The best NYC events in August 2026

Prepare to become an international cinephile with El Museo del Barrio's Noches de Cine: New Latine Cinema, a free five-film series curated by Ecuadorian-American writer and director Sebastián Rea. Running monthly through December, the series brings contemporary films from Latin America, the Caribbean and the Latine diaspora to El Museo’s historic theater at 1230 Fifth Avenue. The lineup opens with Joel Alfonso Vargas’s Mad Bills to Pay (August 20). On September 24, a marathon of short films from across the Americas will be on view. Then comes Jayro Bustamante’s La Llorona (October 29), Simón Mesa Soto’s Un Poeta (A Poet) (November 19) and William D. Caballero’s TheyDream (December 17). All screenings are free and start at 6:30pm, with advance registration encouraged.

The Public Theater's free Shakespeare in the Park is back at full steam this summer. Having closed for renovations to Central Park's Delacorte Theater in 2023, and came back at half power this year with a single production—Twelfth Night, starring Lupita Nyong'o, Sandra Oh and Peter Dinklage—the series returns in 2026 with two full Shakespeare productions at the Delacorte: Romeo and Juliet and The Winter's Tale. The Public's Mobile Theater Unit will also travel through all five boroughs with an outdoor version of As You Like It. 

Romeo and Juliet, the earliest of Shakespeare's major tragedies, is the timeless story of teenagers who, in rebellion against their disapproving parents, have sex and then die after scoring drugs from a local priest. This version will be helmed by the Public’s resident director and associate director, Saheem Ali, whose credits include this year's Twelfth Night in the Park as well as Broadway's Buena Vista Social Club.

The Winter's Tale, by contrast, is one of the last plays that Shakespeare ever wrote, and it offers somewhat happier hopes for lovers. A sweeping story of jealousy, love, repentance, angry bears and magic statuary, it begins in deep suffering but ends, like winter itself, with the prospect of healing and rebirth. It will be directed by that old master Daniel Sullivan—who, at 85, has directed eleven previous Shakespeare in the Park, along with such Broadway favorites as The Heidi Chronicles, Good People and Proof.  

Why merely cosplay your favorite pop-culture characters when you can see professionals take the costume off? Nerdlesque NYC brings its gloriously geeky brand of burlesque, Anime After Dark, to the Laurie Beechman Theatre on August 21 and 22, with performers turning beloved fandoms into sexy, silly, spectacular stage acts. The show blends cosplay, comedy and neo-burlesque, celebrating everything from comics and games to the weird corners of pop culture that you probably know far too much about. Basically, it’s fan service in the most literal sense. The 21+ show promises elaborate costumes, nearly nude nerds and plenty of audience interaction. In other words, a perfect way to cap off a day at the Anime Convention.

If you're a different kind of nerd, there's also Euripides Clothes Off! at The Slipper Room on August 27 starting at 7pm, proving that The Odyssey summer is still going strong.

Grab your gray suit, polish up that red bow tie and practice your best “I know you are, but what am I?”—because Coney Island is throwing a Pee-wee party for the ages. On Sunday, August 24, the boardwalk’s resident arts hub Coney Island USA will stage its first-ever Pee-wee Herman Look-Alike Contest, honoring the late Paul Reubens, his beloved alter ego and the 40th anniversary of Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.

The event promises all the spectacle you’d expect from the nonprofit that invented the Mermaid Parade. 

Competition categories include Best Pee-wee Herman, Pee-wee’s Playhouse and Pee-wee Movie Character—meaning you could show up as Miss Yvonne, Cowboy Curtis, Jambi, Large Marge or any of the wonderfully weird characters from Reubens’ universe.

Registration begins at noon inside the Freak Bar, with the competition itself kicking off at 1pm on West 12th Street, right outside Coney Island USA’s landmarked building at 1208 Surf Avenue. Expect amazing Coney-themed prizes, loud costumes and probably more than one awkward Pee-wee dance.

The whole affair is free.

Every week feels like a fantastical celebration at Coney Island with its spectacular showing of fireworks each Friday night through August 28. Grab a Nathan's Famous frank and snag a comfortable spot on the boardwalk to celebrate the end of the summer's last few work weeks. Fireworks begin at approximately 9:45pm and launch in front of Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, providing a breathtaking backdrop to the iconic boardwalk and amusement parks. The show is presented by the Alliance for Coney Island.

