A creative buzz floats on the air in New York City. There’s always live music to dance to, new museum exhibits to marvel at, and thrilling live theater performed by immensely talented actors across Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off-Broadway stages. Plan a trip to this dynamic destination, where there is no end of ways to experience the arts. Plus, discover world-class arts and culture in every region of New York State with I LOVE NY’s newly launched regional map and guides, upcoming calendar of events, and more. Photo credit: @nyclovesnyc on Instagram.
JUMP TO: Visual Arts | Theaters and Performing Arts | Historic Sites and Landmarks | Music and Film | Events and Festivals
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Credit: @dario.nyc on Instagram
Whether you take a guided highlights tour (10:30-11:30am daily), hone in on an artist you love, or pleasantly meander through 5,000 years of history via art, the Met is sure to be a memorable experience. Housed in a mammoth neoclassical structure on the edge of Central Park, the Met is one of the world’s great museums. Works by Jackson Pollock, Pablo Picasso, Mary Cassatt, and Renaissance artist Caravaggio are part of the permanent collection, as are five of the world’s 34 surviving paintings by Johannes Vermeer. From Asian, Greek, and Islamic Art to the American Wing and the Temple of Dendur (a pharaonic temple built in 10 B.C.), the Met inspires all who visit. Between May and October, don’t miss the Roof Garden Commission, an annual outdoor site-specific exhibit by a single artist, enhanced by panoramic views of Central Park and Manhattan.
Credit: @dianazakem on Instagram
More than 200,000 works, many created by leaders of modern and contemporary art, are under one (very large!) roof in midtown Manhattan. And with a collection of that staggering size, working out what to see may pose a challenge. Fortunately, MoMA generously offers focused itineraries. First-timers may want to follow The Unmissables guide to see works by Henri Matisse, Frida Kahlo, Claude Monet, and—that one absolute can’t-miss—The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh. Second visit or beyond? Check out The New Unmissables guide, which goes beyond the most famous works to those that have been previously overlooked and, according to curators, deserve more attention. Likewise, itineraries for families and couples guide visitors toward new artistic perspectives.
National Museum of the American Indian
The rich history of Native culture is revealed through hundreds of artifacts and works of art, all housed in a historic Lower Manhattan building. Visitors can explore displays of expertly crafted headdresses, textiles, and beadwork. Paintings, ceramics, and more by contemporary artists provide a glimpse into Native heritage and how it has shaped the artists’ lives and work. Continue your cultural journey at the Mili Kàpi Cafe, where light fare prepared with Indigenous ingredients is the specialty. The National Museum of the American Indian is part of the Smithsonian; admission is free.
A two-story 27,000-square-foot museum holds the largest collection of Isamu Noguchi’s (1904–1988) works in the world. Built by Noguchi himself, the museum is located in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens. Visitors will encounter the artist’s abstract sculptures, his signature Akari light sculptures (inspired by a 1951 trip to Japan, plus architectural models, furniture designs, and ceramics. Thirteen galleries and an outdoor sculpture garden display his works. Public tours are offered at 2 p.m. daily and are free with admission.
Credit: @GALLIVANT_GRAM ON INSTAGRAM
Every aspect of the Brooklyn Museum is alluring. The 560,000-square-foot Beaux-Arts building, the diversity of exhibitions, and the cutting-edge live concerts and events will keep you coming back again and again. The permanent collection includes Islamic, Asian, and ancient Egyptian art. Additional exhibits focus on themes of identity and diversity, showcasing artists of color, women, and artists from the LGBTQ+ community. The existing building that houses the Brooklyn Museum was built in 1897. It is one of the oldest and largest museums in the country.
Founded in 1971, the museum’s focus is on contemporary works that shine a light on the urban experience. Local artists are featured; the Bronx is a popular subject. Photography, sculpture, found objects, and graffiti-style paintings have been displayed in recent and upcoming exhibitions. Admission is always free. Note that the museum is currently undergoing an extensive renovation, during which time only the north galleries will be open. The south galleries are expected to reopen in 2026.
Credit: Jessica Brock
A revitalized Queens waterfront space serves as a public park and place for emerging and established artists to exhibit their work. Artists create their large-scale installations at the on-site outdoor studio, and three new exhibitions are typically featured every year. Founded in 1986 by sculptor Mark di Suvero, Socrates Sculpture Park is a success story in urban renewal. Having once been an abandoned landfill site, the land now provides the public with an art-filled waterfront escape.
Credit: @nyclovesnyc on Instagram
Visit this iconic Frank Lloyd Wright-designed museum, one of the most significant architectural feats of the 20th century. The Guggenheim’s world-famous collection includes works by some of art’s greatest like Salvador Dalí, Piet Mondrian, Rene Magritte, and Vincent Van Gogh. The Museum’s unique layout is sure to impress. Experience artwork along a huge spiraling ramp, gaze up at the intricate skylight, and more.
