Times Square Arts is the reason the world's most commercial intersection regularly hosts genuinely challenging contemporary work — Midnight Moment on the billboards, installations in the plazas, and residencies that put artists into the space itself. Staging a performance on the Broadway plaza between 46th and 47th means the audience is whoever is standing there, which is the point. If you want free contemporary performance with the strangest possible backdrop, this is it.
What to expect
Expect performance in an open pedestrian plaza surrounded by billboards and foot traffic, with no ticketing and an audience that assembles and dissolves continuously. The work is contemporary and site-responsive rather than street entertainment. Sightlines depend on where you stand, so arriving early helps.
Good to know
- Take the N/Q/R/W, 1/2/3, 7 or S to Times Square–42nd St and walk north to the 46th–47th plaza.
- Free and open — this is public plaza programming with no ticket.
- The plaza is busy at all hours; arrive early if you want a clear sightline.
- It is contemporary art rather than street performance; expect something unfamiliar.
- There is limited seating on the plaza steps and movable chairs.
- Flat, paved and fully step-free.
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Common questions
What is Times Square Arts?
The public art program of the Times Square Alliance, which commissions performance and installation work in the Times Square plazas.
Where exactly is it?
The Broadway pedestrian plaza between 46th and 47th Streets in Times Square.
Is it free?
Yes — it is free public programming in an open plaza.
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