In Times Square, you're usually dodging Elmos and tourists—not practicing your backhand. But later this month, one of New York’s busiest stretches will become an actual pickleball court where you can play for free.

CityPicklePalooza will take over Times Square Plaza from Wednesday, August 26, through Sunday, August 30, bringing five straight days of open play pickleball to the heart of Midtown. CityPickle and the Times Square Alliance are behind the event, which will install a professional pickleball court amid the billboards and Broadway theaters.

The event includes special programming, interactive games, prizes, giveaways, a live DJ, ProAm exhibition games, Beat-the-Pro sessions and nonprofit community programming. Sign-ups will open soon on CityPickle’s website.

The songs of Québécois nightingale Celine Dion are the stately vessel—or are they the iceberg?—in this campy spoof of James Cameron's 1997 romantic disaster film, written by Marla Mindelle (Sister Act) and Constantine Rousouli (Cruel Intentions) with director Tye Blue. After more than 1,000 performances Off Broafway, the ship sails onto the Main Stem this spring; original stars Mindelle, Rousouli and Frankie Grande are newly flanked by Jim Parsons (!) as meddling mother Ruth Dewitt Bukater and Deborah Cox as the ever-unsinkable Molly Brown. From now until the production closes on September 20, Time Out readers can enjoy a discount of up to 50% on ticket prices by using this link. 

If you've ever wished you could eat Nom Wah dumplings with a craft beer in Greenpoint, or sip one of Dante's legendary Negronis without trekking to Greenwich Village, your oddly specific dream has come true.

Threes Brewing's Greenpoint outpost launched a Summer Guest Series that temporarily turns the brewery into a rotating lineup of some of New York City's most beloved restaurants and bars. Every Monday evening through August, a different hospitality heavyweight takes over the space, bringing its own menu, music, decor and staff for a one-night-only residency.

The series kicked off with Dante and New York Cocktail Co., followed by The Irish Exit on July 13 and Nom Wah on July 20. August's lineup includes Veselka (August 3), Chi Ba Bakery (August 10), Shifka (August 17) and Peter Luger (August 24). Each pop-up runs from 5–8 pm and is first-come, first-served, with specials available until they sell out.

Rather than simply dropping off a signature dish, each guest is actually taking over the brewery for the evening. Expect each partner's playlist on the speakers, custom menus in guests' hands and visiting teams working the floor. Cocktail-focused nights, including Dante and The Irish Exit, will feature signature drinks paired with dishes from Grand Army, Threes' in-house food partner. Food-focused evenings will spotlight each restaurant's specialties, paired with custom beer or cocktails.

Five years after being charged with ‘saving cinema’ with Tenet, Christopher Nolan is back to take the strain again—this time with his most epic undertaking yet. Homer’s great homecoming tale remains a foundational text for big-screen storytelling and Nolan’s boundless ambition will celebrate it in IMAX-enhanced style. Matt Damon plays wandering hero Odysseus, with Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron and Jon Bernthal joining Nolan’s pantheon of gods and humans.

In cinemas July 17

Paramount+ Movie Nights at Bryant Park returned on July 13 and will run every Monday through September 14, once again turning Midtown's most famous lawn into a giant outdoor cinema. The free series leans heavily into crowd-pleasers and quotable classics that everyone loves, including Vietnam, The Truman Show, Bridget Jones's Diary, Catch Me If You Can, No Country for Old Men, Galaxy Quest and Shakespeare in Love.

Here's the full line-up:

• Wayne’s World: July 13
• Good Morning, Vietnam: July 20
• The Truman Show: July 27
• Bridget Jones’s Diary: August 3
• Catch Me If You Can: August 10
• City of God: August 17
• King Creole: August 24
• No Country for Old Men: August 31
• Galaxy Quest: September 7
• Shakespeare in Love: September 14

A small group show titled "Elsewhere" is on view at the VillageOneArt gallery in Chelsea, and it looks as brain-tickling as it sounds. Artists Hannah Levin, Gwynna Dille, Hanna Jennings, Natsumi Goldfish and Chandra Fang display their work, which comes together as a collective, introspective observation of the world around us.

