Thanks to all of our fantastic parks, New Yorkers have plenty of choices for where to spend time outdoors during the warm weather months. And besides enjoying picnics, games or just lounging, you can also hear some incredible music performances in NYC parks this summer, and all for free.
Many cultural institutions partner with local parks to bring musical sounds to the public when the weather warms up, and so many have recently been announced that we had to put them all in one, easy-to-read spot so you can start planning out your summer.
Here are all of the free concerts coming to NYC this summer (so far!), outdoors:
1. Bryant Park Picnic Performances
Bryant Park Picnic Performances presented by Bank of America will kick off in late May and run through September on The Lawn! All performances are free and open to the public, with no advanced tickets required. Plus, they will also be live streamed on Bryant Park’s social media and website if you can’t make it in person.
May
- May 31 – New York City Opera: Puccini Celebration
June
- June 1 – New York City Opera: Puccini Celebration
- June 6 – Contemporary Dance: Sidra Bell, Ballet Tech, and TBA
- June 7 – Contemporary Dance: David Dorfman, Soles of Duende, and Joffrey Concert Group
- June 14 – Contemporary Dance: Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE, Robin Dunn, and Kevin Wynn Tribute
- June 21 – Jazzmobile: Sarah Vaughan Centennial
- June 28 – Emerging Music Festival Day One
- June 29 – Emerging Music Festival Day Two
July
- July 5 – Carnegie Hall Citywide: Tania León and The Harlem Chamber Players
- July 12 – Carnegie Hall Citywide: Thandiswa Mazwai
- July 19 – Carnegie Hall Citywide: Louis Cato
- July 26 – Carnegie Hall Citywide: Michael Olatuja & Lagos Pepper Soup
August
- August 2 – Carnegie Hall Citywide: La Excelencia
- August 9 – Joe’s Pub: Broadway en Spanglish: Jaime Lozano and Florencia Cuenca
- August 10 – New Victory Theater: Ephrat Asherie + Barkin/Selissen Project
- August 16 – World Music Institute: Gyedu-Blay Ambolley
- August 23 – New York City Opera: Tosca
- August 24 – New York City Opera: Tosca
- August 30 – Asian American Arts Alliance: Vijay Iyer Trio
- August 31 – Contemporary Dance: Mark Morris Dance Group, Blacks in Ballet, and Reed Luplau
September
- September 5 – Accordions Around the World
- September 6 – American Symphony Orchestra: Beyond the Hall
- September 12 – Harlem Stage: Uptown Nights
- September 13 – The Town Hall and Belongó: The Man with a Golden Horn
See more info on their website here.
2. Backyard at Hudson Yards
Back by popular demand, Hudson Yards’ return of their free concert series on the Wells Fargo Stage will happen starting in June! The live outdoor concerts happen every Wednesday at 6 pm through August 7 in the Public Square & Gardens. Doors open at 5 pm. See the announced lineup (so far) below with even more acts coming soon:
- June 19 – Chayce Beckham
- June 26 – David Archuleta
- July 10 – Brynn Cartelli
- July 17 – Ray Bull
- August 7 – Keke Palmer
3. Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City
The 3rd annual “Summer for the City” event series is returning to Lincoln Center this summer, bringing over 200 free and fun events to NYC. There will be plenty of things to do including silent discos under the giant disco ball, comedy and jazz at The Underground at Jaffe Drive, outdoor film screenings in Damrosch Park, and of course…free concerts! Check out some of our standouts below:
- Big Umbrella Day: An all-day event with relaxed spaces, specifically welcoming neurodivergent audiences through multi-sensory experiences, performances, and workshops.
- India Week: A week long of performances showcasing the country’s music, dance, art, and cuisine.
- MVP: A multimedia tribute concert to film director Melvin Van Peebles, led by his son Mario.
- WNYC’s Public Song Project: The People’s Concert: An open invitation for anyone to create music using material from the public domain, with special performances and guests.
This is just a taste! You can see the full schedule on the Summer for the City website here.
