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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!!.
The festival is also embracing anniversary programming this year, with events celebrating milestones for Verve Records, Duck Down Music and the legendary hip-hop compilation series Ultimate Breaks and Beats. The beloved Charlie Parker Jazz Festival also returns August 28–30 with appearances from the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Joshua Redman and Ravi Coltrane.
And because this is still New York, the benefit concert lineup is equally chaotic in the best possible way: think Blues Traveler, Gin Blossoms and Spin Doctors one night, then The Martinez Brothers, Elderbrook and Anjunadeep the next.
“Forty years ago, I had a simple idea: that world-class music and performing arts belonged to everyone, not just those who could afford a ticket,” said Joe Killian, SummerStage’s founder and former executive producer. “SummerStage has been the cultural backbone of NYC since 1986.”
Executive artistic director Erika Elliott added, “We are extremely proud of SummerStage’s place in NYC music history and of championing artists across all genres, whether its local NYC icons or major stars from across the globe.”
Shows will take place across parks, including Marcus Garvey Park, Herbert Von King Park, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park and SummerStage’s flagship venue in Central Park. Most performances are free, which, in this economy, may be the hottest lineup announcement of all.