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Spring has sprung! Some of the best events in NYC are set to bloom in April 2026. Aside from celebrating holidays like Easter and 4/20, you'll be able to take in the gorgeous blooms at the dazzling Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden. Speaking of buds, take advantage of checking out the best NYC parks, while all the flowers and trees are starting to bloom. And there’s even more greenery fun for outdoorsy folks—Earth Day, of course.  RECOMMENDED: Full NYC events calendar in 2026

Looking for the best things to do in NYC this weekend? Whether you’re the group planner searching for more things to do in NYC today or you have no plans yet, here are some ideas to add to your list for this weekend: a new Marcel Duchamp exhibit at MoMA, a subway-inspired film series at BAM, a new comedy club in Greenpoint, BBQ pop-ups, vintage markets and more, plus free events around town. All you have to do is scroll down to plan your weekend! And kick off a great month with our round-up of the best things to do in April.  RECOMMENDED: Full list of the best things to do in NYCRECOMMENDED: The best New York attractions Stay in the Loop: Sign up for our free weekly newsletter to get the latest in New York City news, culture and dining. 

Choosing a favorite restaurant in New York City is a joyful task with myriad possibilities depending on the occasion, mood and even the time of year. Your favorite dive, fine dining destination and neighborhood favorite might all occupy top spots on your personal best list in spite of their disparate qualities.  Our list of NYC’s 45 best restaurants is the same, spanning each of those categories and more to comprise a catalogue of all the places we wish we were at right now. They don’t have to be the newest or the most recently reviewed, just places that we’ve been to and want to return to again and again, and that we think that you will, too.  Best NYC restaurants at a glance: For an excellent slice: L'Industrie - The New York slice shop that made us fall in love with Burrata slices, now has a new locale in Little Italy (Little Italy, West Village and Williamsburg) For an exciting look at kaiseki: Anbā - Ambrely Ouimette's hidden tasting counter serves a modern taste of kaiseki cuisine (Lower East Side) For a spin on a classic diner: Thai Diner – Even five years later, crowds line up for Thai tea babka French toast and disco fries from this Thai diner. (NoMad) For killer tacos: Carnitas Ramirez – The taqueria is home to nose-to-tail pork cookery, just in taco form, and it all goes down in a laid-back setting (Lower East Side) Updated April 2026: I am likely preaching to the choir when I say this, but thank god spring is finally here. Our gray, blizzard-heavy winter...

Painting is an ancient medium and even with the introduction of photography, film and digital technology, it still has remained a persistent mode of expression. So many paintings have been limned over dozens of millennia that only a relatively small percentage of them could be construed as "timeless classics" that have become familiar to the public—and not coincidentally produced by some of the most famous artists of all time. It leaves open the question of what mix of talent, genius and circumstance leads to the creation of a masterpiece. Perhaps the simplest answer is that you know one when you see one, whatever part of the world it's being held in. We, of course, have our opinion of what makes the grade, and we present them here, in our list of the best paintings of all time. Argue amongst yourselves. RECOMMENDED: 🎨 The best museums and galleries in the world ⛰️ The most beautiful places in the world 🗺 The world's most underrated travel destinations 🧭 The best places to travel solo

New York City has tons of things going for it, from incredible buildings to breathtaking parks. But surely, the top of the list includes NYC’s vast array of museums and galleries, covering every field of culture and knowledge: There are quirky museums and interactive museums, free museums and world renowned art institutions like the Met. Between them, they offer so many exhibitions of every variety and taste that it's hard to keep track of them. But if you’re starting to suffer a sudden attack of FOMA (that's fear of missing art), don't worry! We've got you covered with our select list of the best museum exhibitions in NYC. Don't waste any time—head to NYC's best museum exhibits now! RECOMMENDED: Full guide to museums in NYC

If you’re looking for the best things to do in NYC this week, or even for today, there are tons of fun options, including the return the Macy's Flower Show, Earth Day and 4/20 events, a big-name Barcelona bar pop-up, CityPickle in Central Park, night markets, movie series and more, plus awesome free events in NYC. For more ideas, scroll down to see this week's best things to do in NYC. RECOMMENDED: Full list of the best things to do in New York Stay in the Loop: Sign up for our free weekly newsletter to get the latest in New York City news, culture and dining. 