4. SummerStage
The annual SummerStage lineup is back for the 2024 season, with a massive lineup of free performances coming to all five boroughs! While the event series’ largest stage resides in Central Park, there are plenty of other stages around NYC hosting free shows this summer. Check them out below:
June
- June 1 – OPENING NIGHT: Andra Day in association with Blue Note Jazz Festival (Central Park)
- June 13 – Kim Gordon / Sun Ra Arkestra / Slauson Malone 1 (Central Park)
- June 15 – THE AUSSIE BBQ: Jebediah / Last Dinosaurs / Northeast Party House / Sheppard / Sycco / Thelma Plum in Association with Sounds Australia and the American Australian Association (Central Park)
- June 15 – Andy Montañez / Charlie Cruz / People of Earth / La Mega DJ in association with 97.9 La Mega (Coney Island Amphitheater)
- June 16 – Corinne Bailey Rae / Dixson in association with Blue Note Jazz Festival (Central Park)
- June 18 – The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital featuring Leah Hawkins, Mario Chang, Michael Sumuel (Central Park)
- June 20 – The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital featuring Leah Hawkins, Mario Chang, Michael Sumuel (Brooklyn Bridge Park)
- June 22 – The Yussef Dayes Experience / Aneesa Strings / Dana and Alden in association with Blue Note Jazz Festival (Central Park)
- June 24 – The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital featuring Brittany Olivia Logan, Hannah Jones, Matthew Cairns (Jackie Robinson Park)
- June 26 – The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital featuring Brittany Olivia Logan, Hannah Jones, Matthew Cairns (Williamsbridge Oval)
- June 28 – The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital featuring Brittany Olivia Logan, Hannah Jones, Matthew Cairns (Socrates Sculpture Park)
July
- July 1 – Madison Cunningham / LA LOM / John-Robert / Corrente: Beatriz Mira & Tiago Barreiros (Central Park)
- July 7 – Ezra Collective / Celeste / Da Chick DJ in association with Blue Note Jazz Festival (Central Park)
- July 7 – Federation Sound 25th Anniversary featuring Sister Nancy / Tanto Metro & Devonte and friends (Coney Island Amphitheater)
- July 10 – LAMC and Latin GRAMMY 25th Anniversary: Fonseca / Israel Fernández / Bruses (Central Park)
- July 11 – Works & Process: It’s Showtime NYC! / Maimouna Keita African Dance Company / Kash Gaines’s Caged Birds (Herbert Von King Park)
- July 12 – Sounds of Detroit: Celebrating 50 years of J Dilla feat. The Pharcyde / Slum Village / Breakbeat Lou in association with Fusicology & Future x Sounds (Herbert Von King Park)
- July 13 – LAMC: BRESH (Central Park)
- July 13 – MIKE’s Young World IV: Earl Sweatshirt / Myaap / Sideshow / Stahhr / Stacy Epps (Herbert Von King Park)
- July 14 – TBD (Herbert Von King Park)
- July 14 – GOLDEN OLDIES ON THE BOARDWALK: Oldies is Back in Brooklyn Feat. The Platters former lead singer Frank Pizarro / Charlie Thomas’ Drifters with Jeff Hall / The Marvelettes / Bill Haley Jr’s Comets / Johnny Farina / The Excellents / The Chiclettes / Vinnie Medugno / Hosted by Joe Causi WCBS FM and Sal Abbatiello Fever Records / Music by The Coda Band (Coney Island Amphitheater)
- July 14 – Bastille Day: IAM / Magic System / The Avener / Laurie Darmon / Femi the Scorpion in association with the Consulate General of France (Central Park)
- July 20 – DJ Rekha’s Basement Bhangra Beyond: Priya Ragu / DJ Rekha / Ami Dang / Lady Pista + Guests (Flushing Meadows-Corona Park)
- July 21 – Proyecto Uno / Milly Quezada / DJ Miquelito & Excarlet Molina in association with 97.9 La Mega (Central Park)
- July 24 – Arooj Aftab / Sid Sriram / EMEL (Central Park)
- July 28 – Catalan Sounds On Tour: Sidonie / Balkan Paradise Orchestra / Lau Noah / DJ Turmix in association with the Institut Ramon Llull (Central Park)
August
