Events in New York September 2026: Best Concerts, Festivals and Things to Do
Events in New York September 2026: Best Concerts, Festivals and Things to Do
Overview
If you are chasing the last of summer or the first cool nights of fall, the events in New York September 2026 hand you both. The city changes seasons this month. Rooftops stay open, the parks fill up, and the fall culture calendar switches on all at once.
This September is unusually loaded. The US Open reaches its finals weekend, Little Italy throws the 100th Feast of San Gennaro, Lincoln Center hosts a rare dance drama, and Central Park’s Great Lawn stages the Global Citizen Festival during United Nations General Assembly week.
This guide covers the confirmed, still-upcoming events in New York September 2026, with dates, venues, entry prices and booking links, checked as of 10 September 2026. We cross-check every listing against the official venue or a live booking page, so you are not chasing a show that already moved or sold out. Ticmint powers 1,600+ events and $41M+ in ticketed transactions across 138 countries (Ticmint, 2026), so we watch this calendar closely.
Events in New York September 2026 at a Glance
Use this table to scan by date, then jump to the full write-up for any event that catches your eye. Prices are the lowest listed tier and rise for premium seats or on-the-day tickets. All prices are in US dollars.
Event | Dates | Venue | Entry | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
US Open 2026 (finals weekend) | Through 13 Sep | Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Queens | Ticketed, session prices vary | |
Feast of San Gennaro (100th) | 17 to 27 Sep | Mulberry St, Little Italy | Free to enter | |
MULAN: A Dance Drama | 18 to 20 Sep | David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center | From $30 | |
African American Day Parade (57th) | 20 Sep | Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd, Harlem | Free | |
All Things Go Festival | 25 to 27 Sep | Forest Hills Stadium, Queens | Ticketed, day and 3-day passes | |
Global Citizen Festival | 26 Sep | Great Lawn, Central Park | Free via action, paid GA and VIP | |
Brooklyn Book Festival | 27 Sep (Festival Day) | Downtown Brooklyn | Free | |
Atlantic Antic | 27 Sep | Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn | Free |
The Best Events in New York September 2026
Below are the eight events worth building the rest of the month around, in date order. For each one, you get what it is, why it stands out, and how to get there or book.
US Open 2026 in Flushing Meadows, Queens
Dates: Through 13 September 2026 | Entry: Ticketed, session prices vary
The season’s final Grand Slam closes out this month in Flushing Meadows. As of publication, the semifinals and both finals are still to come. The women’s singles final is on Saturday 12 September at 4:00 PM ET, and the men’s singles final crowns the season on Sunday 13 September at 2:00 PM ET. This is the last chance of the year to see the world’s best on a hard court, and finals weekend is the hottest ticket in the city. For sessions, seating maps and availability, book through the official site at usopen.org. Furthermore, buy from the official channel rather than a street reseller, because Arthur Ashe finals sessions are heavily counterfeited.
Source: US Open official schedule (usopen.org); WTA 2026 tournament guide.
Feast of San Gennaro 2026 in Little Italy
Dates: 17 to 27 September 2026 | Entry: Free to enter, pay for food and games
The Feast of San Gennaro is an 11-day Italian-American street festival in Little Italy that honors the patron saint of Naples. It began in 1926 and returns every September along Mulberry Street. Expect sausage and peppers, zeppole, cannoli, live music, carnival games and a religious procession through the neighborhood.
This year is the big one. The 2026 edition marks the festival’s 100th anniversary, so expect expanded programming, more scheduled entertainment and larger crowds than a typical year. The action runs along Mulberry Street between Canal and Houston, with spillover onto Hester and Grand. In addition, the feast-day Mass and Grand Procession fall on the weekend around 19 September, the saint’s day. Entry is free, though many vendors are cash-only, so carry cash. For the official day-by-day schedule, see sangennaronyc.org. As a result of the centennial, go earlier in the day and take the subway, because parking is not realistic during the closures.
Source: Feast of San Gennaro official site (sangennaronyc.org).
