Picnic Performances, Bryant Park 

 

 

 

Now live: the 2026 season lineup for Picnic Performances presented by Bank of America! From May 28 through September 11, Bryant Park is home to 24 nights of music, dance, circus, and theater under the New York City skyline.  

 

Join us in the heart of Midtown Manhattan for a summer of FREE arts programming. Can’t make it to the park? Watch our livestreams from the comfort of your home, available to watch on YouTube and Facebook @bryantparknyc, and here on our website. 

 

What's special for Picnic Performances in 2026?

This season is poised to celebrate anniversaries:

 

Acclaimed New York-based orchestra group, The Knights, will perform classical music inspired by American history in celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary.

On August 7, three-time Grammy Award-winning soprano, Latonia Moore, celebrates 111 years of Ella Fitzgerald’s timeless music with the New York City Opera.

To close the season, we commemorate the 25th anniversary of September 11 with a moving program of classical music and reflections.  

2026 Picnics also welcomes a variety of global talent and culture, with influences from six continents and countless countries. From the likes of jazz, blues and Louisiana Zydeco to fiery Puerto Rican Bomba Fusion to North Indian-inspired vocals, Picnics artists will light up the park with performances that will sweep you off your feet! 

 

 

WHITE WAVE Dance's "Here NOW So Long" (Excerpt)

 

#June 4, 2026, 7:00pm–8:30pm

Contemporary Dance: Carolyn Dorfman Dance, Terk Lewis, WHITE WAVE Dance

-Program: Terk Lewis's "us", WHITE WAVE Dance's "Here NOW So Long" (Excerpt), Carolyn Dorfman Dance's "The Attitude of Doing" (Excerpts), Carolyn Dorfman Dance's "Keystone", Carolyn Dorfman Dance's "Waves"

 

#June 5, 2026, 7:00pm–8:30pm 

Contemporary Dance: Dancing for the Wild

-Program: Buglisi Dance Theatre's "Moss Anthology: Variation #5", Joffrey Concert Group's "Fists and Feathers", Ingrid Silva's "Intersections of Life", Henning Rübsam's "Monarcas", Antonia Franceschi's "Six Breaths", Joffrey Concert Group's "When The Water Breaks"

 

#June 12, 2026, 7:00pm–9:00pm

World Music Institute: World of Percussion Re-Imagined

-Artists: Cyro Baptista, Sunny Jain, Pedrito Martinez, Suphala, Adam Rudolph, Kaoru Watanabe, Glen Velez, Batalá

 

#Thu. June 18, 2026 at 7:00pm

Joe’s Pub: Joan As Police Woman, Britton & The Sting

  

#Fri. June 19, 2026 at 7:00pm

The Unsung Collective

  

#Fri. July 3, 2026 at 7:00pm

Carnegie Hall Citywide: The Knights

  

#Fri. July 10, 2026 at 7:00pm

Carnegie Hall Citywide: Aisha Jackson

  

#Fri. July 17, 2026 at 7:00pm

Carnegie Hall Citywide: Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas

  

#Fri. July 24, 2026 at 7:00pm

Carnegie Hall Citywide: NYC Ska Orchestra

  

#Fri. July 31, 2026 at 7:00pm

Carnegie Hall Citywide: El Laberinto del Coco

  

#Fri. August 7, 2026 at 7:00pm

New York City Opera: Celebration of Ella Fitzgerald

  

#Fri. August 14, 2026 at 7:00pm

New York Guitar Festival

  

#Sat. August 15, 2026 at 7:00pm

New York Guitar Festival

  

#Fri. August 21, 2026 at 7:00pm

Choir Festival

  

#Sat. August 22, 2026 at 6:00pm

Emerging Music Festival

  

#Fri. August 28, 2026 at 7:00pm

Accordion Festival

  

#Sat. August 29, 2026 at 5:00pm

Parallel Exit: Sunset Circus

 

 

#September 3, 2026 at 7:00pm

Asian American Arts Alliance: Grace Kelly, Ashni

 

*재즈 뮤지션 그레이스 켈리(정혜영)를 아시나요?

https://www.nyculturebeat.com/?mid=People2&document_srl=3302534

 

Plan your Picnic

Start time

Most shows begin at 7pm, with performance times ranging from an hour to just under three hours. For more details, check out our brochure.

 

Seating

You can grab a park chair and place it on the lawn. The park also lends out hundreds of free blankets for picnicking on a first-come, first-served basis. Just remember to return them on your way out! 

 

Picnicking

Pack your own picnic basket, or purchase food and drink from Hester Street Fair tents found at the back of the lawn. The Bryant Park Shop also sells Picnics-exclusive merchandise! Grab a T-shirt or tote bag or make your own Picnics-inspired T-shirt at our interactive merchandise station.  

 

Getting there

As an oasis in the middle of Midtown Manhattan, getting here is easy. Bryant Park is accessible by subway, train, or bus! Our award-winning restrooms are open throughout the entire season to make the performance viewing much more enjoyable.  

https://bryantpark.org/activities/picnic-performances