Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts once again takes the cultural pulse of New York with Summer for the City 2026, a festival that transforms its iconic campus into a large outdoor celebration dedicated to movement, music, dance and human connection. From June 10 to August 8, the city will experience a vibrant summer with hundreds of free shows or under the “Choose what you pay” model.
Since its launch, the festival has brought together more than 1.6 million attendees and in 2026 it returns with a renewed energy that puts dance at the center of the scene. New commissions, international premieres and a global approach mark this edition.
The grand opening on June 10 promises a night of high creative voltage with three proposals: Rhapsody by KEIGWIN + COMPANY with 30 New Yorkers on stage, Inayat: A Duet for Four, inspired by North Indian traditions, and a swing party with Caleb Teicher & Company alongside the Eyal Vilner Big Band.
Over the summer, the new Lincoln Center Contemporary Dance Festival will bring together international companies at Alice Tully Hall, while Dance Encounters will boost local creation with outdoor performances. Also returning is the BAAND Together Dance Festival, social dance nights and popular silent discos at Josie Robertson Plaza.
The festival adds nine new commissions in music, dance and film, with creators such as Jessie Montgomery, Billy Childs, Hannah Ishizaki, Akram Khan and Du Yun. Additionally, celebrations such as Chinese Arts Week, Ruidosa Fest, globalFEST, Brazil Day, Jamaica Day and a K-Pop Night reinforce its global spirit.
With this edition, Lincoln Center reaffirms that art is not only observed: it is experienced in community, turning New York into a great stage open all summer long.
More information and calendar of events at SummerForTheCity.org.
