Natural History Museum’s Most Popular After-Hours Series Celebrates Two Decades of Museum Nightlife

February 6 through May 1, 2026

This year’s First Fridays season reflects on the two decades of NHM’s status as the premier destination for Museum nightlife, celebrating the historic milestone by both expanding and bringing back one of the most beloved (and requested) features — live musical performances in the iconic mammal diorama hall.

These intimate performances in the most unique venue in Los Angeles have previously included now-massive artists such as Phoebe Bridgers, Japanese Breakfast, and Father John Misty. This year’s lineup of tastemaking artists from around the globe will be complemented by a DJ lounge in the Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Oschin Hall of African Mammals alongside First Fridays’ signature discussion series in the NHM Commons Theater.

This year’s discussion series is presented in collaboration with the Planetary Program at the Berggruen Institute and moderated by trusted science communicator and neuroscientist Dr. Yewande Pearse. Each program features engaging conversations with scientists and topic experts from NHM and across the country.

The season begins on February 6 with a discussion on “Life at the Human Scale,” with each progressive month viewing the topic of “life” through an increasingly wider lens. The kickoff panel will explore how human health, identity, and biology are shaped by the unseen life people rely on every day, and how those relationships challenge the understanding of what it means to be human.

As always, the four springtime events will include the opportunity to grab a cocktail and a bite to eat from NHM’s two bars and rotating selection of local food trucks while gaining access to special pop-up experiences with museum experts, local vendors and more throughout the museum. Each event will feature a series of engaging onsite lectures, music, art, vendors, and performances aimed at bringing together diverse audience communities to explore questions about the musical and natural world.

First Fridays events run from 6 pm until 10 pm. Tickets for each event go on sale roughly a month beforehand and cost $30 each. Museum Members receive discounted admission ($20) and exclusive early entry to First Fridays at 5:30 pm, with a priority entry line. A new “Silver Package” is also available for $75, which features parking, reserved seating for the discussion and guaranteed entry into the live music hall.

More information is available at nhm.org/firstfridays.

First Fridays 2026 is sponsored by the Berggruen Institute.