For those who love a still life or imaginative scenework, check out Fang and Goldfish, respectively.

Vivienne Yang founded the women-led contemporary art gallery in 2018 to feature work by a wide array of artists who are based both locally and internationally. VillageOneArt is free to the public and open Wednesday to Saturday.

Seaport Cinema outdoor movies is taking place on the Heineken Riverdeck at Pier 17 (89 South Street). The event runs on Tuesday nights at sundown around 8pm with stunning waterfront views of the Brooklyn Bridge and movie-themed concessions. The seasonal tradition kicked off on Tuesday, July 21 with the Nicolas Cage-led caper National Treasure. A string of beloved comedies including Legally Blonde (August 4) and 13 Going on 30 (August 11) are still to follow.

Things get romantic later in August with screenings of Crazy Rich Asians (August 18) and Dirty Dancing (August 25), before the summertime series finishes off on September 8 with the sporty biopic King Richard, starring Oscar-winning Will Smith as Serena and Venus Williams' father-slash-coach, Richard Williams. 

As usual, every screening will be free and open to the public, with entry on a first-come, first-served basis. And given the outdoor nature of the series, attendees are encouraged to bring their own blankets to sit on. You are also allowed to bring your own food, or order from the venue's on-site restaurants. There will also be a dedicated Heineken Zone, complete with reserved seating and a bucket of Heineken brews, available for $25; tickets are on sale at The Seaport website. 

Seaport Cinema 2026 outdoor movie schedule:

• July 21: National Treasure (2004)
• July 28: She’s the Man (2006)
• August 4: Legally Blonde (2001)
• August 11: 13 Going on 30 (2004)
• August 18: Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
• August 25: Dirty Dancing (1987)
• September 1: King Richard (2021)
• September 8: Rain date

Few summer traditions are as quintessentially New York as watching a movie beneath the stars with the Manhattan skyline glowing in the background. Brooklyn Bridge Park’s beloved Movies With A View series returns for its 26th season, bringing free outdoor screenings to Pier 1’s Harbor View Lawn on Thursday nights throughout July and August, plus a special family movie night in September. This year’s lineup will be Hamilton (July 2), When Harry Met Sally (July 9), Bend It Like Beckham (July 16), The Talented Mr. Ripley (July 23), Clueless (July 30), Jurassic Park (August 6), Do the Right Thing (August 13), Bridesmaids (August 20), Public Choice Screening (August 27) and How to Train Your Dragon (September 18). Bring a blanket, arrive early and settle in for one of the city’s most scenic movie nights.

The William Vale has announced the return of its annual Vale Cinema Series, bringing six poolside screenings to the hotel’s rooftop this summer. The series takes place at the Vale Pool, which has been transformed for the season into the Sephora Summer Club, a colorful collab that pairs outdoor movies with city views and cocktails.

Running from June through August, the lineup primarily consists of crowd-pleasing favorites and cult classics. This year also introduces a new “Sephora Presents” series, highlighting films connected by themes of beauty and self-expression.

The season kicked off on June 8 with Barbie, everyone’s favorite pink-hued blockbuster. On June 29, the spotlight shifted to Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the beloved rock musical and cult favorite. July brought two very different summer classics: Grease on July 13 as part of the Sephora-sponsored series, and Jaws on July 27, a particularly fitting choice for a screening taking place beside a pool. August begins with Legally Blonde on August 10 and the season wraps on August 24 with Mean Girls, ensuring that one of the most quotable comedies ever made closes out the summer.

Giggity, giggity, folks: Quahog’s most famous watering hole is officially heading your way. Now through August 23, Bucket Listers is bringing The Drunken Clam, the iconic dive bar from the beloved adult animated series Family Guy, to New York City for burgers, drinks and plenty of Family Guy-style antics.

Located on the second floor of 1604 Broadway in Times Square, this fully interactive Family Guy Drunken Clam Experience will transport you directly into the world of Peter, Quagmire, Joe and Cleveland. After wildly successful runs in cities like Chicago and Los Angeles, the Manhattan activation promises to be the most immersive yet. From the glowing neon signage to the meticulously recreated bar stools, every detail is designed to make you feel like you've stepped through the television screen.

