In Oregon, where Black communities have played a significant role in shaping the state’s cultural, artistic and political life, Black History Month offers a chance to publicly recognize those contributions. Throughout February 2026, organizations across the state will host concerts, film screenings, exhibitions, lectures and community workshops highlighting Black history, creativity and scholarship.
Events range from tributes to Langston Hughes and Portland’s Black music legacy to statewide film festivals, archival projects and intergenerational conversations, illustrating how Black history is documented, shared and sustained across Oregon today.
Albina Music Trust
Albina Music Trust presents a monthlong series of Black History Month events highlighting Albina’s musical legacy through performances, panels and archival presentations. The lineup opens with Soul Conversation, a discussion with Albina music elders including Paul Knauls, LaRhonda Steele and Norman Sylvester, followed by “Time Sound: Memories in Albina,” a one-time concert directed by Tahirah Memory reflecting on her family’s musical history. Additional events include the Black Mystery Month concert, a collaborative show featuring Tony Ozier and Arietta Ward, and a Black Community Television retrospective examining Portland’s 1980s Black public-access programming.
Feb. 1-28; times and locations vary; albinamusictrust.com
Black History Festival NW
World Stage Theatre celebrates Black History Month with a monthlong lineup of events, including youth-curated library displays, a Black history scavenger hunt, a Black Love photo competition and community gatherings. The festival culminates in the 20th anniversary production of “Who I Am: Celebrating Me” at the Winningstad Theatre, highlighting stories of identity, resilience and community. Programs are designed to engage audiences of all ages and honor Portland’s Black history and culture.
Feb. 1-28; times and locations vary; worldstagetheatre.org/bhfnw
The BLACK Gallery
The current photography and writing exhibit, “If We Could Talk” explores what “home” means to members of Portland’s displaced Black residents, centering voices shaped by gentrification and neighborhood change. Created through weekly workshops with residents of the Dr. Darrell Millner Building in North Portland, the project pairs black-and-white photographs with reflective writing, examining loss, resilience and belonging while affirming the enduring ties people maintain to place.
Through Feb. 16; The BLACK Gallery, 916 N.W. Flanders St.; by appointment; theblackgallerypdx.com
Cascade Festival of African Films
The 36th annual Cascade Festival of African Films features more than 20 films by African filmmakers, highlighting stories of migration, reinvention, justice and women’s leadership. Screenings are free and open to the public, with selections spanning shorts, documentaries and feature-length films. The festival brings international and local perspectives, offering audiences a chance to engage with contemporary African cinema and its cultural, social and political themes.
Feb. 6-March 7; Thursdays-Saturdays; various venues; free; africanfilmfestival.org/2026
Portland Art Museum
The Portland Art Museum marks Black History Month with films, conversations and gallery programs celebrating Black art, creativity and cultural leadership. Programming centers the museum’s Black Art and Experiences Galleries, a dedicated gallery floor highlighting regional, national and global artists of the African diaspora through rotating exhibitions and community-driven programs.
One highlight is Meet the Curator, an informal gallery conversation with Curatorial Coordinator Jaleesa Johnston and Professor Kiara Hill, offering behind-the-scenes insight into the exhibitions, archival materials and curatorial practices shaping the Black Art and Experiences Galleries.
1-2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6; Portland Art Museum, 1219 S.W. Park Ave. portlandartmuseum.org/event/black-history-month-at-the-portland-art-museum
Later in the month, the Whitsell Auditorium hosts a special screening of “Black Orpheus” (1959). Directed by Marcel Camus, the Oscar- and Palme d’Or–winning film reimagines the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice during Carnival in Rio de Janeiro and is celebrated for its vibrant cinematography and influential soundtrack.
2-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28; Whitsell Auditorium, Portland Art Museum, 1219 S.W. Park Ave.; portlandartmuseum.org/event/black-history-month-at-the-portland-art-museum
Alberta Abbey
Alberta Abbey hosts two significant Black History Month performances spotlighting Black poetry, jazz and Portland’s musical legacy.
The month kicks off with “The Weary Blues: Celebrating Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance,” a multimedia tribute honoring the 100th anniversary of Langston Hughes’ first poetry collection. The off-Broadway-style production blends performance poetry, live jazz and historic visual projections, featuring award-winning poet Emmett Wheatfall and a jazz quartet led by drummer Christopher Brown. A 30-minute pre-show talk by Portland State University professor Maude Hines explores jazz rhythms in Harlem Renaissance poetry.
7:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7; Alberta Abbey, 126 N.E. Alberta St.; albertaabbey.org
Later in the month, the “Black History Month Legacy Music Showcase & Remembering Grace Collins” brings together generations of Portland musicians for a night honoring the artists and institutions that helped shape the city’s Black music scene. Performers include The Legendary Beyons, The Junk Youth Orchestra and The Soul Alliance Tribute Band, with a pre-concert reception recognizing the Grace Collins Community Center and other Black-led organizations.
8-11 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13; Alberta Abbey, 126 N.E. Alberta St.; tickets from $25.24 albertaabbey.org
Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble
Percussionist and composer Kahil El’Zabar brings his Ethnic Heritage Ensemble to Portland as part of the group’s 53rd annual Black History Month tour. Known for blending jazz, soul and African rhythms, the ensemble has influenced generations of musicians while highlighting the cultural and musical contributions of Black artists. The performances are open to audiences 21 and older.
7:30 and 10 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8; Jack London Revue, 529 S.W. Fourth Ave.; tickets from $31.39 jacklondonrevue.com/tm-event/kahil-elzabars-ethnic-heritage-ensemble
History Pub: A Man Called York
Zachary Stocks, Oregon Black Pioneers executive director, presents the life of York, the enslaved man who accompanied Lewis and Clark on their expedition. The talk explores his early life, role during the journey and legacy afterward, offering a detailed look at a figure often overlooked in U.S. history. Learn about York’s contributions and the broader context of Black pioneers in the Pacific Northwest.
7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9; McMenamins Edgefield, 2126 S.W. Halsey St., Troutdale; tickets $5; mcmenamins.com/events/274627-a-man-called-york
Malcolm X Screening
Spike Lee’s 1992 film “Malcolm X,” starring Denzel Washington, will screen at the Tomorrow Theater. The biopic follows Malcolm X’s life from his early years through his rise as a national civil rights leader, examining his political evolution and lasting influence on Black liberation movements in the United States.
6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22; Tomorrow Theater, 3530 S.E. Division St.; tickets $15; tomorrowtheater.org/movies/malcolm-x-2
BOYeurism: 13th Anniversary Show
Portland’s inclusive variety show BOYeurism marks its 13th anniversary with an evening of dance, drag, burlesque, circus and community performances. In recognition of Black History Month, the show features special guests and collaborations, highlighting Black artistry and storytelling. The performance is open to audiences 21 and older or 18-20 with a guardian.
8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27; Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 N.E. Alberta; tickets from $42; etix.com/ticket/p/67934693/boyeurism-portland-alberta-rose-theatre
Portland in Black: Documenting Our Lives in the City of Roses
Portland City Archives and Don’t Shoot PDX host a free monthly workshop where community members can preserve personal and family histories. Participants receive guidance on archiving, documenting and maintaining records from experienced memory workers, contributing to a broader effort to capture and safeguard Portland’s Black community stories. The series continues every fourth Saturday of the month through Nov. 28.
10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Feb. 28; Black Memory and Preservation Lab, 510 S.W. Third Ave., Suite 400; free with registration; portland.gov/auditor/archives/events
Did we miss an event? Please send the details to [email protected] and we will add it to our list.
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