High Museum of Art shuts down Peachtree Street for free Centennial Block Party with Mayor Andre Dickens, Killer Mike, the Atlanta Hawks, and live music
WHAT: A free public block party on Peachtree Street celebrating the High Museum of Art’s 100th anniversary
WHEN: Oct. 18, 2026, from noon to 5 p.m.
Remarks at 2 p.m.
WHERE: High Museum of Art
Stage at the corner of Peachtree St. and 16th St.
Peachtree Street blocked off between 15th St. and 16th St.
HOW: Admission to Block Party is free
General admission to museum is $23.50
DETAILS:
In October 1926, Mrs. Hattie High donated her stately residence on Peachtree Street to the city of Atlanta, and the High Museum of Art was born. For 100 years, the High has been a beacon of the arts, growing to become the leading cultural institution of the American South and a preeminent forum for education and community engagement, both in the region and on a national stage. To mark our Centennial anniversary, the High is taking over Peachtree Street to throw a 100th birthday bash you won’t forget. Join us for a free Block Party featuring live music, DJs, art-making, food vendors and special surprises.
Here’s what’s happening throughout the day:
On Stage:
- Noon: DJ XZACT: Spinning classic R&B, hip-hop, 80s and 90s, deep house, Afrobeats
- 1 p.m.: DJ LV: Spinning dancehall, Shatta riddim, hip-hop, house, reggae, old-school classics
- 2 p.m.: Remarks and Official Welcome from the Atlanta Hawks Drumline
- Rand Suffolk, Director of the High Museum of Art
- Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens
- Adriane Jefferson – Executive Director, City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs
- Killer Mike – High Museum of Art Board Member
- 2:30 p.m. Live music by The Biological Misfits: Soul, funk, hip-hop, acid jazz
- 3:30 p.m. Come Together Dance Party, featuring DJ Kemit and Salah Ananse
Public Conversation: 100 Years of Art in Atlanta
Hill Auditorium, 3 to 4 p.m.
Julia Forbes, the High’s associate director of institutional research, joins Katherine Jentleson, senior curator of American art and the Merrie and Dan Boone curator of folk and self-taught art, for a conversation on the High’s history and its place in Atlanta, moderated by Wendy Corona of WSB-TV. Ticket also includes Block Party access and museum admission. Visitors can purchase tickets here.
Activations:
- See a performance of All Smiles, by Theater for the Very Young by the Alliance Theatre, created in partnership with the Marcus Autism Center: a sensory-friendly show about the many ways we smile, for newborns to age 5 and their grown-ups (about 30 minutes).
- Enter immersive kaleidoscopes featuring artworks from the High’s collection, presented in collaboration with Dash Studio.
- Watch open rehearsals of dance performances by Dance Canvas and Bautantz Here.
- Meet Harry the Hawk and friends from the Atlanta Hawks.
- Celebrate the Centennial with Atlanta United.
- Take your picture with the famous pink car from Atlanta’s Trap Museum.
- Watch a performance of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s string quartet.
- Drop-in art-making: Kids can make their own birthday hats to celebrate the Centennial.
Limited-Edition Atlanta Braves Cap:
- At the Block Party, the High and the Atlanta Braves are releasing a custom, limited-edition baseball cap honoring the Braves' outstanding 2026 season and the High's 100th anniversary. The hat pairs the Braves' classic ball cap design with an embroidered High logo, creating a piece of wearable Atlanta culture. Quantities are limited, making this a collector's item for fans.
Food and Drink:
- Bomb Biscuit, The Giant Quesadilla, just add honey, Poppin’ Stop and Sweet Auburn BBQ food trucks
- Custom drinks with Wild Heaven Beer and Refuge Coffee co.
Community Partners:
LaAmistad, Museum of Design Atlanta, Midtown Alliance, the Alliance Theatre, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Block Party access is free, rain or shine. To register, visit https://high.org/event/centennial-block-party/.
For more information on additional Centennial initiatives and events, and to purchase tickets, visit high.org/100.