With your ticket, you'll get a welcome drink and access to a treasure trove of Family Guy Easter eggs and photo ops. Find the infamous Evil Monkey or hang out in meticulously recreated scenes that honor twenty-four seasons of animated history. The pop-up will also host Family Guy trivia nights and karaoke, ensuring the atmosphere remains as chaotic and entertaining as the show itself. Exclusive merch will also be available for those looking to take a piece of Quahog home.

Fashion may be ephemeral, but the images it leaves behind can become immortal. That's the idea behind Yves Saint Laurent and Photography, a major new exhibition at the International Center of Photography that explores the legendary designer's four-decade relationship with the camera. Featuring nearly 300 photographs and archival objects drawn from the collections of the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris, visitors will encounter images by some of the 20th century's greatest photographers, including Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Annie Leibovitz, Helmut Newton and Andy Warhol, alongside contact sheets, magazines, campaign materials and personal photographs. 

Animation existed in movies long before Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse. This summer, MoMA is celebrating the whole wonderfully weird history with It’s Alive!, an exhibit that brings together more than 200 works spanning 1908 to 2020, from Gertie the Dinosaur to experimental artists, Sesame Street and those gloriously bizarre MTV-era music spots. With more than 35 artists represented, the exhibit also features a special focus on the genre's NYC roots. 

Before Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma hits theaters August 7, the Museum of the Moving Image is inviting horror fans to check into its fictional summer camp. Opening July 30, Reframing the Slasher pairs props from Jane Schoenbrun’s meta slasher—including VHS tapes, posters and costumes—with classic films that shaped the genre, from Psycho to Sleepaway Camp. It’s a free exhibition for anyone who likes their nostalgia bloody, complicated and displayed behind glass.

This year, Harry Styles is once more making Madison Square Garden into Harry's House. Styles will return to the road for the first time since his Love On Tour ended in 2023. Together, Together will be a seven-city global residency tour that takes him from Amsterdam to Sydney with one unmistakable epicenter: New York’s Madison Square Garden.

The 30-show residency will be the centerpiece of a sprawling 50-date tour that lasts from May through December, and it’s the only U.S. stop on the list. The Garden shows, which run from August 26 through October 31, dwarf his record-setting 15-night stint at the same arena in 2022.

Everyone gets a convention for their interests! Anime lovers get this annual celebration of manga, anime, gaming and Japanese art, which blasts into Javits Center with four packed days of panels, cosplay and culture. Attractions include panel discussions with internationally renowned anime directors, producers and actors, film screenings, a Japanese food court and live musical performances. Organizers expect more than 50,000 fans over the weekend, many of whom will be decked out in stunning cosplay presentations.

One of the US Open's most beloved traditions returns on August 23 with Arthur Ashe Kids' Day, a free, family-friendly celebration that officially kicks off Fan Week in Flushing Meadows. Held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the annual event honors the legacy of tennis legend Arthur Ashe with a full day of activities, including player practices, live entertainment, interactive games, face painting and hands-on tennis experiences for kids of all ages. Whether your little ones are future Grand Slam champions or just looking for a fun summer outing, this energetic event serves up plenty of excitement.

New York's best jazz festival doesn't charge a cover. The Charlie Parker Jazz Festival returns August 28–30 with three days of free performances in Marcus Garvey Park and Tompkins Square Park, honoring the bebop legend where he once lived and worked. This year's lineup includes the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Joshua Redman, Ravi Coltrane and more, proving Bird's influence still soars through every generation of jazz. 

Step back in time to August 1776 at Green-Wood Cemetery's commemoration of the Battle of Brooklyn. The battle was the largest battle of the Revolutionary War and the first to take place after the signing of the Declaration of Independence—it took place on land that's now part of Green-Wood Cemetery.

Events on Sunday, August 23 include a chance to meet costumed interpreters, experience a 1776 soldiers encampment, do some 18th-century laundry, see historical demonstrations and listen to stories of the American Revolution. Plus, all are welcome to participate in a march to Battle Hill, the highest natural point in Brooklyn and a key site of the 1776 battle. 