MULAN: A Dance Drama at Lincoln Center
Dates: 18 to 20 September 2026 | Entry: From $30
For something slower and more theatrical, this award-winning dance drama makes its New York debut for four performances only. Presented by China Arts and Entertainment Group and performed by the China Ningbo Performance and Arts Group, it retells the legend of Hua Mulan through classical Chinese dance and martial arts. The centerpiece is a 15-meter revolving stage that turns the battle scenes into full spectacle. Performances run Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM, Saturday at 1:30 PM, and Sunday at 2:30 PM. Tickets start at $30, which makes this one of the better-value cultural tickets of the month. Book through the venue at davidhkochtheater.com.
Source: David H. Koch Theater listing (davidhkochtheater.com).
African American Day Parade in Harlem
Dates: Sunday 20 September 2026 | Entry: Free
One of the largest African-American parades in the country marches up Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard through the heart of Harlem. The 57th edition steps off around noon, with a pre-parade show from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM at the reviewing stand near West 125th Street. This year’s theme is “Good Businesses Sustain Our Future,” and the Grambling State University marching band leads the procession. The route runs roughly from 111th to 135th Street, so you can watch from anywhere along the way for free. For timing and route details, check the organizer at africanamericandayparade.org. In addition, arrive early if you want a spot near the reviewing stand.
Source: African American Day Parade, Inc.; New York Amsterdam News (September 2026).
All Things Go Festival at Forest Hills Stadium
Dates: 25 to 27 September 2026 | Entry: Ticketed, day and 3-day passes
All Things Go returns to the open-air tennis bowl at Forest Hills Stadium for a three-day run with a female and non-binary-forward lineup. Because the venue uses a single stage, there are no overlapping sets, so you catch every artist you came for. For headliners, Zara Larsson leads Friday, Brandi Carlile takes Saturday, and MUNA closes Sunday, with Carly Rae Jepsen, Lola Young, The Beaches and CMAT across the weekend. The stadium sits about 15 minutes from Manhattan by train, and there is no on-site parking, so plan to take the subway or the LIRR. Buy day passes or a three-day pass through the official page at allthingsgofestival.com/nyc.
Source: All Things Go official site (allthingsgofestival.com); festival lineup announcement, May 2026.
Global Citizen Festival at Central Park
Dates: Saturday 26 September 2026 | Entry: Free via action, paid GA and VIP available
The Global Citizen Festival is the marquee free show of the month, timed to United Nations General Assembly week. Ms. Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean headline with a set marking the 30th anniversary of the Fugees’ album The Score, joined by Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Lainey Wilson, Shaboozey and TOMORROW X TOGETHER. Hugh Jackman hosts. Most tickets are free, but you earn them by completing advocacy actions in the Global Citizen app rather than buying them outright. In addition, paid general admission and VIP options exist for those who prefer to buy. Gates open at 2:00 PM and music starts at 4:00 PM on Central Park’s Great Lawn. Learn how to earn tickets at globalcitizen.org. Meanwhile, expect heavy security screening, so bring a clear bag and arrive early.
Source: Global Citizen official site (globalcitizen.org); CBS New York, August 2026.
Brooklyn Book Festival Across the Five Boroughs
Dates: Festival Day Sunday 27 September 2026, citywide events 20 to 28 September | Entry: Free
The Brooklyn Book Festival is the largest free literary event in the city, and 2026 is its 21st edition. The main Festival Day lands on Sunday 27 September in Downtown Brooklyn, with hundreds of authors, publishers and booksellers across outdoor stages and indoor venues. Children’s Day runs the day before on Saturday 26 September, and a week of citywide “Bookends” events spreads through all five boroughs from 20 to 28 September. This year, novelist Amitav Ghosh receives the Best of Brooklyn award. For example, if you have kids, Children’s Day is the calmer, family-focused entry point. Everything is free to attend. See the full program at brooklynbookfestival.org.
Source: Brooklyn Book Festival / Brooklyn Literary Council announcement, July 2026.