With roots dating back to 1969, the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art exists as a dynamic and safe space where the LGBTQ community and allies can engage in meaningful art experiences. As the only museum dedicated to LGBTQIA+ art in the world, the expansive collection and rotating exhibits represent the evolving constellation of queer experience. The museum’s upcoming exhibit will feature Young Joon Kwak: RESISTERHOOD (February 14, 2025 – July 27, 2025).
Credit: Phoebe Baker
Ella Fitzgerald, Lauryn Hill, H.E.R., and many others were propelled to stardom after performing at Amateur Night at The Apollo. The talent competition also welcomes comedians and dancers to the stage, to perform for the notoriously critical and forthright audience. Beyond the talent show, the iconic Harlem theater hosts live music, dance, stand-up comedy, and variety acts. Founded in 1914, The Apollo has played a pivotal role in history. Once a venue that did not allow Black patrons to perform in or attend events, it is now the heart of the arts in Harlem, one that specializes in showcasing and elevating Black artists across various genres.
Credit: @roshtoms on Instagram
Since premiering Hair—the unforgettable “tribal love-rock musical”— in 1967, The Public Theater has been dedicated to showcasing quality new plays and musicals. Megahit Hamilton got its start here. So did the Tony Award-winning Hell’s Kitchen. Theatergoers can always count on provocative productions, which take place year-round at The Public’s Astor Place landmarked location. The Library, the theater’s mezzanine restaurant, is a great place for drinks and dinner before or after the show. The Public Theater also presents the beloved Shakespeare in the Park (pictured) productions every summer in Central Park (set to resume at the Delacorte Theater in 2025 upon completion of renovations).
An aura of stardom is steeped into every corner of Carnegie Hall. Ever since opening night in 1891, incomparable talent has taken the stage again and again. There was Benny Goodman and his swing band in 1938. Almost a decade later, Ella Fitzgerald performed with Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker. Leonard Bernstein first conducted the New York Philharmonic in 1943. Opera icon Maria Callas sang here, as did Judy Garland. Carnegie Hall is synonymous with world-class entertainment, presenting classical, jazz, folk, and much more. Tours are conducted during the concert season, and the Rose Museum gives a deeper dive into the legendary venue’s history.
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Credit: @sg_uberdawg on Instagram
The Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Ballet, and the New York Philharmonic all call Lincoln Center home. With thousands of performances each year, there’s no better venue for taking in dance, classical music, film, opera, and a whole host of performing arts. Select programming, including interactive theater, live world music, and stepping performances, appeals specifically to kids, teens, and families. Performances are usually free or pay-what-you-wish. During Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City, their Upper West Side plaza transforms into an outdoor space full of dance, music, and art installations.
Every visit to the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) has the potential to bring about a transformative experience. One day you might view a thought-provoking independent film followed by a filmmaker Q&A. Another visit may have you watching a cutting-edge performance of a rock musical, dance troupe, poetry reading, or a new take on an old favorite like The Nutcracker. Founded in 1861, BAM is one of the oldest performing arts centers in the nation.
A waterfront venue in the hip neighborhood of DUMBO is the place in Brooklyn for avant-garde performances. Actors, directors, and choreographers from around the world contribute to the year-round programming. Performances take place in an 1860 tobacco warehouse; the iconic Brooklyn Bridge looms just above St. Ann’s, creating the perfect vibe for a New York night on the town. Grab a drink and a light snack before the show at Bar Jolie.
Life is all about a work-life balance. A home in Queens provided just that for jazz great Louis Armstrong. On the road, he was at the height of superstardom. At home, he could enjoy simple pleasures like popping into the local barber shop and chatting with the neighborhood kids. Armstrong lived here with his wife Lucille for nearly 30 years. He died in 1971 and when Lucille followed him in 1983, she left the home to the city of New York. The house museum now contains artifacts and archives in the form of photographs, recorded music, sheet music, scrapbooks, and musical instruments, providing an intimate glimpse into the life of the legendary Satchmo. The newly-opened Louis Armstrong Center houses the couple’s 60,000-piece archive and a 75-seat venue offering musical performances, lectures, films, and educational experiences.
Photo by Joe Cingrana. Courtesy of NYC & Co
A scenic ferry ride to Staten Island transports visitors to the former home of Alice Austen (1866-1952). The photographer captured the lives of immigrants and the working class, around the turn of the 20th century, in striking images. Austen also photographed her peers—wealthy women of the Victorian era. The resulting images are evidence that she and her circle of friends were less than conforming to the conservative ideals of their time and social status. Austen’s grandfather purchased the Victorian Gothic cottage in 1844. Austen later spent three decades living here with her life partner Gertrude Tate. The waterfront house museum displays rotating exhibits of Austen’s work, as well as works by current photographers.
