On select Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings throughout the summer, Bryant Park hosts Picnic Performances, a series of live music concerts featuring a range of genres, from jazz to soul to Latin fusion. The concerts are free and open to the public and begin at 7 pm on the lawn behind the New York Public Library. Pack a picnic dinner and enjoy an evening of live music under the stars!

Bryant Park Picnic Performances 2025 Schedule

May

• May 30 – Electric Root: The Sound of (Black) Music

June

• June 5 – Contemporary Dance: Limón Dance Company, EMERGE125, KAŌS Dance Collective

• June 6 – Contemporary Dance: Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE, Gibney Company, and SYREN Modern Dance

• June 13 – Contemporary Dance: Doug Varone and Dancers + Kyle Marshall Choreography

• June 14 – Jazzmobile: The Jimmy Heath Big Band

• June 20 – Emerging Music Festival Day One

• June 21 – Emerging Music Festival Day Two

• June 26 – New York City Opera: Opera Goes to Hollywood

• June 27 – New York City Opera: Opera Goes to Hollywood

July

• July 3 – New York Guitar Festival: Pedro Cortes Flamenco, Big Lazy, Marel Hidalgo

• July 4 – New York Guitar Festival: Louis Cato, Jackie Venson, Jontavious Willis

• July 11 – Carnegie Hall Citywide: The Knights with Julien Labro

• July 18 – Carnegie Hall Citywide: La Excelencia

• July 25 – Carnegie Hall Citywide: Cécile McLorin Salvant

August

• August 1 – Carnegie Hall Citywide: Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big Band

• August 8 – Carnegie Hall Citywide: Dez Duron

• August 15 – World Music Institute: Sunny Jain’s Wild Wild East + Gamelan Dharma Swara

• August 16 – New York City Circus Festival

• August 22 – Belongó: Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra

• August 29 – Accordions Around the World: Livia Mattos and more

• August 30 – The Town Hall: New York Loves Sly! Featuring Steven Bernstein

September

• September 4 – New York City Opera: Carmen

• September 5 – New York City Opera: Carmen
• September 12 – American Symphony Orchestra: New York Profiles