Must-See Summer for the City 2025 Performances
Get ready to experience the best of New York’s vibrant arts scene with Summer for the City 2025 performances. This annual festival brings an exciting lineup of music, dance, theater, and unique cultural events, all designed to light up the city’s outdoor stages. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a first-time attendee, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this summer.
Can’t Miss Performances at Summer for the City 2025
Rome is Falling
The American Modern Opera Company’s Rome is Falling delivers a quirky and thought-provoking musical tale about the rise and fall of empire, mixing humor, chaos, and timeless human struggles in a fresh, unforgettable way.
• Website: https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city/rome-is-falling-167
• Date: July 13, 2025
• Venue: Alice Tully Hall
• Price: Choose-What-You-Pay
BAAND Together Dance Festival
Mark the fifth anniversary of BAAND Together as five legendary NYC dance companies unite on one stage for a powerful celebration of their most beloved works and collaborative artistry.
• Website: https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city/baand-together-dance-festival-563
• Date: July 29 – August 2, 2025
• Venue: David H. Koch Theater
• Price: Choose-What-You-Pay
Silent City
Brooklyn Rider reunites with Iranian maestro Kayhan Kalhor for Silent City, a transcendent blend of ancient and modern sounds that celebrates their enduring musical friendship and cultural fusion.
• Website: https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city/silent-city-329
• Date: August 08, 2025
• Venue: Alice Tully Hall
• Price: Choose-What-You-Pay
Chalk and Soot
Brooklyn Rider marks their 20th anniversary with a dynamic Lincoln Center performance showcasing world premieres by Giovanni Sollima and Tyshawn Sorey from their acclaimed Brooklyn Rider Almanac series.
• Website: https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city/chalk-and-soot-897
• Date: August 9, 2025
• Venue: Alice Tully Hall
• Price: Choose-What-You-Pay
The Beethoven Effect
This reimagined take on Beethoven’s music combines classical excellence with contemporary interpretations. Expect innovative arrangements and multimedia storytelling. A must-see for both classical fans and curious newcomers.
• Website: https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city/the-beethoven-effect-4
• Date: July 29 – 30, 2025
• Venue: Wu Tsai Theater, David Geffen Hall
• Price: Choose-What-You-Pay
Symphony of Choice
Step into an interactive musical experience where the audience chooses the journey. This symphonic adventure blends orchestral performance with participatory storytelling. Perfect for curious listeners and families.
• Website: https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city/symphony-of-choice-259
• Date: July 19, 2025
• Venue: Wu Tsai Theater, David Geffen Hall
• Price: Choose-What-You-Pay
NYLaughs
NYLaughs brings the city’s best comedians outdoors for a night of stand-up under the stars. Expect sharp jokes, big personalities, and free laughs for all. Bring a blanket and your sense of humor.
• Website: https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city/nylaughs-784
• Date: July 09, 2025
• Venue: The Underground at Jaffe Drive
• Price: Free
Wayna
Ethiopian-born, GRAMMY-nominated singer Wayna brings her powerful blend of cultural storytelling and soulful sound to Lincoln Center in a highly anticipated full-band debut.
• Website: https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city/wayna-518
• Date: July 10, 2025
• Venue: David Rubenstein Atrium
• Price: Free
CJ Camerieri aka CARM
GRAMMY-winning multi-instrumentalist CJ Camerieri (CARM) captivates audiences with his live improvisations and genre-blending brass mastery in the Living Music Underground series.
• Website: https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city/cj-camerieri-aka-carm-616
• Date: July 10, 2025
• Venue: The Underground at Jaffe Drive
• Price: Free
Heather Flock and Laura Jeffers
Get ready to dance the night away at Summer for the City’s Silent Disco, where global DJs and classic grooves from Motown to funk stream live straight to your headphones under a giant disco ball.
• Website: https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city/heather-flock-and-laura-jeffers-541
• Date: July 11, 2025
• Venue: The Lincoln Center, The Dance Floor
• Price: Free
Lala Tamar & Ofer Ronen
Lala Tamar and Ofer Ronen’s Duo Andalus weaves flamenco, Middle Eastern, and North African traditions into a soulful journey of voice and strings, sung in Arabic, Hebrew, and Spanish.