Photo by Julienne Schaer
Manhattan’s oldest house has witnessed a fair share of history. George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and Aaron Burr have all set foot inside. It was also the home of Madame Eliza Jumel, once the wealthiest woman in America. Built-in 1765, Morris-Jumel Mansion is now open to the public. Visitors can tour period rooms and view paintings, furniture, glassware, and more 18th-century artifacts. The mansion regularly hosts art exhibits, live music, outdoor films, and more cultural events.
Credit: Richard Warren
Tour an 1836 Greek Revival mansion to get a glimpse of 19th-century life in the Bronx. Visitors at the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum can tour period rooms, where collections of furnishings and fine and decorative arts are on display. Rotating exhibits regularly showcase photography, painting, and sculpture. Past exhibits include vintage postcards that depict the Bronx in the 1800s, portrait paintings of the women of the 19th century, Gilded Age-era clothing and accessories, and sculptures in the beautifully landscaped garden. Special events may include a play in the 19th-century parlor, a dance performance in the terraced garden, and author events like book talks and signings.
Credit: Bob Levine
It was the site of a major Revolutionary War battle and served as a clubhouse for the Brooklyn Baseball Club, later the Brooklyn Dodgers. Old Stone House is also a treasured cultural institution in Brooklyn. Year-round displays have featured exhibits of contemporary art, works featuring immigrant and BIPOC artists, and artist interpretations and responses to current events. Live events on the grounds include chamber music concerts, artist talks, plays, and musicals. The farmhouse is a 1930s reconstruction of the original 1699 stone farmhouse.
Tour the home where the American poet and writer of morbid tales lived the final years of his life. Edgar Allan Poe, in an effort to provide his ailing wife Virginia with fresh country air, moved into the Bronx cottage in 1846. Virginia died the following year, with Poe following just three years later. The author’s home is open for weekend tours. Visitors can stand under the same roof where Poe wrote Annabel Lee, The Cask of Amontillado, and other poems and stories. Rotating art exhibits are regularly on display. The cottage is part of The Bronx County Historical Society.
Credit: @mrosalesphoto on Instagram
With a mix of classic performances and enthralling new operas each season, the Met, founded in 1883, lives up to its reputation as one of the greatest opera houses in the world. Every performance brings together the world’s best singers, dancers, conductors, and choreographers. In an effort to make opera available to a wider audience, the Met offers several ways to secure discount tickets, from day-of-performance Rush tickets to student and military discounts, to Fridays Under 40, when anyone below the age of 40 is eligible for discounted rates. The Live in HD series brings opera to participating theaters.
Lose yourself in the art of film, television, and video games at a museum that celebrates the moving image. Immersive exhibits at this Queens institution encourage visitors to make their own stop-motion animation, recite an iconic film dialogue, or add sound effects to popular movies and TV shows. The museum also displays film and television cameras, projectors, television sets, and more artifacts from significant technological eras. The Jim Henson Exhibition features items from the puppeteer’s legendary career, including storyboards, scripts, costumes, and of course, Miss Piggy, Kermit, Big Bird, and others from his beloved cast of puppet characters.
Arthouse cinema is at its best at Angelika Film Center. The SoHo theater’s five screens feature a regular schedule of great independent and foreign films. The on-premises café serves nachos, empanadas, and flatbread pizza, along with movie must-haves like popcorn and candy, and there are deals throughout the week! Joining the Angelika memberships brings more discounts, like half-off movie tickets on Tuesdays. Angelika also operates theaters in the East Village and on the Upper East Side.
The nation’s oldest symphony orchestra has been regaling New Yorkers and beyond since 1842. In addition to new compositions, works by Mozart, Mahler, Bach, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky can always be counted on. Musicians from the Philharmonic, along with illustrious guests, give unforgettable performances. Concerts take place at David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center. Special events throughout the season include The Art of the Score, when musical scores are played live to beloved classical films like Jaws and Back to the Future. Matinees at the Phil cater to daytime audiences. The wildly popular Concerts in the Park bring classical music to New York City parks every June.
Credit: @nyclovesnyc on Instagram
As the 2023 Tony Awards venue, The United Palace was thrust into the spotlight. Soon after, it served as the set for the third season of Only Murders in the Building. Prior to that, it was a treasured, but hidden uptown gem, bringing movies to Washington Heights. Their Movies at the Palace film series brings new and old classics to the screen. Think Thelma & Louise, Rebel Without a Cause, and the Marx Brothers’ Duck Soup. Select events are hosted by beloved uptown fixture Lin Manuel Miranda, featuring a talkback with Miranda and movie industry heavyweights. Guests have included Spike Lee, Steven Spielberg, and Meryl Streep. Many films are free; others charge a small admission.