Picture Formula 1, but the track is the Hudson River, the stands are actually boats that sit right at the water's edge and the cars are 50-foot hydrofoiling catamarans racing over 60 miles per hour. That's the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix, and it's back on May 30–31 for what is shaping up to be the most anticipated event yet in the 2026 Rolex SailGP Championship. International teams—including a genuinely fired-up United States SailGP Team that just snapped a two-season win drought in Sydney—will race in identical high-tech F50 catamarans just off the perimeter of the Hudson, close enough that you'll feel the spray. Last year's edition set a U.S. record with over 10,000 ticketed spectators across the weekend. This year, spectators will be closer than ever to the action. Photograph by Mike Lawrence for SailGP, courtesy of SailGP If you haven't seen SailGP in person, here's what to expect: it's less "regatta at the yacht club" and more "stadium sport that happens to be on water." The athletes—drivers, not sailors—compete nation-versus-nation in races that are tight, tactical and occasionally chaotic. Capsizes happen. Lead changes happen. The leaderboard flips and all of it with One World Trade Center looming in the background. Photograph by Felix Diemer for SailGP, courtesy of SailGPU.S. SailGP Team celebrate with the Winners Wheel The United States SailGP Team, for its part, has quietly become the story of the 2026 season. After finishing dead last in 2025, the team...

Last updated April 13, 2026: Pickleball is back in Central Park, outdoor movie season is finally here, and Veselka is again turning out pierogi 24/7. Make the most of the spring season both indoors and out as city's iconic museums, big attractions and favorite restaurants host the coolest exhibits, shows and menus right now.  How we choose the best things to do in NYC: Time Out editors traverse New York City from end to end looking for the coolest things to do, the most delicious places to eat and the most impressive shows to see. We then pick the very best items to make it to this list each month.  From its art museums (The Met and MoMA) to its attractions (Broadway theaters and sunrises from the Empire State Building), we are certain that New York City is the best city in the world. Its dining and drinking scenes are still unbeatable with unrivaled bars, restaurants and creative culinary inventions. Every day, we’re discovering something new and wonderful about our city, whether it’s one of the best parks, incredible views, cool hotels, must-see art or quirky museums—and we’re highlighting the best of the best right here. Quick picks: The best things to do in NYC at a glance Central Park: The world's most famous green space, stop by to enjoy some peace and quiet. (Free entry) The Metropolitan Museum of Art: This massive museum spans 5,000 years of art history to get lost in. ($30/adult)  The High Line: This innovative reclaimed space turned railroad tracks into a cool...

Now that spring is in full swing, there’s no shortage of outstanding NYC events in May 2025. We encourage you to find things to do outside and take in all the greenery by visiting some of the best NYC parks while the flowers are blooming. As for the month’s major holidays, don’t miss out on all the awesome things to do for Mother’s Day and Memorial Day.  From parades to performances and art exhibits to night markets, there's no shortage of ways to have fun in NYC this May.  RECOMMENDED: Full NYC events calendar

The best Broadway shows represent the pinnacle of live entertainment in New York City. Every year, millions of people flock to the Times Square district to see large-scale theater at its finest, and every season brings a crop of new productions, from glitzy musicals to provocative plays. Some Broadway shows are strictly limited runs, which others might stick around for years or even decades. Choosing among them can be dizzying. You can't see them all, and you probably shouldn't anyhow: For every Tony Award–worthy hit, there's a swing and a miss. But we have seen them all, and we're happy to help guide you to the ones we think are more deserving of your money and your time. (Cheap tickets can be hard to find.) Here are our theater critic's top choices among the shows that are currently on Broadway.   RECOMMENDED: Complete A–Z listings of all Broadway Shows in NYCRECOMMENDED: Current and upcoming Off Broadway shows