Orlando schedules February Black History Month events, including City Hall exhibition, art reception and community celebration

City-backed programming highlights centennial theme and multiple public events across downtown venues

Orlando is set to mark Black History Month with a series of public events in February 2026, including an extended exhibition at City Hall, a downtown art opening reception, an arts experience event, and a citywide community celebration.

This year’s programming aligns with a national centennial focus: 2026 marks 100 years since Negro History Week was first observed in 1926, an initiative launched by historian Carter G. Woodson through what is now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). The 2026 theme used in local programming is “A Century of Black History Commemorations.”

Key events and dates

• Black History Month proclamation presentation: Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, 2 p.m., Orlando City Hall (Council Chambers), 400 S. Orange Ave.

• Black History Month Exhibition: Tuesday, Feb. 3 through Tuesday, March 31, 2026, Orlando City Hall Terrace Gallery, 400 S. Orange Ave. Public gallery hours are listed as weekdays 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and weekends 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The exhibition is free.

• Opening reception for the City’s Black History Month Art Exhibition: Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Orlando City Hall (Rotunda and Terrace Gallery). The event is presented as a public invitation from the mayor, two city commissioners, and the City Council. The city describes the 2026 exhibition as featuring 52 works by 28 local visual artists.

• S.W.A.G. “The Art Experience”: Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., Art², 247 N. Orange Ave. The event is listed as presented by T. Gaines Entertainment in partnership with the city, a city commissioner, and community partners.

• Orlando’s Black History Month Community Celebration: Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., The Plaza Live, 425 N. Bumby Ave. The city lists the event as free and describes it as an annual celebration recognizing Black Americans’ contributions in the Central Florida community. The program listing also notes a reception with live entertainment, food, and performances by City Beautiful Voices, the city’s employee choir.

How the centennial theme shapes the local calendar

The city’s 2026 exhibition description frames the centennial as a moment to examine how Black history commemorations have influenced education, cultural institutions, and community life over the past century. The exhibition and its opening reception are positioned as the central, month-spanning component of the city’s schedule, with additional events clustered across the first half of February.

For Orlando’s 2026 observances, the listed theme is “A Century of Black History Commemorations,” reflecting 100 years since the first national-scale observance began in 1926.

What residents should know before attending

Several listed events are hosted at government and performance venues with differing schedules and access considerations. Attendees should confirm any entry procedures, parking options, and venue policies before arriving—particularly for evening programs at City Hall and The Plaza Live. The city’s calendar indicates the community celebration is free, and the City Hall exhibition is also listed as free to the public during posted gallery hours.