past, present, and future of Black men in American society. Listen, watch, learn, and start your own conversations with this profoundly moving installation. Question Bridge is an innovative and widely exhibited video installation from artists Chris Johnson and Hank Willis Thomas in collaboration with Bayeté Ross Smith and Kamal Sinclair.

Dorothea Lange: Photography As Activism
Ongoing | Gallery of California Art

Experience the iconic life and work of Dorothea Lange, world-renowned documentary photographer, with an expanded installation in the Gallery of California Art dedicated to her works. Through the lens of her camera, Lange documented American life with riveting photographs that captured some of the most powerful moments of the 20th century. Drawn from Lange’s personal archive, which was gifted to OMCA over 50 years ago, and in response to the popular 2017 exhibition Dorothea Lange: The Politics of Seeing, a number of newly added photographs illustrate the power of photography as social activism. See how Lange’s work continues to resonate with millions and inspire new generations of artists and activists.

Dorothea Lange Digital Archive
Explore prints, field notes, negatives, contact sheets, and more with OMCA’s Dorothea Lange Digital Archive.

ABOUT THE OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA
Founded in 1969 as a “museum of the people,” Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) tells the diverse stories of California’s art, history, and natural environment. Through inclusive exhibitions, public programs, and educational initiatives, OMCA creates space for meaningful dialogue and strives to build more equitable, empathetic, and connected communities. With more than 2 million objects, OMCA’s collection of art, history, and natural science is a resource for understanding California’s dynamic heritage—all within its 110,000 square feet of gallery space and seven-acre campus. A leading Bay Area cultural institution rooted in Oakland, OMCA is dedicated to fostering an environment where visitors from the region, state, and beyond feel valued and empowered to shape the future of California’s cultural landscape.

VISITOR INFORMATION
The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is located at 1000 Oak Street, at 10th Street, in Oakland. All-inclusive Museum admission is $25 general admission; $22 for seniors; $18 for youth ages 12 to 17, as well as for students and educators with valid ID; and free for Members and children 12 and under. OMCA offers onsite underground parking and is conveniently located one block from the Lake Merritt BART station, on the corner of 10th Street and Oak Street. An accessibility ramp is located at the 1000 Oak Street main entrance to the Museum.