If you can watch a run of movies by your favorite director, a brand new independent or foreign art flick, and attend a Q&A with an esteemed filmmaker, all in the same week, you’re probably at the Film Forum. Established in 1970, the Manhattan movie house is dedicated to bringing provocative cinema to the screen. Movies relevant to the social and political climate are often given top billing, as are films that play with genres or cinematic techniques.
Obsessed with cult classics? How about short films or movies that shine a light on LGBTQ+ history? IFC Center is as quintessentially bohemian as the Greenwich Village neighborhood it resides in and is a must for any movie buff. Independent and foreign films premiere here regularly. It is also home to DOC NYC, the largest documentary film festival in the country (each November). As an added touch, vintage movie posters from around the world decorate the walls.
Contemporary and modern art from nearly 200 galleries representing 30 countries is on display at this art fair, May 7-11, 2025. Collectors and art enthusiasts alike can view the work of close to 1,000 artists ranging from up-and-coming to established. A special section called Frame showcases emerging artists and galleries that are less than 10 years old. Since 2021, the Shed at Hudson Yards has played host to Frieze New York.
Credit: @ladylamlam on Instagram
You know summer is in full swing when Shakespeare in the Park takes the stage! Every year, The Public Theater presents large-scale productions of the bard’s famous works. Two annual productions take place at the open-air Delacorte Theater in Central Park. The plays are known for their consistently talented cast, which often includes Broadway and Hollywood royalty. Tickets are free but must be obtained in advance (and disappear quickly!). They may be secured via a virtual lottery, an in-person lottery at The Public Theater, and in person at the Delacorte (line begins to form at 6 a.m.).
Credit: @balletnepantlaofficial on Instagram
Dance doesn’t get better than this. For more than 40 years, the Battery Dance Festival has brought together dancers from around the world in an absolutely free event. The festival takes place on the Battery Park City Esplanade in Lower Manhattan, ensuring a stunning backdrop of the New York Harbor. The Battery Dance Festival prides itself on featuring original works by dancers and choreographers from around the globe. Recent festivals have featured performers from Indonesia, Romania, Curaçao, India, and beyond. The week-long festival takes place in August and boasts audiences of more than 12,000 people.
During June, July, and August, Brooklyn’s Prospect Park transforms into the cultural destination of the summer. Live dance performances and music from hip hop to punk rock to reggae take the stage at the Lena Horne Bandshell. BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! brings generations together and highlights what makes the borough unique. The free summer-long concert series has been a staple since 1979.
Photo by Ruby Tull
What began as a film festival in 2002 has evolved into a full-blown celebration of storytelling in all its various forms. Feature films are still front and center, with a lineup of movies in every genre, made by filmmakers both established and new. Tribeca TV brings the best new shows to the big screen before their official debuts. Additional events include live podcast tapings, video game demonstrations, and live music events. Talks and panel discussions with filmmakers and actors are another staple of the two-week-long festival. Past speakers include Matthew Broderick, Judd Apatow, Kerry Washington, and Gus Van Sant. Several theaters, most of them located in Lower Manhattan, serve as venues. The Tribeca Festival takes place in June.
The sounds of jazz crisscross the city for a week in January during Winter Jazzfest. Hundreds of musicians are on the stellar lineup for the week-long festival, which was founded in 2005. Dozens of venues across Manhattan and Brooklyn are utilized, including City Winery, Nublu, Le Poisson Rouge, and Crown Hill Theatre in Brooklyn. Jazz Talks presents dynamic panel discussions with prominent artists from around the world. Night owls can jam at the Friday and Saturday marathons, with music going into the late-night hours.
If you want your finger on the pulse of contemporary art, the Whitney Biennial is a must. Every two years, the Whitney Museum curates a survey of art that has been created in the preceding two years. And since art reflects life, works are often on themes relevant to social issues of the day. The biennial, originally established in 1932, is considered the longest-running event of its kind. The show has ushered such artists as Georgia O’Keeffe, Jackson Pollock, and Jeff Koons into the spotlight before they became household names.
New York City has always been an important stop on the comedy circuit but every November, comedy’s most elite descend on New York City for 10 days of nonstop laughter. The festival features stand-up, sketch, and improv comedy, plus hilarious podcast tapings. Panel discussions, talent competitions, and film screenings are also on the schedule. Venues are spread all over New York City and include the Beacon Theatre and Carnegie Hall.
Share New York State adventures with us on TikTok, Instagram and Twitter with #ILoveNY and #iSpyNY, and tag us on Facebook!
‘ Este Articulo puede contener información publicada por terceros, algunos detalles de este articulo fueron extraídos de la siguiente fuente: www.iloveny.com ’
