NYC's best summer music festivals of 2026

The Rooftop at Pier 17's much-anticipated summer concert series is back with an impressive lineup and great views.

Throughout the summer, expect performances by Lupe Fiasco (June 10), Jimmy Eat World (June 17), The Breeders (June 24), Poppy (July 10), Wolf Alice (July 29), KALEO (August 7), Max McNown (August 19), Sam Barber (September 17) and Rise Against (September 30), among many others. 

Venue: Pier 17 in the Seaport
Dates: May 2–October 10
Cost: Various prices

Catch free live music under the stars at the annual Summer Concerts at the Wells Fargo Stage at Hudson Yards.

Running Wednesdays through June 3 in the Public Square and Gardens, the outdoor series features performances by Aly & AJ (May 13), Mike Posner (May 20), Busta Rhymes (May 27) and Jordin Sparks (June 3), plus opening acts each night.

Doors open at 5pm, with concerts beginning at 6pm, making it one of the season’s best free midweek hangs in Manhattan.

Venue: Hudson Yards' Wells Fargo Stage
Dates: May 13-June 3
Cost: Free

One of the best perks of living in New York City is having access to innumerable free events in our gorgeous parks. That’s why when Bryant Park Picnic Performances, presented by Bank of America announces its line-up, we get excited!

The park will have 24 nights of music, dance, circus and theater under the New York City skyline from May 28 to September 11, and it includes Pedrito Martinez, Joan As Police Woman, Britton & The Sting, The Knights, Aisha Jackson, the NYC Ska Orchestra, the New Breed Brass Band and more.

Venue: Bryant Park 
Dates: May 28–September 11
Cost: Free

Tap your toes and enjoy the music at the 15th Annual Blue Note Jazz Festival, with performances running from June 1 through July 1. The festival pops up at major venues across NYC, including Sony Hall, Blue Note Jazz Club and SummerStage in Central Park. 

This year's performances include Ledisi, Durand Bernarr, Big Freedia, UMI, Bestin Conrad, Shabaka Hutchins, Kokoroko, Cymande, Take 6, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Jose James, BLK ODYSSY Louie Vega: Elements of Life and more. Here's the full lineup with ticketing info. 

Venue: Multiple venues across NYC
Dates: June 1–July 1
Cost: Starting at $40

Your summer concert calendar just got busier. Following SummerStage’s recent lineup drop, BRIC Arts Media has unveiled the 2026 lineup for its 47th season of Celebrate Brooklyn!. Returning to the iconic Lena Horne Bandshell in Prospect Park from June 4 to September 19, this year's festival revolves around a theme of “Radical Joy” with a multi-generational, genre-defying roster that's also one of the most women-forward lineups in the festival's history.

The season kicks off on Thursday, June 4, with a high-energy launch party led by the “Queen of Percussion” herself, Sheila E., alongside Leon Knight and Brooklyn’s own DJ Spinna. From there, the schedule remains relentlessly "funk-forward."

Highlights include an all-star tribute to Aaliyah celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Brooklyn-born icon’s One in a Million, a Juneteenth celebration with Infinity Song, Americana Night featuring Yola, Dominican Night and the return of the Habibi Festival. While the vast majority of the 15-show slate is free, the festival includes three ticketed benefit concerts that support BRIC’s year-round work. These include Patti LaBelle on June 26, Royel Otis on July 18 and Liz Phair & Sleater-Kinney on September 19.

Venue: Mostly at Prospect Park's Lena Horne Bandshell
Dates: June 4–September 19
Cost: Most shows are free; ticket details here

Returning to Flushing Meadows Corona Park on June 5 through June 7, Governors Ball will feature headliners Lorde, Stray Kids and A$AP Rocky alongside a slew of other big-name artists, including Major Lazer, 2Hollis, Kali Uchis, Baby Keem and more.

Interestingly enough, this year's bill actually highlights a strong roster of NYC-based artists: Geese, The Dare, Del Water Gap, Lexa Gates and Arcy Drive. As usual, the festival will function as a platform to highlight local talent.

Venue: Flushing Meadows-Corona Park
Dates: June 5–7
Cost: Starting $189

Outdoor concert season is soon upon us. And helpfully, one of one of the city's best al fresco concert venues, Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, has officially announced its 2026 season lineup so that we can get our summer planning underway. 

And as with previous (albeit more drama-filled) years, the season ahead promises a killer mix of musical acts, from downright legends (Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Erykah Badu) to buzzy fresh faces (Geese, Djo). 

Running from June through October, the 2026 lineup will see multiple shows from Zac Brown Band and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, a Juneteenth mini festival featuring Israel Houghton & New Breed, Hezekiah Walker, Donald Lawrence, Smokie Norfu and more, plus special evenings with rock icon David Byrne and Paramore powerhouse Hayley Williams. Warm-weather gigs from big names like Jon Batiste, Dave Matthews Band, Sarah McLachlan and Wilco, among others, pad out the rest of the programming. 

Venue: Forest Hills Stadium
Dates: June 6–October 10
Costs: Various depending on the show and seat

New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks are officially coming back to a park near you. Kicking off on June 9 through 14, the free series will be conducted by Elim Chan. A total of four outdoor concerts across different parks (Van Cortlandt Park on June 9, Central Park on June 10, Cunningham Park on June 11 and Prospect Park on June 12) comprise the exciting lineup.

In addition to the outdoor fun, musicians from the New York Philharmonic are scheduled to perform a free indoor concert on Sunday, June 14 starting at 2pm at the St. George Theatre in Staten Island; expect richly melodic clarinet quintets by Mozart and Brahms.

