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Free Shakespeare is back and bigger than ever in 2026.
The Public Theater announced the return of its beloved Free Shakespeare in the Park program, now part of a sprawling, citywide initiative dubbed Shakespeare for the City. Running from May 22 through September 8, the expanded program will bring performances, events and community programming to parks and plazas across all five boroughs.
RECOMMENDED: Shakespeare in the Park just revealed its next summer season
For the 2026 season, the productions are as iconic as Central Park itself: Romeo & Juliet and The Winter’s Tale take the Delacorte stage, while As You Like It will travel across all five boroughs as this year's The Public's Mobile Theater Unit.
The festivities kick off on May 30 with a free, family-friendly celebration at the Delacorte, marking the theater’s reopening after its recent refresh. But if you can't make it, don't worry. On June 5, June 19, August 7, August 14 and August 21, The Public hosts Delacorte Open Houses from noon to 4pm, featuring self-guided tours, onstage photo opportunities and family programming. The open house extends into the evening, as well, with picnics from 6pm to 8pm featuring music, giveaways, and special guests.
Crucially, the program’s famously democratic ticketing system is also expanding. Free ticket vouchers for performances at the Delacorte will once again be handed out across the city, including 12 branches of Citizens, the program’s presenting partner. This year, there will be 50 distribution locations spanning all five boroughs, an effort to make access to the coveted (and elusive) tickets a little more equitable.
In other words: the line at the Delacorte isn’t going anywhere, but this summer, you’ll have a few more chances—and a few more places—to catch the show.
Here is a full list of locations where vouchers for that night's performance will be available beginning at noon. And Nordstrom NYC will hold in-person ticket lottery events at its flagship at 57th and Broadway on June 23, July 28 and August 18.
May 23: Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden (Staten Island)
May 24: New York Hall of Science (Queens)
May 26: Citizens, Williamsburg (Brooklyn)
May 27: Clason’s Point Library (Bronx)
May 28: The Leonard & Claire Tow Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College (Brooklyn)
May 29: Macomb’s Bridge Library (Manhattan)
May 30: Stapleton Library (Staten Island)
May 31: Brooklyn Children’s Museum (Brooklyn)
June 2: St. George Library Center (Staten Island)
June 3: Kings Highway Library (Brooklyn)
June 4: Sunset Park Library (Brooklyn)
June 5: Long Island City Library (Queens)
June 6: Jamaica Center for the Arts and Learning (Queens)
June 7: Bronx Community College (Bronx)
June 9: Citizens, Tribeca (Manhattan)
June 12: Macon Library (Brooklyn)
June 13: Elmhurst Library (Queens)
June 16: Citizens, Montague (Brooklyn)
June 17: THE POINT Community Development Center (Bronx)
June 18: Citizens, Pomonok (Queens)
June 20: Clinton Hill Library (Brooklyn)
June 21: Queens Museum (Queens)
June 23: Central Library (Queens)
June 24: Citizens, 86th Street (Brooklyn)
June 25: DreamYard (Bronx)
June 26: Flushing Library (Queens)
June 27: Windsor Terrace Library (Brooklyn)
July 26: New York Hall of Science (Queens)
July 28: Citizens, Bulls Head (Staten Island)
July 29: Clason’s Point Library (Bronx)
July 30: Citizens, Tribeca (Manhattan)
July 31: Macomb’s Bridge Library (Manhattan)
August 1: Clinton Hill Library (Brooklyn)
August 2: Brooklyn Children’s Museum (Brooklyn)
August 4: Citizens, 3rd and 92nd (Brooklyn)
August 5: St. George Library Center (Staten Island)
August 6: Citizens, Woodside (Queens)
August 7: Kings Highway Library (Brooklyn)
August 8: DreamYard (Bronx)
August 9: Brownsville Recreation Center (Brooklyn)
August 12: Citizens, Park Slope (Brooklyn)
August 13: Bay Ridge Library (Brooklyn)
August 14: Stapleton Library (Staten Island)
August 15: Flushing Library (Queens)
August 16: Bronx Community College (Bronx)
August 18: Citizens, Riverdale (Bronx)
August 19: Long Island City Library (Queens)
August 20: Citizens, Williamsburg (Brooklyn)
August 21: Elmhurst Library (Queens)
August 22: Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden (Staten Island)