With Jubilation, Freedom Center reveals first special exhibit for 2026

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Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 8, 2025
MEDIA CONTACT: Suzanne Buzek (513) 333-7519, sbuzek@nurfc.org

With Jubilation, Freedom Center reveals first special exhibit for 2026

The story, accomplishments of legendary Fisk Jubilee Singers® comes to Cincinnati January 19

 

CINCINNATI – The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is proud to reveal its first special exhibit for 2026. Jubilation! Ambassadors on a Sacred Journey will occupy the Freedom Center’s Skirball Gallery from January 19, to June 21, 2026, allowing visitors to learn about the Fisk Jubilee Singers®, the Grammy-Award winning world-renowned ensemble group that introduced African American spirituals to the world.

Jubilation! originated at the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville, Tennessee, which is also the home of Fisk University, a historically Black university that is the oldest institution of higher learning in Nashville. 

“Bringing Jubilation! from Nashville to Cincinnati is very special,” said Woodrow Keown, Jr., President and COO of the Freedom Center. “There are many parallels we can draw from the first ensemble of the Fisk Jubilee Singers®, several of whom were born into slavery and were among the first free Black people to pursue higher education in the U.S. after the Civil War.” 

The Fisk Jubilee Singers® were founded in 1871 by George L. White, Fisk University treasurer and music professor. He brought the nine-member choral ensemble of students together and organized a tour to earn money for the University. At a tour stop in Columbus, Ohio, Mr. White, in a gesture of hope and encouragement for the exhausted students, named them “The Jubilee Singers.” The ensemble went on to break racial barriers in the U.S. and abroad in the late 19th century and entertained royalty in Europe.  

Jubilation! Ambassadors on a Sacred Journey presents the history of this group in four thematic chapters: 

  1. Africa to America – Explores the origins of spirituals rooted in African musical traditions and their creation during enslavement. 
  2. Learning and Freedom – A look at the noble aspirations and challenges faced by Fisk University faculty, staff and students. 
  3. Rekindling the Spirituals – Shows how later Fisk troupes transformed the spirituals for global audiences. 
  4. Forward in Faith – Details the continuing legacy and ongoing impact of the Fisk Jubilee Singers® who are still active today. 

A highlight of the exhibit is a circular space featuring historical recordings and a vibrant light display, immersing audiences in the singers’ legacy. Visitors will also enjoy ambassador panels, which provide personal stories of the original group members, and interactive elements to bring the content to life for visitors of all ages. 

This exhibit not only honors the Fisk Jubilee Singers®’ historic contributions and their roles as ambassadors of Fisk University, but it also emphasizes their lasting influence on American music and culture. Jubilation! celebrates their work as pioneers who used music as a tool for resilience, empowerment and social change. 

The Fisk Jubilee Singers will perform at the Freedom Center's Harriet Tubman Theater on Sunday, January 18.

“The exhibit allows for people of all ages, races and backgrounds to come away inspired by the resilience of the Fisk Jubilee Singers® and appreciate the impact of music and culture on social change,” said Shawnee Turner, VP Education and Interpretation at the Freedom Center.

Cincinnati will also have the unique opportunity to see the 2025-26 Fisk Jubilee Singers® perform live in concert at the Harriet Tubman Theater on Sunday, January 18, at 4 p.m. EST. Tickets are available now until sold out. The Fisk Jubilee Singers® will also perform at the 2026 King Legacy Celebration on Monday, January 19. Standard tickets are available for that program for $50 and member tickets are available for $40. 

This project was made possible with the support of Lilly Endowment Inc., Fisk University, and the Fisk Jubilee Singers®. Sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting us at development@nurfc.org. Continue to check our website, subscribe to our email newsletter, or follow us on social media to be among the first to know about programs and events around this special exhibit. 

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About the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center opened in August 2004 on the banks of the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. Since then, more than 1.3 million people have visited its permanent and changing exhibits and public programs, inspiring everyone to take courageous steps for freedom. Two million people have utilized educational resources online at freedomcenter.org, working to connect the lessons of the Underground Railroad to inform and inspire today’s global and local fight for freedom. Partnerships include Historians Against Slavery, Polaris Project, Free the Slaves, US Department of State and International Justice Mission. In 2014, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center launched a new online resource in the fight against modern slavery, endslaverynow.org.­

About Lilly Endowment, Inc.  

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based, private foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and sons J.K. Jr. and Eli through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, the Endowment is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion. The Endowment funds programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion, and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. 

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