The Second Annual Marketplace of the Future DC!
Marketplace of the Future DC: Second Annual
After nine consecutive years during Climate Week NYC, Marketplace of the Future (MOTF) is back in DC for our second annual event and we're going bigger.
Inspired by the 1939 New York World's Fair and its vision of "The World of Tomorrow," MOTF gathers innovators, organizers, artists, and dreamers to ask what the future could look like if we built it with intention. Climate solutions that are novel now, normal soon.
Saturday, April 25, 2026 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Sandlot Downtown @ District Center- 555 12th street, Washington, DC
(Right next to Potbelly!)
WHAT'S HAPPENING
Opening (2:00 PM) Welcome remarks and all activations open: Exhibition Hall, The Constellation art installation, Up-cycling Corner, Life-Size DC Metro Map, and Letter to Earth Workshop.
Environmental Film Festival (2:30 PM) A curated lineup of short climate films running through the afternoon.
Woven From Nature (2:30 PM)
Black Soil Rising (2:45 PM)
Reclaiming the Earth (3:30 PM)
Water Keepers of the Desert (4:00 PM)
Architects of the Earth (4:30 PM)
Stewards of the Terraces
Dance Church (3:00 PM) A free, joyful movement session. Open to everyone.
From Climate Anxiety to Wild Hope (3:15 PM) Poem + conversation + dance performance exploring eco-anxiety, grief, resilience, and finding hope in the face of environmental crisis.
Uphold Roots: Through Our Own Lens (4:15 PM) Women of color doing frontline climate storytelling. Short film screening followed by panel discussion.
DC Urban Design: Is DC a 15-Minute City? (5:15 PM) What it really means to design a healthy, climate-resilient city, with a focus on equity, displacement, and who urban planning actually serves.
Yoga Session (5:15 PM) Led by Alyssa-Jade. A grounding wellness activation in an adjacent space.
Circular Economies, Communities & Art (6:15 PM) Who is actually building circular economies on the ground, who benefits, and what it looks like when it's rooted in community rather than trend.
From Ground to Table: Urban Agriculture in the DMV (7:30 PM) Building DC's urban farming ecosystem, from vacant lot farms to mutual aid food networks. Food sovereignty, climate resilience, and community health.
The Constellation: Evening Block (8:30 PM) The art and sustainable fashion installation comes alive. Our MC walks you through the stories and intentions behind each piece, followed by an open bar, music, and local art to close the night.
ALL-DAY ACTIVATIONS
The Constellation: Self-guided art and sustainable fashion exhibition running throughout the entire event. Visual artists, photographers, illustrators, mixed-media makers, and wearable designers whose work touches on climate, community, ecology, and collective futures.
Up-cycling Corner: Drop-in hands-on creative reuse stations anchored by Makeba's Muse and Knot Okay Club. Fabric dyeing, denim corner, fiber arts, and jewelry making. Make something, take it home.
Exhibition Hall: 15+ exhibitors showcasing real climate solutions across energy, food, fashion, transportation, and beyond, alongside DMV makers and wellness brands.
Life-Size DC Metro Map: A walk-on, life-size replica of the DC Metro map. Paint it, engage with it, explore it. Open all day.
Letter to Earth Workshop: Write your own letter to the earth as a reflective creative exercise. Drop in anytime.
DIY Hydroponics Demo (5:15 PM): A live demo led by Glenn Hall. Learn how to build a simple hydroponic system with low-cost materials.
A huge thank you to our top sponsor, Washington Area Community Investment Fund.
DC Climate Week is not responsible for the content or partners of this event.
DC Climate Week is not responsible for this event. It is organized by the organizing group, and being listed on the DCCW calendar is not an endorsement of content or partners.
Finally, a HUGE thank you to our top sponsor Washington Area Community Investment Fund!