SummerStage In New York City: Everything You Should Know

SummerStage is back for its 39th season in 2025—and it’s bringing the heat! So get ready for another epic lineup of live shows that span just about every genre you can think of: salsa, jazz, hip-hop, indie rock, dance, opera, pop, soul—you name it.

From powerful women on the mic to global stars and local legends, this season is a full-on celebration of the city’s vibrant, diverse culture. Don’t sleep on it—SummerStage 2025 is going to be unforgettable.

Benefit Concert Versus Free Concerts

Since 1986, SummerStage has been New York’s go-to outdoor festival for live music, dance, spoken word, and more. Serving up everything from global beats to homegrown sounds, family shows, and cutting-edge electronic sets.

So from May through October, you’ll find performances popping up in parks across all five boroughs, with the iconic Rumsey Playfield in Central Park as the heart of the action.

Although most of the shows are totally free (yep, no ticket required!), a handful of big-name concerts are ticketed Benefit Concerts. So when you grab a ticket to one of those, you’re not just catching an amazing show—you’re also helping fund more than 100 free performances all over the city. That’s a win-win.

Also keep an eye out for the City Parks Foundation’s annual SummerStage Gala. It’s one unforgettable night that raises big support for free arts, sports, and education programs citywide.

In the meantime, you can purchase your tickets here!

SummerStage Schedule June

Exciting news incoming! Check out this year’s SummerStage schedule, you are sure to find one or two performances for you!

• Patrice Roberts: I Am Woman, Benefit Concert – May 17
• Alan Walker, Benefit Concert – May 31
• Astropical (Bomba Estéreo + Rawayana), Benefit Concert – June 1
• Marcus Miller / Tank and the Bangas / The Soul Rebels, Free Performance – June 4
• Yandel: Sinfónico Tour, Benefit Concert – June 7
• The Driver Era: Obsession Tour, Benefit Concert – June 9
• The Aussie BBQ: Flewnt & Inkabee / Gordi / Grace Cummings / PINES / The Grogans / The Wiggles, Free Performance – June 14
• Nordic Next: Jakob / Sarah Klang / Astrid Sonne / Joalin, Free Performance – June 15
• The Metropolitan Opera: Janai Brugger / Jack Swanson / Benjamin Taylor / Howard Watkins, Free Performance – June 16
• James Blunt: Back to Bedlam 20th Anniversary Tour, Benefit Concert – June 17
• Juneteenth: Noname / Ravyn Lenae / Fana Hues, Benefit Concert – June 18
• Rhiannon Giddens & Lido Pimienta, Free Performance – June 25
• Dreamland Pride: Headliner DJ TBA / Anne Louise / Hayla, Benefit Concert – June 29
• New York Sings Yiddish: Zalmen Mlotek / Frank London’s Klezmer All Stars & Guests, Free Performance – June 30

SummerStage Schedule July

• Charlotte Day Wilson / The Weather Station, Free Performance – July 2
• Kes: Night 1 (Sold Out), Benefit Concert – July 5
• Kes: Night 2 (Sold Out), Benefit Concert – July 6
• Morat / Planta Industrial / Yami Safdie, Free Performance – July 9
• Chris Tomlin: Worship Under the Stars, Benefit Concert – July 11
• Camilo / Ela Taubert / Guitarricadelafuente, Free Performance – July 12
• Bastille Day: Bob Sinclar / Big Flo & Oli / Patrick Bruel / ESTL, Free Performance – July 13
• Cymande / Asha Puthli / Zacchae’us Paul / K.Tea, Free Performance – July 23
• Jessica Pratt / Cameron Winter / Daryl Johns, Free Performance – July 24
• The Saw Doctors, Benefit Concert – July 26
• Femi Kuti & The Positive Force with dead prez / Rich Medina / Maryam Bukar Hassan, Free Performance – July 27
• The Head and The Heart: Aperture Tour / Wild Rivers / Marfa, Benefit Concert – July 30
• Summer Dayes 2025: The Yussef Dayes Experience / FKJ / Venna / Salin, Benefit Concert – July 31