Venue: Parks across the city
Dates: June 10–14
Cost: Free

Lincoln Center’s massive, mostly free summer festival is officially back. Summer for the City returns June 10 through August 8, once again turning Lincoln Center into an open-air cultural playground hosting hundreds of performances—most of them completely free, with select indoor events offered on a choose-what-you-pay basis starting at $5.

Music, of course, is prominent. The Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center returns with an expanded run at David Geffen Hall, alongside nine new commissions across dance and classical music. Elsewhere, the lineup leans global, with events like Brazil Day, Jamaica Day, Ruidosa Fest and Chinese Arts Week reflecting the city’s cultural mix.

Venue: Lincoln Center
Dates: June 10–August 8
Cost: Mostly free or pay-what-you-wish

New York’s favorite summer tradition is turning 40 and, apparently, it is celebrating by booking absolutely everyone. 

City Parks Foundation has officially unveiled the 2026 lineup for Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage and this year’s season is shaping up to be one of the festival’s biggest and best yet. More than 60 free and ticketed shows will land in parks throughout the five boroughs with a lineup that swings wildly (and beautifully) between jazz legends, indie-rock darlings, hip-hop icons, global stars and a few niche downtown bookings.

The season kicks off June 10 in Central Park with a free opening-night performance from Grammy-winning vocalist Ledisi, alongside Spilata and DJ Kultured Child as part of the Blue Note Jazz Festival partnership.

Then, Laurie Anderson will bring her new "Republic of Love" tour to Central Park with Sexmob on June 26, Mavis Staples returns for a gospel-soaked July performance and Spoon will take over Rumsey Playfield on July 8 with Ratboys and Bodega. Elsewhere, De La Soul and Pete Rock are heading to Queens, Shaggy is bringing the “It Wasn’t Me” energy to Central Park, and Angélique Kidjo returns in August with music from her forthcoming album Hope!!.

Venue: Parks across the city and at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park
Dates: June 10–October
Cost: Free unless otherwise noted

The inaugural Brooklyn Guitar Festival strings together a weekend of pure six-string bliss, taking over Greenpoint’s Warsaw and Prospect Park’s LeFrak Center on June 12 and 13 for two days of genre-hopping virtuosity.

The premiere lineup, curated by Alex Skolnick and Joel Harrison, promises heavy hitters like John Scofield, Bill Frisell, Mike Stern and Vernon Reid, plus once-in-a-lifetime tribute sets. Come for the legends, stay for the surprise collaborations you’ll be bragging about for years. 

Venue: Warsaw and the LeFrak Center at Lakeside
Dates: June 12-13
Cost: Starting at $69.19

Some really fire artists are performing as part of Ladyland this year. Headlined by pop star Kim Petras, the iconic fest takes place on Saturday, June 27, at Under the K Bridge during Pride Weekend.

The rest of the stacked bill includes Romy (DJ Set), CupcakKe, DJ Gigola, DJ Meredith Marks, BabyMorocco, BAYLI, Hannah Diamond, Sam Quealy, The Illustrious Blacks, Amarji King, Coyado, Dane Deveraux and Joopiter, among others. 

Venue: Under the K Bridge
Date: June 27
Cost: Starting at $89

Treat your ears to some free music at Battery Park City every Thursday evening this July. The Battery Park City's River & Blues Concert Series is a celebrated NYC summer tradition celebrating Global and American folk, roots and blues music. Expect to hear renowned artists on the cutting-edge of the jazz and blues scene.

Picturesque Rockefeller Park serves as the an idyllic venue with breathtaking views of Hudson River sunsets, picnic-friendly fairgrounds and refreshing waterfront breezes. The musical lineup includes Rebirth Brass Band (July 9), The War and Treaty (July 16), Allen Stone (July 23) and Amelia Day (July 30).

Venue: Battery Park City
Dates: July 9-30
Cost: Free

New York City’s dance floors are about to get a serious upgrade: This September, EDM heavyweight John Summit is bringing back Experts Only Festival NYC, a two-day electronic music blowout set to take over Randall’s Island on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20.

The event is gearing up to draw more than 50,000 fans for a stacked lineup and high-voltage party vibes; attendees can expect sets from Airrica, Dansyn, Devault, Dreya V, Gabss, GRiZ, Jackie Hollander, LYNY, Korolova, Prospa, OMRI. and more.

Venue: Randall's Island
Dates: September 19-20
Cost: Starting at $280

A dearly departed piece of New York’s punk past is being resurrected for one night only this fall. CBGB—the iconic East Village music club that helped kickstart the careers of many notable punk rock and new wave bands, including Ramones, Blondie, Television, Talking Heads, Dead Boys and Patti Smith Group, among others—will be popping up once again as CBGB Festival on September 26 at Under the K Bridge Park in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. (The original CBGB shuttered for good in 2006 at 315 Bowery.)

The lineup features genre big-wigs like Morrissey, Patti Smith, Interpol, The Sex Pistols, Bikini Kill, Agnostic Front, Buzzcocks, Bad Nerves, Circle Jerks, Mannequin Pussy and many more. 

Venue: Under the K Bridge Park
Dates: September 26
Cost: Starting at $179

Since its humble beginnings at D.C.’s Union Market, All Things Go Music Festival has become one of the most anticipated events of late New York City summers. With lineups that predominantly feature queer artists, the event stands sturdy in its values.

This year, the festival will return to Forest Hills Stadium and will take place from September 27 and 28. This year's all-female bill includes Brandi Carlile, Zara Larsson, Carly Rae Jepsen, MUNA, Lola Young, Cara Delevingne, CMAT, Meg Stalter and The Beaches, among many others.

Venue: Forest Hills Stadium
Date: September 26-27
Cost: Starting at $99 for general admission