Central Park SummerStage NYC

2018 Free Summer Concerts

The 2018 season of SummerStage, New York’s largest free performing arts festival, brings over 100 free performances to 16 parks throughout the 5 boroughs every May through September.

With performances ranging from American pop, Latin and world music to dance, spoken word and theater, SummerStage brings a huge summer arts festival to New York City’s landscape. Special 2018 guests include: Jason Mraz and Brett Dennen, Liam Gallagher, Jake Paul, O.A.R. with special guest, Matt Nathanson, Mac DeMarco and more.

2018 Central Park SummerStage NYC Schedule

Central Park SummerStage NYC

100+ free events. 200+ artists. 16 NYC parks. The majority of Summerstage performances are free, except for a few requiring tickets.

Select Performances Requiring Tickets

More: Central Park Summerstage Tickets

April 18, 2018 – City Parks Foundation is thrilled to announce the 2018 season of SummerStage, New York City’s largest free outdoor performing arts festival, bringing more than 100 performances to Central Park and 17 neighborhood parks throughout the five boroughs. This year’s festival, presented by Capital One, will showcase over 200 unique artists hailing from New York City and around the globe, performing shows across a diversity of genres and disciplines, including indie-rock, hip-hop, Latin, jazz, R&B, salsa, opera, contemporary dance, and spoken word.

The festival’s season of free shows will kick off at SummerStage in Central Park on Saturday, June 2 with jazz great Gregory Porter and rising star Victory Boyd, serving as a full circle moment for the young soul-folk singer who first garnered acclaim busking in the park, before being signed by Roc Nation in 2016.

Other highlights in Central Park include 2017 MacArthur Genius grant recipient and Carolina Chocolate Drops co-founder Rhiannon Giddens performing on June 16 with blues musician Son Little, two kings of salsa Eddie Palmieri and Tony Vega joining forces on August 26, up-and-coming electronic musicians Mura Masa and Jessy Lanza lighting up the stage on August 18, and renowned contemporary ballet company Alonzo King LINES Ballet on July 25. Citywide, Brooklyn based indie rock group San Fermin will kick off SummerStage’s four-day run in Red Hook’s Coffey Park on June 21, legendary Hip Hop group Jungle Brothers and friends will take over Queensbridge Park on July 15, and beloved dancehall singer Sister Nancy will perform with reggae hitmakerShinehead in Crotona Park on August 4.

This season, SummerStage will continue its decades-long tradition of bringing stellar artists and important voices from around the world to perform in New York City, some for the very first time. In Central Park, Portugal’s biggest fado superstar Mariza will perform with support from countrymen Noiserv and Renato Dizon June 23, and on July 7, Soft Lipa, Sheng Xiang & Band,and Elephant Gym will showcase the best of Taiwanese tunes ranging from hip-hop to rock.

Grammy Award-winning Beninese singer-songwriter, actress and activist, Angelique Kidjo, will perform on September 27, with the New York City based Resistance Revival Chorus, and Nigerian musician and activist Femi Kuti will deliver his iconic Afrobeat rhythms on July 29 with the exciting rising stars and Congolese band Jupiter & Okwess. On July 1, Canadian indie-rock collective Broken Social Scene will show off their “Northern Beats” and on August 11, Korean-American musical forces ToKiMONSTA and Kero One will perform an eclectic mix of lyrical jazz hip-hop and atmospheric electronic hits.

The annual City Parks Foundation Gala will take place on June 18, 2018. Following the dinner, guests will enjoy a SummerStage concert performed by Steven Tyler and The Loving Mary Band.

Full SummerStage Schedule:
www.cityparksfoundation.org/summerstage
www.facebook.com/SummerStageNYC

Directions:
Central Park, Rumsey Playfield
Enter park at 69th Street and 5th Avenue
East side: 6 train to 68th or 77th Streets; N, R or W trains to 5th Avenue; F train to 63rd and Lexington
West side: 1, 2, 3, 9, B or C trains to 72nd Street

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Central Park NY and New York City Passes

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Central Park NY Hotels

These are NYC Insider hand picked hotels that are not just “near” Central Park, as most NYC hotels claim to be…but on the Park itself, either Central Park South, Central Park West or Fifth Ave. Many other hotels are nearby, or within a few blocks, but these are the closest, and all offer Park views from select rooms.

See the Insider Guide for dozens more Central Park NY Hotels and download our free Central Park map at Central Park NY Guide

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(May - September)

• Jones Beach Concert Series
• Good Morning America Summer Concert Series
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• Central Park SummerStage
• Amphitheater at Coney Island
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