The sun is out, the grass is green, and the Lena Horne Bandshell is calling. One of NYC’s most iconic summer traditions is back: BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! has officially dropped its 2026 season schedule, and it is packed with legends.
From the soulful powerhouse Patti LaBelle to a massive 35th anniversary celebration of the Lyricist Lounge, the 2026 season offers a mix of free global sounds, indie-rock royalty, and community dance parties.
Whether you’re looking for a free date night or a family-friendly afternoon in Prospect Park, here’s every show you need to bookmark this summer.
This Year’s Theme: “Radical Joy”
Widely recognized as New York City’s longest-running free outdoor performing arts festival, BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! launched in 1979 to showcase global artists that reflect Brooklyn’s rich cultural diversity
This year’s theme is “Radical Joy,” which organizers say highlights how the “full richness of New York City’s cultural life is here for everyone, free of charge, in the heart of Brooklyn.” BRIC added:
The theme also celebrates an inclusive perspective on our national moment. This season is built around the communities that make up America: their music, their stories, and their presence…Radical Joy is how we build up and how we get down.
The “Big Three” Highlights
If you only make it to a few shows this year, make sure these are on your radar:
- The Legend: Patti LaBelle (June 26) takes the stage for what will undoubtedly be the most packed night of the summer
- The Tribute: Common (August 28) headlines a special night honoring the social justice legacy of the late Harry Belafonte
- The Finale: Indie icons Liz Phair and Sleater-Kinney (Sept 19) bring their “Flannel and The Fury” tour to Brooklyn for a ticketed season closer
BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! 2026 Lineup
This year’s lineup features 15 free concerts and three ticketed benefit shows. Organizers say it’s one of the most women-forward lineups in the festival’s history.
🗓️ June: Summer Kickoff
- June 4 – Sheila E. + Leon Knight + DJ Spinna | 6 pm | Free
- June 13 – Antibalas + KidsRead with Kate Yamasaki + DJ Marc Bars | 3 pm | Free
- June 19 – Infinity Song + Annie and the Caldwells + Victory Boyd + DJ Duane | 3 pm | Free
- June 20 – Wayne Wonder + Lila Iké + DJ Gravy | 6 pm | Free
🗓️ July: Global Grooves & Indie Vibes
- June 26 – Patti LaBelle | TBA | TBA
- July 10 – EMEL, Mai Elgizouli, Nesrine, Yacine Boulares and the Habibi Festival House Band + Yalla! Party Project | 6 pm | Free
- July 11 – Community Joy Day with Saint James Joy, Pahua, and Puppetmobile | 3 pm | Free
- July 18 – Royel Otis + Ax and the Hatchetmen | 7:30 pm | See ticket page
- July 24 – Cindy Blackman Santana Group + Patricia Brennan Septet + Lucía | 6 pm | Free
- July 25 – Black House Radio | 3 pm | Free
- July 31 – CARRTOONS & Hailé Supreme + Sofía Valdés + Julia Zivic | 6 pm | Free
🗓️ August & September: The Grand Finale
- August 7 – DakhaBrakha, Yeison Landero, Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars, and Sunju Park | 5 pm | Free
- August 8 – BRIC Celebrates Aaliyah: One in a Million | 3 pm | Free
- August 14 – Lyricist Lounge 35th Anniversary | 6 pm | Free
- August 15 – Yola + Dom Flemons and the Traveling Wildfires + Cleo Reed | 6 pm | Free
- August 21 – Sasha Velour’s NightGowns | 6 pm | Free
- August 28 – Common and Special Guests Honoring Harry Belafonte’s Social Justice Legacy | 6 pm | Free
- August 29 – Dominican Night at the Bandshell | 5 pm | Free
- September 19 – Liz Phair & Sleater-Kinney: The Flannel and The Fury 2026 | 6 pm | See ticket page
Know Before You Go
- Where: Lena Horne Bandshell, Prospect Park (9th St. & Prospect Park West entrance)
- Entry: For free shows, gates typically open 1 hour before showtime. It’s first-come, first-served, so bring a blanket and arrive early!
- Pro-Tip: While most shows are free, a few “Benefit Concerts” (like Royel Otis and Liz Phair) require a paid ticket to support BRIC’s free programming
RSVP to be entered for a chance to win two VIP tent passes!
