Black History Month in NYC doesn’t sit quietly on a calendar — it spills into libraries, restaurants, parks, museums, and neighborhoods across all five boroughs!
From future-forward festivals and free cultural events to supporting Black-owned businesses and revisiting overlooked chapters of the city’s past, February is packed with ways to celebrate, learn, and show up.
Whether you’re looking for something reflective, joyful, family-friendly, or just plain fun, these Black History Month events happening around NYC are well worth adding to your plans.
With contributions from: Brianna Perry and Sydney Hargrove
From the curry chicken at Bamboo Walk to the curry crab gyoza at Kokomo NYC, Brooklyn is home to many eateries offering a taste of Southern, Caribbean and African cuisine.
Why not celebrate Black culture with a delicious dish? Check out some of our favorite spots in Brooklyn.
Check out Black History Month at NYPL
This February–as in past years–the New York Public Library will celebrate BHM with an ample array of free events all month long. This year’s calendar includes Monday Matinee showing of Crooklyn, a “Crafternoon,” a Black History Month Book Party, and so much more.
All events are happening across different NYPL venues like the Schomburg Center and Library for the Performing Arts. See the full calendar.
Enjoy a comedy night
NY Laughs is organizing a Black History Month: Comedy Night–a free evening of laughs presented in Battery Park City.
The hilarious evening will celebrate Black History Month with top comedians–laughter guaranteed–on February 26th from 7 to 9 pm. Get all the details.
Attend the Black Future Festival at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum
The Brooklyn Children’s Museum is hosting a week long celebration and reflection of of the African Diaspora and Black History Month with its annual Black Future Festival.
With a goal of future-forward fun and thinking, the museum’s schedule will include workshops, dance performances, and storytelling with guest curator Kendra J. Bostock and STooPS. Get all the details
NYC Park’s Seneca Village tour
Join NYC Parks for a special Black History Month walk through Central Park’s Seneca Village on Feb 14.
NYC Parks’ Urban Park Rangers will guide locals through the iconic Seneca Village, offering guests a chance to learn about the lives of Seneca Village residents in the 1800s, a predominantly Black neighborhood before it became the park.
It’s free to attend.
NYRR Open Run Black History Month
Join the New York Road Runners for a free Open Run 5K event celebrating Black History Month.
Runners and walkers are invited to come join the route and then enjoy festive treats afterward, as they make their way through Highland Park in Queens!
It’s totally free to walk or run in the 5K! More details here.
Show some love to your community by supporting a local NYC Black-owned business! From creative vision to cultural impact, Black-owned businesses help shape the city’s neighborhoods, history, and creative spirit.
Shopping local keeps business in the community, uplifts entrepreneurs, and honors the legacy of innovation and resilience that Black New Yorkers continue to build every day. This Black History Month, and all year long, make it a point to shop, dine, and support Black-owned in NYC.
Celebrate Black History Month At Brooklyn’s Rhythms & Movements Festival
Brooklyn’s Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation is marking 25 years of celebrating African American culture with its third annual Rhythms & Movements Festival—and this year’s lineup is bigger, bolder, and spread across three major Brooklyn venues.
Running from February 20–28 in honor of Black History Month, the festival brings together dance, music, theater, and storytelling through nine performances at BRIC Ballroom, The Billie Holiday Theater, and The Theater at City Tech.
Highlights include An Artivist Experience, a powerful opening-night concert blending live percussion, jazz, and conversation around music and activism; The Love Party, a high-energy afterparty hosted by DJ Spinna; and The Mad Scientist, a nearly sold-out, youth-centered original play that uses comedy, time travel, and dance to introduce young audiences to legendary Black historical figures.
The festival closes with The Revival: Djembe in the New Millennium, an original production fusing West African dance traditions with hip-hop, jazz, and R&B—an homage to Bed-Stuy’s cultural legacy and creative evolution. More details here.