50 Years of Go-Go Countdown/2026 Go-Go Awards

The Go-Go Museum & Café will celebrate 50 years of go-go music at the 2026 Go-Go Awards, on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at the Historic Lincoln Theatre in D.C.’s Shaw neighborhood, historically known as the city’s Black Broadway. This year’s theme, “Returning to Our Roots and Embracing the Diaspora,” promises an unforgettable evening honoring the culture and legacy of Washington, D.C.’s official music.

Doors open at 5:30 PM. The awards show starts at 6:30 PM. 

Co-hosted by DC natives and comedians Joe Clair and Jay Cole, the night will feature star studded performances from:  

• Chuck Brown Band
• Kurtis Blow
• Doug E. Fresh
• Go-Go Allstars — performing iconic go-go hits spanning the last five decades
• A Team (house band, recently featured on Front Porch with Patti LaBelle)
• DJ Kool (hip-hop and go-go music pioneer) + DJ Wiz (of Kid N’ Play) — a high-energy joint set spotlighting the historic bond between go-go and hip-hop

Special honorees include:  

• Hurby “Luv Bug” Azor, legendary hip-hop producer
• Cathy Hughes, media icon and founder of Radio One
• Mayor Muriel Bowser and Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, for their leadership in preserving go-go music
• Dr. Natalie Hopkinson, author, scholar, and chief curator of the Go-Go Museum & Café
• Legends and rising stars of the go-go community

Time: Tuesday, January 6th, 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM

Location: The Historic Lincoln Theatre

Event: Black tie

Purchase your tickets here.