National Museum of African American Music Exhibit Coming to Louisville

LOUISVILLE, KY. [August 20, 2026] A one-of-a-kind exhibition is taking residency at Louisville’s Kentucky Center for African American Heritage beginning this September. Titled “Jubilation! Ambassadors on a Sacred Journey” the traveling exhibition celebrates the lasting impact of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, who introduced the world to a uniquely American musical form and help secure the university's survival. The exhibition, created by the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) in partnership with Fisk University, will open on Friday, September 18, 2026, and run through Sunday, February 28, 2027.

Five years after opening in 1866, as the first American university to offer a liberal arts education to “young men and women irrespective of color,” Fisk University was facing dire financial straits. In an effort to earn money for the school, a nine-member choral ensemble and their music professor set out on a national tour to perform concerts, earning the group the name The Jubilee Singers.

Their performances of spirituals — songs born out of slavery and passed down through oral tradition —were first met with surprise, curiosity, and some hostility, though eventual skepticism was replaced by standing ovations, as the group went on to perform for U.S. presidents and heads of state. By 1873 enough funds had been raised to construct the school’s first permanent building, Jubilee Hall, which still stands today as a National Historic Landmark.

"The Fisk Jubilee Singers demonstrated how faith, education, perseverance, and music could change the course of history," said Aukram Burton, Executive Director of the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage. "Their voices preserved an invaluable cultural legacy while opening doors for future generations of African American artists. We are honored to bring this nationally significant exhibition to Kentucky and share their remarkable story with audiences throughout the Commonwealth."

The exhibit will guide visitors through the origins, history, and lasting influence of the Fisk Jubilee Singers via immersive audio-visual displays, archival recordings, and personal stories of the group's original members. Guests will be able to see and hear the story of their journey, of their spirit, pride in culture, and their remarkable creativity and vocal skill.

“The Jubilee Singers hold the history of resilience, and the amazing story of why Nashville was named the Music City,” says Cheri Bryant Hamilton, Honorary Co-Chair, Fisk University, Class of 1972. “I carry the spirit of my school with me, and now, with every step of this exhibit, I feel it is a history lesson that comes alive with this interactive exhibit for everyone to experience.”

“Jubilation! Ambassadors on a Sacred Journey is more than an exhibit — it is a living classroom,” says Rev. Dr. Daniel Corrie Shull, Honorary Co-Chair Fisk University, Class of 2009. “As a Fisk alum, I know the transformative power of seeing our history honored with truth and brilliance. This experience invites every student, every family, and every community to learn, reflect, and rise.”

Tickets for Jubilation! Will go on sale at the beginning of September with a general admission of $15 for adults, $10 for youth and seniors, and free for children 5 and under. The exhibit will be open to the public Tuesdays to Sundays, 10am - 4pm at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage’s 17th Street entrance, where there is also free parking. Additional community programming and events will be announced throughout the exhibition's run and can be found at https://kcaah.org.

Visitors can learn more about Louisville’s Black heritage, events, and additional things to do here.