This event isn't just for history nerds. All ages are invited for a fun afternoon of activities that bring NYC's revolutionary history to life and honor the bravery of those who fought for America's independence 250 years ago. Visitors are welcome to bring picnics and blankets to enjoy on the Main Entrance Meadow—something not usually permitted at Green-Wood.

It's free to attend, with advance reservation recommended.

If you've ever wanted to see tennis superstars loosen up before the pressure of the U.S. Open begins, Stars of the Open is your chance. The annual Fan Week exhibition returns to Arthur Ashe Stadium on August 27, bringing many of the sport's biggest names together for an evening of playful competition, unexpected pairings and on-court trash talk you won't see once the tournament officially starts. Think of it as tennis summer camp for Grand Slam champions: all the talent, none of the tension. Better yet, proceeds benefit the USTA Foundation, which supports youth education and tennis programs nationwide. Tickets are still available, but this crowd-pleaser tends to move quickly. 

On August 27, the newly restored Grand Ballroom at the Waldorf Astoria New York will be transformed into a full-size tennis court beneath its glittering chandeliers for the inaugural Waldorf Astoria Racquet Club: Ballroom Tennis Invitational. The one-night-only event will bring ATP and WTA stars Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton, Leylah Fernandez and Maria Sakkari into a room that's better known for hosting presidents and movie stars

The Grand Ballroom has hosted some of New York's biggest cultural moments over the decades, including the first Tony Awards, early Met Galas and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. But this will mark the first time anyone has played competitive tennis under its crystal chandeliers.

The exhibition matches are only part of the evening. Guests can also expect Champagne from Moët & Chandon, interactive chef stations, seafood, tennis-themed cocktails and dishes from Lex Yard, the hotel's restaurant led by James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Anthony. The hotel's Guerlain Wellness Spa will also offer wellness experiences tied to the event.

Break out your crispest linen and pray no one spills the rosé: Brooklyn en Blanc returns on August 30 for an all-white soirée that promises equal parts elegance and summer revelry. The chic end-of-summer celebration invites guests to don head-to-toe white for an evening of dining, dancing and mingling in a secret, stylish Brooklyn setting. Expect live entertainment, DJs, photo ops and plenty of Instagram-worthy moments as hundreds of New Yorkers gather for what's essentially the borough's answer to a garden party. Just remember the only strict dress code: absolutely no color allowed.

Before the U.S. Open turns Flushing Meadows into the center of the tennis universe, the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center throws open its gates for Fan Week, eight days of free practices, exhibitions, concerts and family-friendly programming that offers all the excitement of the year's final Grand Slam—without the price tag.

This year's Fan Week runs August 17–23 and includes a packed lineup of can't-miss events. On Friday, August 21, fans can hear directly from the sport's biggest stars during US Open Media Day inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, followed that evening by Sounds of the Open, the annual free concert that transforms the South Plaza into an open-air music venue. Past performers have included Leon Bridges, DNCE and LANY.

The festivities continue on Saturday, August 22, with Arthur Ashe Kids' Day. And on Sunday, August 23, Open Practice Day offers one final opportunity to watch players prepare for the tournament before the main draw gets underway.

Whether you consult the cards before every first date or couldn't tell The Fool from The Tower, the Morgan Library & Museum's new exhibition Tarot! Renaissance Symbols, Modern Visions offers a fascinating look at how a centuries-old card game became a cultural obsession. The sweeping exhibition traces tarot's origins in Renaissance Italy to its enduring influence on modern and contemporary art. Highlights include the first U.S. reunion of the famed 15th-century Visconti-Sforza deck—among the oldest surviving tarot cards—as well as works by artists including Leonora Carrington, Remedios Varo, Niki de Saint Phalle and Betye Saar. The show culminates with a new commission by celebrated artist Chris Ofili, proving that tarot's imagery remains as potent and inspiring as ever. Mystics, art lovers and the tarot-curious will all find something to divine here.

Hitting a Yankees game couldn’t be more quintessentially New York. The Major League Baseball team, which won the World Series in 1978, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2009, made it to the World Series again in 2024! To date, the Yankees have won 27 World Series in 42 appearances, the most in the MLB in addition to major North American professional sports leagues. Through 2024, their all-time regular season winning percentage is .569 (a 10,778 – 8,148 record)—the best of any team in MLB history.

Grab your tickets now to see NYC in action.