DC’s most literary evening of the year is almost here.
The Folger Gala Returns April 24 with Regency Elegance
The Folger Shakespeare Library is pulling out all the stops for its 2026 Gala on Friday, April 24 — and this year, the evening takes its cues from the glamour and style of the Regency era. Creative performances and imaginative entertainment are on the program for an evening that benefits the Folger’s vital arts and education programming. Sponsorships begin at $2,500, with single tickets available for $1,000.
Adjoa Andoh Is the Star-Powered Special Guest
The night’s marquee draw is Adjoa Andoh MBE — beloved by millions as Lady Danbury in Netflix’s Bridgerton and Queen Charlotte, and a commanding force on the Shakespearean stage for over four decades. Andoh has led productions at the National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and Shakespeare’s Globe. She joins the Folger as its inaugural Director’s Residency artist (April 19–25), making her gala appearance an unmissable DC moment!
See 14 Boydell Shakespeare Paintings Together for the First Time Since 1805
Anchoring the gala’s Regency theme is Imagining Shakespeare: Mythmaking and Storytelling in the Regency Era, on view through August 2, 2026. Fourteen paintings from the legendary Boydell Shakespeare Gallery — reunited for the first time since the collection was auctioned off in 1805 — are now displayed at the Folger. These works by leading 18th-century English artists offer a rare window into how Shakespeare’s myth was built!
The Washington Lobbyist keeps DC readers at the center of the city’s most significant cultural moments. Book your tickets now and make April 24 one for the books.
Folger Shakespeare Library. 201 East Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003. Gala Tickets: $1,000 | Sponsorships from $2,500.