- August 1 – Chuck Chillout 40th Radio Anniversary Party: Ice T / MOP / Schoolly D / Peter Gunz & Lord Tariq / Super Lover Cee & Casanova Rud / CL Smooth / Joeski Love / D.J. Breakout / Funky Four + 1 More / Ultramagnetic MCs / DJ Chuck Chillout & Kool Chip / NINE / Al B. Sure! / Music by Funk Flex / Hosted By Ralph McDaniels & Bugsy Buggs (Crotona Park)
- August 2 – Tedsmooth’s Freestyle Jam feat. Coro / C-Bank / DJ Serg / Anthony Mangini / Tedsmooth / Strafe (Crotona Park)
- August 3 – The Originals (Central Park)
- August 3 – King Promise / Dan Price the Artist / DJ Faddah in association with GhanaFest-NY (Crotona Park)
- August 4 – Galactic featuring Irma Thomas / The Rumble featuring Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr (Central Park)
- August 4 – NEMS Presents: GORILLAFEST Featuring Ghostface Killah / DJ Drewski & Friends / Statik Selektah / Scram Jones / Tony Touch and Friends (Coney Island Amphitheater)
- August 10 – VP Records 45th Anniversary (Central Park)
- August 11 – WBLS 50th Anniversary Celebration: Jon B / Vivian Green / Meli’sa Morgan / Horace Brown / Jeff Redd / Funk Flex (Coney Island Amphitheater)
- August 17 – Palmwine Festival NYC: Show Dem Camp feat. The Cavemen & Friends in association with Move Forward Music (Central Park)
- August 17 – The Soapbox Presents: The Life of the Party (Marcus Garvey Park)
- August 18 – Special Uptown Edition: Celebrating 40 years of Red Alert & Ralph McDaniels Video Music Box (Marcus Garvey Park)
- August 18 – Funk Flex Birthday Party with Live performances by Slick Rick, Dana Dane, Doug E. Fresh, DJ Maseo & Funk Flex (Central Park)
- August 22 – Brazilian Day: Alcione / Larissa Luz / DJ Malfeitona / Film screening: “Gerson King Combo” in association with 28th Inffinito Brazilian Film Festival (Central Park)
- August 23 – Charlie Parker Jazz Festival: Christian McBride Big Band / Wallace Roney Jr in partnership with Jazzmobile (Marcus Garvey Park)
- August 24 – Charlie Parker Jazz Festival: Louis Hayes / SuperBlue: Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter ft. Huntertones / Ekep Nkwelle / Alexis Lombre / DJ KulturedChild aka Angelika Beener (Marcus Garvey Park)
- August 25 – Charlie Parker Jazz Festival: Louis Hayes / SuperBlue: Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter ft. Huntertones / Ekep Nkwelle / Alexis Lombre / DJ KulturedChild aka Angelika Beener (Tompkins Square Park)
- August 27 – Snail Mail / Tim Heidecker / Fenne Lily (Central Park)
September
- September 9 – WNYC and Friends Centennial Celebration (Central Park)
October
- October 20 – The Chol Hamoed Spectacular: The Yeshiva Boys Choir presented in association with EG productions (Coney Island Amphitheater)
5. TSQ Live
Nearly 100 public performances and events are coming to Times Square this summer, as TSQ Live kicks off a lineup of DJ sets, live music, and dance workshops. Check them out below and see full info here:
DJ Sets
- Tuesdays, 5 pm
- Broadway Pedestrian Plaza between 45th & 46th Streets
- An eclectic assortment of music from some of the city’s most popular nightclubs and collectives, including FEMME HOUSE, New York Modular Society, Matinée Social Club, Project 91 x Analog, Soul Summit Music, and Elsewhere.
Live Music
- Various dates/times
- Various locations
- A yearly tradition and the heart of TSQ LIVE, live music accompanies the event’s programming throughout the summer. The live music portion of programming promotes the festive summer energy the bustling hot city requires.
Jazz in Times Square
- Thursdays, 5 pm
- Broadway Pedestrian Plaza between 45th & 46th Streets
- Includes performances by Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Headhunters, and Sungazer.
Summer Friday Concerts
- Fridays, 6 pm
- Broadway Pedestrian Plaza between 45th & 46th Streets
- Check out the trendiest up-and-coming talent including musicians from NYC including Des Rocks, JORDY, Molly Grace, Marcin, Greg Bank$, and Third Reprise.