• Website: https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city/lala-tamar-ofer-ronen-535
• Date: July 12, 2025
• Venue: LeFrak Lobby, David Geffen Hall
• Price: Free
K Swing Wave
K-Swing Wave brings the electrifying energy of Korea’s swing dance scene to NYC, delivering one of the standout Summer for the City 2025 performances by blending Lindy Hop, jazz, and Korean flair in a high-octane show led by top dancers and live musicians.
• Website: https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city/k-swing-wave-624
• Date: July 12, 2025
• Venue: The Lincoln Center, The Dance Floor
• Price: Free
Kalia Vandever
Trombonist Kalia Vandever brings her rich, expressive sound to The Underground, blending jazz artistry and lyrical improvisation with bold, genre-crossing energy.
• Website: https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city/kalia-vandever-148
• Date: July 13, 2025
• Venue: The Underground at Jaffe Drive
• Price: Free
Library Silent Disco
Celebrate 60 years of performing arts history at the Library’s Silent Disco, where legendary DJ Bill Coleman spins decades of iconic tracks from the Library’s own archives.
• Website: https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city/library-silent-disco-307
• Date: July 23, 2025
• Venue: The Lincoln Center, The Dance Floor
• Price: Free
Las Karamba
Las Karamba light up the stage with their infectious blend of salsa, rumba, and pop, bringing bold rhythms and joyful energy from their diverse Latin roots.
• Website: https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city/las-karamba-873
• Date: July 25, 2025
• Venue: The Lincoln Center, The Dance Floor
• Price: Free
Silent Film Screenings with Live Musical Score Performance
Classic silent films come alive with a contemporary live musical score. It’s a beautiful blend of old cinema and modern sound. Perfect for film buffs and music lovers.
• Website: https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city/silent-film-screenings-with-live-musical-score-performance
• Date: July 25, 2025
• Venue: David Rubenstein Atrium
• Price: Free
MJ Nebreda
Venezuelan-Peruvian producer MJ Nebreda ignites the Silent Disco with her boundary-pushing blend of Latin electronic, raptor house, and reggaeton, turning The Dance Floor into a pulse-pounding celebration of Latin futurism.
• Website: https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city/mj-nebreda
• Date: July 25, 2025
• Venue: The Lincoln Center, The Dance Floor
• Price: Free
Arknights Concert
Fans of the hit mobile game Arknights will love this live orchestral concert. Expect epic arrangements of the game’s most iconic music. A can’t-miss for gamers and music fans alike.
• Website: https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city/arknights-concert
• Date: July 26 2025
• Venue: Damrosch Park
• Price: Free
J.PERIOD Live Mixtape: Golden Era Edition
Brooklyn’s J.PERIOD returns to Damrosch Park with his electrifying Live Mixtape series, delivering a one-night-only hip-hop showcase featuring surprise legends and high-energy beats.
• Website: https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city/jperiod-live-mixtape-golden-era-edition
• Date: July 27, 2025
• Venue: Damrosch Park
• Price: Free
GlobalFEST
globalFEST brings a powerful, women-led lineup to Lincoln Center, filling the campus with bold sounds from around the world—from Afro-Indigenous roots and Puerto Rican bomba to Turkish psych-folk and South African funk.
• Website: https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city/globalfest-852
• Date: August 2, 2025
• Venue: Multiple Locations
• Price: Free
Judy Santos
Dominican-American artist Judy Santos brings her smooth, R&B-infused vocals to the world of bachata, breaking barriers in the male-dominated genre. Catch her live as she lights up Summer for the City with hits like “Dime Como” and “Loca,” plus pre-show bachata dance lessons to get you moving.
• Website: https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city/judy-santos-269
• Date: August 06
• Venue: The Lincoln Center, The Dance Floor
• Price: Free
The Four Elements
Acclaimed string quartet Brooklyn Rider presents Earth & Air, a dynamic performance exploring the elements through bold contemporary works. Featuring pieces by Colin Jacobsen, Dan Trueman, Andreia Pinto-Correia, and Henri Dutilleux, the program brings Earth and Air vividly to life.
• Website: https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city/the-four-elements-664
• Date: August 7, 2025
• Venue: David Rubenstein Atrium
• Price: Free
Don’t miss out on the unforgettable Summer for the City 2025 performances that showcase the incredible talent and diversity of New York’s creative community. From groundbreaking music acts to captivating dance festivals, these events are the perfect way to celebrate summer in the city. For more free music events, check out these Free Concerts in New York City This Summer Season 2025.
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