African American Museum in Dallas to Reopen with New Exhibitions

The museum will debut two new shows highlighting Black history and culture.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 2:05pm

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A vibrant, high-contrast silkscreen print featuring a repeated image of an iconic Sepia magazine cover or a portrait of Nelson Mandela, conceptually representing the museum's renewed focus on preserving and sharing important narratives from the African American experience.The African American Museum, Dallas celebrates its reopening with exhibitions highlighting the legacy of Sepia magazine and the life of Nelson Mandela, icons who shaped Black history and culture.Dallas Today

The African American Museum in Dallas is set to reopen on May 1 after undergoing facility improvements. The museum will debut two new exhibitions - "People Who Make the World Go 'Round: The Legacy of Sepia Magazine" and "Mandela: The Official Exhibition" - that will explore Black history, culture, and icons.

Why it matters

The reopening of the African American Museum in Dallas is significant as it will provide the community with renewed access to important exhibitions that celebrate and preserve Black history and culture. The museum's role as a cultural anchor in the city is especially meaningful as Dallas prepares to host World Cup events, allowing international visitors to engage with the museum's programming.

The details

The museum's renovations include floor repairs, auditorium upgrades, painting, electrical work, HVAC and technology improvements to enhance the visitor experience. The "People Who Make the World Go 'Round" exhibition will highlight the legacy of Sepia magazine, a powerful voice in Black journalism that chronicled political, cultural and everyday life in African American communities. "Mandela: The Official Exhibition" will explore the life and vision of Nelson Mandela, the renowned champion of freedom and justice, coinciding with Dallas hosting World Cup events.

  • The African American Museum, Dallas announced a temporary closure in March 2026.
  • The museum will reopen on May 1, 2026.
  • The "People Who Make the World Go 'Round" exhibition will be on view from May 1 to August 11, 2026.
  • The "Mandela: The Official Exhibition" will open on June 13, 2026 and run through November 1, 2026.

The players

African American Museum, Dallas

A museum in Dallas, Texas that celebrates and preserves Black history and culture.

Lisa Brown Ross

The president and CEO of the African American Museum, Dallas.

Margie J. Reese

The chief programs officer at the African American Museum, Dallas.

Horace J. Blackwell

The founder of Sepia magazine, originally called Negro Achievements, in 1946.

George Levitan

The publisher who purchased Sepia magazine in 1949 and renamed it.

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What they’re saying

“Sepia was more than a magazine – it was a powerful platform that documented Black life with depth, nuance and pride.”

— Lisa Brown Ross, President and CEO, African American Museum, Dallas

“Nelson Mandela devoted his life to justice and to the fight against apartheid, enduring 27 years in prison before becoming South Africa's first democratically elected president. This exhibition tells the full arc of his life and affirms the Museum's role as a vital cultural destination for North Texas and for visitors from around the world.”

— Lisa Brown Ross, President and CEO, African American Museum, Dallas

“That this exhibition coincides with the FIFA World Cup is especially meaningful. Mandela believed deeply in the power of sport – particularly soccer – to bring people together knowing that shared humanity can transcend race, class and ideology.”

— Lisa Brown Ross, President and CEO, African American Museum, Dallas

“Mandela received a Nobel Peace Prize for his role in ending apartheid peacefully. Through our programs, the Museum will encourage young people to explore Mandela's principles of service, integrity, compassion, family and leadership while connecting those ideals to their own lives. Youth will learn that greatness is tangible and complex.”

— Margie J. Reese, Chief Programs Officer, African American Museum, Dallas

What’s next

The African American Museum, Dallas has announced plans to extend the Mandela exhibition's message beyond the galleries with a slate of education initiatives launching in January 2027, giving students and educators an early introduction to Mandela as an 'icon of liberation and peace'.

The takeaway

The reopening of the African American Museum, Dallas with new exhibitions celebrating Black history, culture, and icons like Sepia magazine and Nelson Mandela underscores the museum's vital role as a cultural anchor in the city. As Dallas prepares to host World Cup events, the museum's programming will provide international visitors with a meaningful opportunity to engage with the African American experience and legacy.