Is your beach chair nearby? The Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage lineup for 2025 has arrived, and you’ll want a free seat to the festivities, which run from May to October.
For its 39th iteration, this summer tradition is emphasizing diversity and genre-defying artists across the spectrum: hip-hop, salsa, indie rock, dance, and beyond. When it comes to free concerts, this celebration certainly takes the cake.
Erika Elliott, executive artistic director of SummerStage said, “We are extremely proud of the 2025 season, with this year’s programming giving a platform to artists and communities to celebrate the vibrant tapestry and cultural landscape of our city. From jazz to hip-hop and everything in between, we’re thrilled to bring these performances to the heart of each borough, celebrating the distinctly artistic expression that makes our city so unique.”
If you’re mapping out your calendar, here’s what you need to know.
Summerstage 2025 schedule
The kickoff event at Central Park with GRAMMY-winning jazz bassist and composer Marcus Miller, in association with Blue Note Jazz Festival, will take place on Wednesday, June 4th at 5pm. Other notable performances include:
Friday, June 13th at Stapleton Waterfront Park: The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital feat. Tessa McQueen, Hannah Jones, Sunghoon Han, and pianist Miriam Bombrun
Sunday, July 20th at Flushing Meadows Corona Park: The Roots
Saturday, July 26th at the Coney Island Amphitheater: Nems Presents Gorillafest
Sunday, August 17th at Central Park: Funk Flex R&B Birthday Picnic
Heather Lubov, executive director of City Parks Foundation said, “The huge variety of artists we’re presenting and the parks where we’re located reflect our city’s demographic and cultural diversity, but they also serve to unite us as neighbors and as lovers of music, regardless of our differences.”
Yes, typically the schedule of SummerStage performances are free, but there are benefit concerts thrown into the schedule as well.
What is SummerStage?
Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage is an annual festival that spotlights emerging artists across all genres through free performances across all five boroughs of NYC. The festival prides itself on uplifting the diversity of NYC and, more specifically, championing female artists.
What’s the history of SummerStage?
Originally, SummerStage began in Central Park in the mid-80s with performers like Sun Ra Arkestra and Ladysmith Black Mambazo in attempts to promote diverse music and free activities in NYC. Since its inception, SummerStage has spread throughout the five boroughs and includes a wide array of artists and performers.
