Summer in New York
Your cultural agenda for July, August and September 2026...
From unexplored neighbourhoods and open-air performances to freshly minted dining spots and fascinating exhibitions, there’s always something to do in Manhattan. Our summer favourites also include a few under-the-radar options, from pocket parks to Michelin-star dishes cooked over coals. Navigate the city like a local…
Musical Bodies at The Met
until 27 september
This fascinating exhibition explores the unexpected connection between musical instruments and the human body, showcasing how the human form itself is a natural vehicle for sound, from clapping hands and tapping feet to beatboxing and whistling. The exhibition brings together 130 instruments, paintings, sculptures and drawings to illuminate how we express who we are, what we value and what we believe across 4,000 years of art and music history.
1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street, New York, 10028
Off the Beaten Track: Greenacre Park
all year
If you’re looking for a gentle reconnection to nature without the summer crowds, head to East 51st Street and immerse yourself in a few moments of urban tranquillity. For more than half a century, this midtown ‘pocket park’ (pictured above), complete with a waterfall and a blend of shaded seating and quiet benches, has been offering busy New Yorkers some much-needed serenity. After a busy day in the city, or for a midday pause, this is the place to reset.
217 East 51st Street, New York, 10022
Modern Mediterranean at Or'esh
Monday - Sunday | 5 - 11pm
Michelin-starred chef Nadav Greenberg brings dynamic, live fire cooking inspired by the Levant to SoHo. As you’d expect from the team behind ingredients-driven restaurant The Corner Store, the menu includes creatively presented dishes spotlighting seafood, flame-kissed meats and seasonal vegetables sourced from the market at Union Square. Don’t miss the Jerusalem bagel with baba ganoush, matbucha, mint tzatziki, olive oil, za’atar.
450 W Broadway, New York, NY 10012
Bryant Park Picnic Performances
until 11 sept
Welcoming New Yorkers and visitors alike, Bryant Park’s Picnic Performances bring music, theatre and dance shows to the outdoor stage. Audiences can enjoy contemporary music and dance, plus classical options, on 24 evenings throughout the summer while relaxing on the lawn. Highlights include New York City Opera’s Celebration of Ella Fitzgerald on 7 August at 7pm. Staff lend out hundreds of picnic blankets and chairs, while visitors can either bring a picnic supper or buy food from local vendors.
42nd St and Sixth Ave, New York, NY 10018
Explore Williamsburg
All Year
Fans of cult TV series Younger will know that Brooklyn’s Williamsburg, bordered by Greenpoint to the north and the East River to the west, is the neighbourhood to visit. Once a vital industrial district, it became known for its arts movement in the 1980s, when the Brooklyn Immersionists – artists, musicians and writers – began to rejuvenate streets, rooftops and abandoned warehouses. In the early 2000s, a new wave of young urbanites followed in their footsteps. Now the area balances new builds and designer pop-ups with a more down-to-earth blend of restaurants and bars, plus plenty of green spaces, including both Domino and McCarren Parks.
Head down the quieter blocks to the south and east to capture the original spirit of this neighbourhood and discover independent cafés, cosy brunch spots and stylish wine bars. A favourite on our radar, Leif on Grand Street stocks an array of chic decorative and home accessories, from painted ceramics to Merino wool throws and coloured Martini glasses. Don’t miss the area’s regular Saturday food festival, Smorgasburg, offering global flavours – from tacos to kolachi rolls - via a host of independents.
The Occupied City: New York and The American Revolution
Ongoing
Take an immersive journey through Revolutionary-era New York, via an interactive exhibition which traces the city’s pivotal role in the conflict, examining how decisions made by New Yorkers 250 years ago continue to reverberate across the city and the nation today. Highlights include a recreated 18th-century tavern and Loyalist print shop, along with digital dramatisations of key events like the Battle of New York.
1220 Fifth Avenue, New York, 10029
Shakespeare in the Park
open now
Make a beeline for Central Park’s Delacorte Theater this summer to enjoy Shakespeare in the open-air thanks to this annual programme of free performances. From 25 July to 23 August, catch The Winter's Tale - the Bard’s story of exile and reconciliation - from Tony Award-winning director Daniel Sullivan.
81 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024
Nomad Jazz Festival
2- 8 august
The city’s newest summer jazz festival returns for its second annual celebration of music, community and culture. Expect a week of free performances throughout NoMad (North of Madison Square), from restaurants and stores to public spaces and cultural venues, culminating in two days of concerts in Madison Square Park. Look out for a host of acclaimed artists, including José James, Becca Stevens and The Jazz Gallery All-Stars featuring special guest Renée Neufville.
Various locations across NoMad and Flatiron.
Hugo Marchand: Artists at the Centre
23 - 26 july
An unmissable opportunity to witness first-hand the artistry and lyricism of world-famous ballet dancer and étoile of the Paris Opera Ballet, Hugo Marchand. The programme includes a segment set to Ravel’s Boléro, which sees Marchand dance an athletic solo surrounded by 18 dancers from the Béjart Ballet Lausanne.
131 W 55th St, New York, 10019
Tour Carnegie Hall
monday - sunday
Take an insider’s look at this legendary space, whose threshold has been crossed by countless musical greats since its 1891 inception. The one-hour tour, which takes visitors into the Composers Gallery and the Rose Museum, also lifts the lid on a host of music legends and shares many fascinating facts about the building, its history and its acoustics. Also look out for Carnegie’s ‘United in Sound: America at 250’ programme, celebrating the multi-cultural musical influences that have formed part of the USA’s identity since the Declaration of Independence.
881 Seventh Avenue, New York, 10019
Header Image: Greenacre Park (Matthew Arielly, Sasaki.)