NoMa mural festival returns Sept. 11-18 with 16 new works

NoMa in Color returns to Washington, D.C., from Sept. 11-18 with 17 artists creating 16 new murals across the neighborhood. The free Color Jam finale on Sept. 18 will showcase the new work and underline NoMa’s role as a major outdoor public art destination.

Why it matters: - NoMa in Color will add 16 new large-scale murals to the neighborhood in one week. - The festival pushes NoMa’s current mural count to 73, reinforcing its standing as one of the region’s largest outdoor public art collections. - Since the festival began more than a decade ago, more than 200 murals have been created in NoMa, including replacements for murals lost to redevelopment and refreshed works by new artists.

What happened: - The NoMa Business Improvement District announced the return of NoMa in Color for Sept. 11-18, 2026. - Seventeen artists were selected from more than 150 applicants. - The artists will create 16 murals across the neighborhood. - One mural will be a collaboration between two artists. - One group mural will be painted by graduate students at the University of the District of Columbia.

The details: - Thirteen of the new works will go along the WMATA-owned wall bordering the Metropolitan Branch Trail. - Those murals will replace pieces installed during the 2024 NoMa in Color festival. - Additional murals will appear at other locations throughout NoMa. - The selected artists are Astro the Artist, Tim Cunningham, Real Dee, Rosy Sunshine, Donavon Brutus, Tia Wilson, Gray, Patrick Owens, Heather Jones and Jaswant Pakki, Davide Prete with Graduate Students at UDC, HKS181, Jahru, Jessica Elder, Maspaz, Julienne Kaleta and Brocha. - The festival aims to celebrate creativity, reflect the character of NoMa and turn public spaces into an outdoor gallery for residents and visitors.

Between the lines: - The artist selection came through a competitive spring call to artists. - The festival continues a strategy of keeping the neighborhood’s mural landscape fresh as redevelopment changes the streetscape. - Corey Bernat and Marc Pekala, both alumni of earlier NoMa in Color festivals, lead muralist coordination and help shape the program’s artistic direction.

What’s next: - The public can watch the murals take shape during the festival week. - Color Jam will mark the completion of the works on Friday, Sept. 18, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Alethia Tanner Park, 227 Harry Thomas Way NE. - The free event will include artist meet-and-greets, live entertainment, a curated artisan market with more than 20 local makers, interactive art activities, food trucks and a pop-up beer garden hosted by Lost Generation Brewing Co. - Visitors will also be able to explore NoMa’s newest public art installations. - More information and schedule updates are available here. - The festival is supported through a partnership with the WMATA Art in Transit Program and backing from Events DC and Lime. - Social updates are available on Instagram, TikTok, X, LinkedIn and Facebook via the NoMa BID accounts listed in the announcement.

The bottom line: - NoMa is using its annual mural festival to keep adding large-scale public art while turning the neighborhood into a destination for artists and visitors.