Every Free Event Taking Place in NYC This Summer in 2024

Many free performances are taking place in NYC this season, from Bryant Park to Hudson Yards and the return of SummerStage in Central Park!

New Yorkers have a ton of options for places to spend time outside during the warm weather months because of all of our wonderful parks. In addition to having picnics, playing games, or just relaxing, NYC parks are hosting some amazing free music events this summer.

As the weather heats, many cultural institutions collaborate with nearby parks to present musical performances to the public. Since so many have just been announced, we’ve compiled them all in one convenient location so you can start organizing your summer.

Here are all of the free concerts coming to NYC this summer (so far!), outdoors:

1. Picnic performances at Bryant Park

The Bank of America-sponsored Bryant Park Picnic Performances on The Lawn will begin in late May and go through September! No prior tickets are needed; all performances are free and accessible to the general public. If you are unable to attend in person, they will also be live-streamed on Bryant Park’s website and social media accounts.

May 31st: Celebration of Puccini at New York City Opera
June
New York City Opera: A Puccini Celebration on June 1
June 6: Ballet Tech, Sidra Bell, and Other Contemporary Dancers
June 7: Joffrey Concert Group, Soles of Duende, and David Dorfman performing contemporary dance
June 14: Tribute to Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE, Robin Dunn, and Kevin Wynn in Contemporary Dance
June 21: Jazzmobile: Centennial of Sarah Vaughan
June 28: First Day of the Emerging Music Festival
June 29 – Emerging Music Festival Day Two

July 5-Tania León and the Harlem Chamber Players will perform at Carnegie Hall around the city.
July 12: Thandiswa Mazwai, Citywide at Carnegie Hall
July 19: Louis Cato at Carnegie Hall Citywide
July 26: Lagos Pepper Soup & Michael Olatuja, Carnegie Hall Citywide

August

August 2–Citywide at Carnegie Hall: La Excelencia
Broadway en Español: Jaime Lozano and Florencia Cuenca, August 9 at Joe’s Pub

August 10 – Barkin/Selissen Project + Ephrat Asherie @ New Victory Theater
August 16: Gyedu-Blay Ambolley at the World Music Institute
August 23: Tosca at the New York City Opera
August 24: Tosca at the New York City Opera
Asian American Arts Alliance: Vijay Iyer Trio on August 30
August 31: Blacks in Ballet, Reed Luplau, and the Mark Morris Dance Group will perform contemporary dance.

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

2. Hudson Yards backyard

The free music series at Hudson Yards on the Wells Fargo Stage is coming back by popular demand, and it will begin in June! Through August 7, live outdoor concerts take place in the Public Square & Gardens every Wednesday at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. View the (so far) announced roster below; more artists will be added soon.

June 19 – Chayce Beckham
June 26 – David Archuleta
July 10 – Brynn Cartelli
July 17 – Ray Bull
August 7 – Keke Palmer

3. The City’s Summer for Lincoln Center

This summer, Lincoln Center will host the third annual “Summer for the City” event series, which will bring more than 200 enjoyable and free events to New York City. In addition to the free performances, there will be silent discos beneath the enormous disco ball, comedy and jazz at The Underground at Jaffe Drive, outdoor movie screenings in Damrosch Park, and much more! Here are a few of our highlights:

Big Umbrella Day is an all-day event with laid-back settings that welcomes audiences who identify as neurodivergent and offers multisensory experiences, performances, and workshops.
India Week is a week-long celebration of the music, dance, art, and food of the nation.
MVP: A multi-media tribute performance featuring Melvin Van Peebles, the film director, directed 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.

4. SummerStage

For the 2024 season, the yearly SummerStage schedule will return, bringing a huge roster of free events to all five boroughs! Although Central Park is home to the largest stage of the event series, several additional stages in NYC are offering free performances this summer. View them 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, and Michael Sumuel (Central Park)
June 20 – The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital featuring Leah Hawkins, Mario Chang, and 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, and 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 Platter’s former lead singer Frank Pizarro / Charlie Thomas’ Drifters with Jeff Hall / The Marvelettes / Bill Haley Jr’s Comets / Johnny Farina / The Excellent / 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

This summer, Times Square will host about a hundred public events and performances, including DJ sets, live music, and dance classes presented by TSQ Live. View them below, and click here for more information:

DJ Sets

Tuesdays at five o’clock
Pedestrian Plaza on Broadway between 45th and 46th Streets
a varied selection of music from some of the most well-liked nightclubs and groups in the city, such as Soul Summit Music, FEMME HOUSE, New York Modular Society, Matinée Social Club, Project 91 x Analog, and Elsewhere.
Live Musical Performances

Different times and dates
Different places
Live music is a summertime staple of TSQ LIVE, an annual tradition that drives the event’s programming. The live music segment of the schedule encourages the joyous summer vibe that the hot and bustling metropolis needs.

Times Square jazz

Thursdays at five o’clock
Pedestrian Plaza on Broadway between 45th and 46th Streets
features performances by Sungazer, The Headhunters, and Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Friday Night Concerts in the Summer

Broadway Pedestrian Plaza between 45th and 46th Streets, Fridays, 6 p.m.
Discover the hottest new artists, including NYC musicians Des Rocks, JORDY, Molly Grace, Marcin, Greg Bank$, and Third Reprise.