2026 Calendar of Opportunities: 119th Congress, 2nd Session

Send a happy new year note to your elected officials and (re)introduce yourself and organization. Newer officials are likely still becoming familiar with constituent organizations, so this is a great opportunity to preview what your orchestra is planning for the year and mention any special community events your elected officials might find of interest.

Planning a special President’s Day concert or event? Do any past U.S. presidents hail from your state? If your orchestra is celebrating in some way, invite your elected officials to participate, and consider giving them a brief speaking role. (Remember remarks can also be recorded ahead of time!)

March is Music in Our Schools Month! Consider coordinating activities and social media to be part of a groundswell of support for music instruction in schools. Prepare stories that demonstrate how vital the arts are in engaging students and the role your orchestra plays to support music within schools.

Invite officials to visit with you and to check out any education or community programming behind the scenes. These are prime photo opportunities for both you and your officials. You can also go to your officials’ district offices to let them know what you’re up to and ask what they could use from you to help inform their work.

Memorial Day events are an ideal time to show officials how orchestras are part of local celebrations and observances. Again, remember to plan well ahead and consider inviting officials to speak at special events you may be holding, and remember to post photo or video if they attend!

The League of American Orchestras’ National Conference takes place in Baltimore, MD from June 1-3, 2026. Join us and let people know you’re attending, what you’re learning, and how your orchestra is part of a vibrant field dedicated to enriching communities through the power of music!

The 4^th of July will be extra special in 2026 as our nation commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Your elected officials will be looking for opportunities to be part of civic events – make sure they know far in advance, so they can join yours. Again, these types of community-wide celebrations make for ideal moments to provide a brief speaking opportunity to policymakers to welcome the audience and kick off your local celebration of our nation’s independence. Also, remember to plan ahead if you hope to meet during your officials’ August recess next month.

The August recess is typically the longest stretch of time when members of Congress go home. Request time early so you can be part of your officials’ plans. If you don’t have any current programming to show them, collect your best stories from the year to date, or recap how you celebrated America250 and are launching from there into exciting plans for the coming season. It’s always a good idea to ask how your policymaker’s year is going too, so you can calibrate and see how where your interests and activities may line up!

National Arts in Education Week takes place 9/13-9/19 this year. Queue up testimonials, photos, and video demonstrating your orchestra’s support of in-school music education – share with your patrons, friends, and most definitely your elected officials. If you do anything with local schools during that week, this would be a great time to invite your U.S. Representative to see your orchestra in action and document the visit in your newsletter or social media.

October is National Arts and Humanities Month. If you partner with any humanities/literacy organizations, this is an opportune time to feature your joint efforts and support those partners. Some of the best advocates are third-party – do your fellow nonprofits a favor and use your platforms to celebrate and thank your partners for the work they do! Also, take note – in preparation for midterm elections on November 3, Congress will be out of session for most of October.

Are you helping to honor local veterans for Veteran’s Day on the 11^th? Do you have anyone in your orchestra family – on stage, behind stage, or in the administration – who has served in the military? This is an excellent time to thank them for their service, past or present. If you are involved in any arts and military efforts, let your community know, and invite your elected officials to learn about them firsthand.

Don’t forget to include your elected officials in any holiday cards you send. Thank them for their year of public service—especially any who have supported the arts—and let them know how federal support allows you to serve your community. If you’re planning a festive event or participating in a community-wide celebration marking the end of the year, make sure your officials are invited, and if appropriate, find a speaking role for them.