Atlantic Antic in Brooklyn
Dates: Sunday 27 September 2026, 12:00 to 6:00 PM | Entry: Free
Brooklyn’s oldest and largest street festival takes over roughly a mile of Atlantic Avenue, from Hicks Street to Fourth Avenue, weaving through Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill and Boerum Hill. The 51st edition brings hundreds of food and craft vendors, around a dozen live-music stages, three dedicated kids’ areas, and the return of the “Antic Sing” competition. It is a full-day, walk-and-graze kind of festival rather than a ticketed one. Because it shares the 27th with the Brooklyn Book Festival, you can pair the two into a single Brooklyn day. Entry is free. Details are posted at atlanticave.org.
Source: Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation press release, August 2026.
Free Events in New York September 2026
You do not need a big budget to have a full month. Several of the strongest events in New York September 2026 cost nothing to attend. The Feast of San Gennaro is free to walk into, and you only pay for what you eat. Similarly, the African American Day Parade is free to watch from anywhere on the Harlem route. The Global Citizen Festival gives away most tickets to anyone who takes action in its app. Finally, both the Brooklyn Book Festival and Atlantic Antic are free all day on 27 September. For a wider spread of free things to do across the country this year, see our roundup of the best events across the USA.
How to Plan Your Trip Around Events in New York September 2026
The calendar clusters in the back half of the month, so a little planning goes a long way. Here are three simple ways to build a trip.
- One big weekend (25 to 27 September): Base yourself near a subway line and do All Things Go in Queens, the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park, and either the Brooklyn Book Festival or Atlantic Antic on Sunday. This is the busiest and best weekend of the month.
- A single standout day: Pick Saturday 20 September and pair the African American Day Parade in Harlem with an evening at San Gennaro. Both are free, so the only cost is food and travel.
- A culture-first visit (18 to 20 September): Catch MULAN at Lincoln Center, then wander down to Little Italy for the feast. Add a US Open session if the dates line up with your arrival.
For comparison, if you are traveling the region this season, our guide to events in Dubai this September shows how a similar calendar plays out in another global city.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are the best events in New York September 2026?
The best events in New York September 2026 include the US Open finals weekend in Queens, the 100th Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy, MULAN at Lincoln Center, the African American Day Parade in Harlem, All Things Go at Forest Hills Stadium, the Global Citizen Festival on Central Park’s Great Lawn, and Brooklyn’s Book Festival and Atlantic Antic on 27 September.
2. Are there free events in New York September 2026?
Yes. Several events in New York September 2026 are free to attend. The Feast of San Gennaro is free to enter, the African American Day Parade is free to watch along the Harlem route, and both the Brooklyn Book Festival and Atlantic Antic are free all day. The Global Citizen Festival also awards most tickets free through advocacy actions.
3. How do I get tickets for events in New York September 2026?
Buy tickets for events in New York September 2026 through each event’s official page, such as usopen.org for the US Open, davidhkochtheater.com for MULAN, and allthingsgofestival.com for All Things Go. Free events like San Gennaro, the African American Day Parade, the Brooklyn Book Festival and Atlantic Antic need no ticket at all.
4. When is the Feast of San Gennaro 2026?
The Feast of San Gennaro runs from Thursday 17 September to Sunday 27 September 2026, along Mulberry Street in Little Italy. The 2026 edition marks the festival’s 100th anniversary. Entry is free, and the feast-day Mass and Grand Procession take place on the weekend around 19 September, the saint’s day.
5. How do I get tickets for the Global Citizen Festival 2026?
The Global Citizen Festival on 26 September 2026 awards most tickets for free. You earn them by completing advocacy actions, such as signing petitions, in the Global Citizen app. Paid general admission and VIP tickets are also sold through the official site at globalcitizen.org. Gates open at 2:00 PM on Central Park’s Great Lawn.
6. Is the US Open still on in September 2026?
Yes. The 2026 US Open runs through Sunday 13 September at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens. As of early September, the semifinals and both singles finals are still to be played. The men’s singles final closes the tournament on Sunday 13 September. Book sessions at usopen.org.
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