Corcoran’s NEXT Festival Showcases the Next Generation of Artists, Designers and Scholars

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The Corcoran School of the Arts and Design at the George Washington University is proud to present NEXT Festival 2026, an annual celebration showcasing the work of our graduating students. The festival, which runs from April 16 to May 14, 2026, will feature performances, exhibitions, and symposia throughout the campus.

This year's festival highlights work that moves across and between disciplines, reflecting the Corcoran's collaborative and experimental spirit. Many projects exist at the intersection of art, design, performance, research and civic engagement, demonstrating the expansive ways students are approaching contemporary creative practice.

Throughout the festival, visitors can experience a wide range of work, from performances in dance, theater and music to exhibitions featuring thesis projects in design, fine arts and interior architecture, as well as symposia and talks that offer insight into contemporary artistic practices and research.

Across these formats, students engage themes that feel especially urgent in this moment, including identity, human connection, belonging, social and political systems, sustainability, ethical futures and civic engagement. Together, the projects on view reflect years of inquiry, experimentation and growth while marking the beginning of each student's next chapter as an artist, designer, performer or scholar.

NEXT Festival will be open at the Corcoran's Flagg Building, located at 500 17th Street NW, from April 16 through May 14, 2026, with gallery hours Wednesday through Saturday, 1-5 p.m. The festival's full schedule, including performance dates and symposia details, can be found in our festival guide.

Tickets for the NEXT Festival Extravaganza, the festival's kickoff celebration, are limited, and attendees must register in advance by Tuesday, April 21, 2025. Guests may register for up to six attendees.

For more information about the 2026 NEXT Festival and to register for events, visit https://corcoran.gwu.edu/next-festival.