SummerStage Schedule August & September

• Jacob Collier, Benefit Concert – August 1
• Piano People: DBN Gogo / Musa Keys / DJ Felo Le Tee, Benefit Concert – August 2
• Taiwanese Waves: Enno Cheng / ABAO + Nanguaq Girls / Bulareyaung Dance Company, Free Performance – August 3
• Ballet Hispánico, Free Performance – August 7
• Celia Cruz Celebration: Isaac Delgado / Aymee Nuviola / Brenda Navarrete & Guests, Free Performance – August 9
• The Originals: Rich Medina / Stretch Armstrong / Tony Touch, Free Performance – August 10
• Blacktronika Festival: Phuture / Waajeed / Rimarkable / Joe Claussell / Charlie Dark / King Britt, Free Performance – August 16
• Funk Flex R&B Birthday Picnic, Free Performance – August 17
• Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience, Free Performance – August 27
• IZA / Ilê Aiyê / Evandro Fióti – In Association with 29th Inffinito Brazilian Film Festival, Free Performance – August 31
• Rilo Kiley (Sold Out), Benefit Concert – September 8
• Quinn XCII, Benefit Concert – September 10
• Awich & Friends, Free Performance – September 14
• Soccer Mommy / Hurray for the Riff Raff / Dummy, Free Performance – September 16
• Wet Leg / Mary in the Junkyard, Benefit Concert – September 17
• Seven Lions, Benefit Concert – September 19

Park Locations

Well if you are ready to kick it off, the concerts will be hosted in one of 13 different parks.

• Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn (Fruman St. & Old Futon St.)
• Central Park, Manhattan (69th St. & 5th Ave.)
• The Coney Island Amphitheatre, Brooklyn (At Coney Island Boardwalk 3052 West 21st St.)
• Crotona Park, Bronx (Claremont Parkway & Crotona Ave.)
• Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens (Between 111 St. & College Point Blvd., Park Drive E.)
• Herbert Von King Park, Brooklyn (Lafayette Ave. & Marcy Ave.)
• Jackie Robinson Park, Manhattan (West 148th St. & Bradhurst Ave.)
• Marcus Garvey Park (124th St. & Fifth Ave.)
• Socrates Sculpture Park, Queens (Broadway & Vernon Blvd.)
• Stapleton Waterfront Park, Staten Island ( Water St. & Navy Pier Ct.)
• St Mary’s Park, Bronx (St. Ann’s AVe. & E. 146th St.)
• Tompkins Square Park, Manhattan (E. 7th St. & Ave. A)
• Williamsbridge Oval, Bronx (Bainbridge Ave. & Reservoir Oval East)

SummerStage Membership

So do you love live music? Get in on the action with VIP access to the artists you can’t get enough of—and the ones you’re about to fall for.

So you can join the SummerStage member community and help bring free concerts to parks all across NYC. As a member, you’ll unlock awesome perks like free tickets to benefit shows, skip-the-line entry, VIP seating under cover, and fast-track access to food, drinks, and merch.

Such as complimentary bevvies, exclusive SummerStage swag, and access to the chill Member Lounge—complete with shaded seating, elevated views, tasty eats, and (yes!) air-conditioned restrooms.

So do you want to level up? Go all out with terrace deck access near the stage, a backstage patio, and behind-the-scenes VIP moments you won’t forget.

Well find out more here!

Restricted Items

• Large Items:
  • Bags larger than 16” tall x 16” wide x 8” deep
  • Coolers
  • Folding chairs
  • Beach umbrellas
• Wheeled Devices:
  • Bicycles
  • Scooters
  • Rollerblades
  • Skateboards
• Substances and Beverages:
  • Alcoholic beverages (Note: Beer and wine are available for purchase inside the venue)
  • Controlled substances
• Weapons and Hazardous Items:
  • Weapons of any kind
  • Laser pointers
• Audio/Visual Equipment:
  • Professional camera or video equipment (Excludes accredited press—apply for a press pass on the website)
  • Professional audio recording equipment
  • Selfie sticks
• Disruptive Items:
  • Noisemakers (e.g. air horns, bullhorns, whistles)
  • Balloons
• Other:
  • Glass bottles
  • Cans
  • Drones
  • Pets (service animals are typically permitted)

Find Out More

Would you like to want to find out more? You can check out the digital brochure for an even deeper dive into this year’s SummerStage, including other membership perks and special offers.

More…

• https://www.centralpark.com/things-to-do/concerts/summerstage-festival
• https://cityparksfoundation.org/summerstage
• https://www.ticketmaster.com/capital-one-city-parks-foundation-summerstage-tickets-new-york/venue/21
• https://www.overherenewyork.com/billie-eilish-adds-two-long-island-concerts-to-2025-tour-lineup/