Stumblday's hand-checked ranking of the best date night in Manhattan the weekend of Sep 18–20, 2026: 63 picks, refreshed weekly.
63 picks · checked Sep 7
Broadway theaters (various), Theater District, ManhattanLast call on 2-for-1 Broadway: Wicked, Hadestown, Oh, Mary! and 20-plus more at half price before the fall window slams shut this weekend.
Broadway theaters (various), Theater District, ManhattanLast call on 2-for-1 Broadway: Wicked, Hadestown, Oh, Mary! and 20-plus more at half price before the fall window slams shut this weekend.
Delacorte Theater, Central Park, ManhattanAcabashi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTaylor Mac and Matt Ray's queer rock-opera song cycle lands at the Delacorte in concert form — free, one weekend only, closing Central Park's season.
Delacorte Theater, Central Park, ManhattanAcabashi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTaylor Mac and Matt Ray's queer rock-opera song cycle lands at the Delacorte in concert form — free, one weekend only, closing Central Park's season.
Lynn F. Angelson Theater, East Village, ManhattanChekhov's first staged play gets a 100-minute overhaul from a Chekhov scholar, with Sam Underwood as the man everyone keeps trying to save.
Lynn F. Angelson Theater, East Village, ManhattanChekhov's first staged play gets a 100-minute overhaul from a Chekhov scholar, with Sam Underwood as the man everyone keeps trying to save.
Upper East Side, ManhattanJet Lowe · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsSimon Stone's North American premiere resets Chekhov's last play in present-day Seoul, performed in Korean with English captions inside a transparent glass house in the Armory's Wade Thompson Drill Hall.
Upper East Side, ManhattanJet Lowe · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsSimon Stone's North American premiere resets Chekhov's last play in present-day Seoul, performed in Korean with English captions inside a transparent glass house in the Armory's Wade Thompson Drill Hall.
St. James Theatre, 246 West 44th Street, Theater District, ManhattanCeline Dion hijacks a Titanic museum tour and retells the whole film through her own back catalogue — four Tony nominations, closing in September.
St. James Theatre, 246 West 44th Street, Theater District, ManhattanCeline Dion hijacks a Titanic museum tour and retells the whole film through her own back catalogue — four Tony nominations, closing in September.
Lincoln Square, ManhattanThe China Dance Lotus Award-winning dance drama MULAN makes its New York premiere at the David H. Koch Theater for four performances only, staged on a 15-meter revolving stage.
Lincoln Square, ManhattanThe China Dance Lotus Award-winning dance drama MULAN makes its New York premiere at the David H. Koch Theater for four performances only, staged on a 15-meter revolving stage.
Lower East Side, ManhattanDietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsA dense repertory weekend on Ludlow Street: a 35mm Left-Handed Girl with director Shih-Ching Tsou, Pumping Iron on 16mm with its editor, Zidane with Darius Khondji and Anja Breien's Wives trilogy in one Sunday.
Lower East Side, ManhattanDietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsA dense repertory weekend on Ludlow Street: a 35mm Left-Handed Girl with director Shih-Ching Tsou, Pumping Iron on 16mm with its editor, Zidane with Darius Khondji and Anja Breien's Wives trilogy in one Sunday.
Film Forum, Hudson Square, ManhattanKeaton's newsreel-cameraman comedy with live piano by Steve Sterner, opening Film Forum Jr.'s fall season with a Betty Boop short attached.
Film Forum, Hudson Square, ManhattanKeaton's newsreel-cameraman comedy with live piano by Steve Sterner, opening Film Forum Jr.'s fall season with a Betty Boop short attached.
Metrograph, Lower East Side, ManhattanSatoshi Kon's dream-invasion masterpiece on a 35mm print, in a late-morning slot that puts you back on Ludlow Street before lunch.
Metrograph, Lower East Side, ManhattanSatoshi Kon's dream-invasion masterpiece on a 35mm print, in a late-morning slot that puts you back on Ludlow Street before lunch.
Film Forum, Hudson Square, ManhattanCharlie Ahearn's 1983 graffiti-and-hip-hop landmark screens as part of Film Forum's series marking the New York Transit Museum's 50th anniversary.
Film Forum, Hudson Square, ManhattanCharlie Ahearn's 1983 graffiti-and-hip-hop landmark screens as part of Film Forum's series marking the New York Transit Museum's 50th anniversary.
Midtown, ManhattanThe choreographer takes over MoMA's Marron Atrium as a daily workspace, dancing with a rotating cast during museum hours - and s turning the room over to anyone who wants it.
Midtown, ManhattanThe choreographer takes over MoMA's Marron Atrium as a daily workspace, dancing with a rotating cast during museum hours - and s turning the room over to anyone who wants it.
Roxy Cinema New York, Tribeca, ManhattanElvis and Ann-Margret burn through Sin City on a 35mm print, paired with a new experimental short about the architecture book that made Vegas respectable.
Roxy Cinema New York, Tribeca, ManhattanElvis and Ann-Margret burn through Sin City on a 35mm print, paired with a new experimental short about the architecture book that made Vegas respectable.
Beacon Theatre, Upper West Side, ManhattanPhoto: Andreas Praefcke · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsBen Schwartz packs the Beacon for a fully improvised night — surprise famous friends, zero script and pure Jean-Ralphio energy throughout.
Beacon Theatre, Upper West Side, ManhattanPhoto: Andreas Praefcke · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsBen Schwartz packs the Beacon for a fully improvised night — surprise famous friends, zero script and pure Jean-Ralphio energy throughout.
Claire Tow Theater, Lincoln Center Theater, Lincoln Square, ManhattanEpicgenius · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsMfoniso Udofia's world-premiere play weaves ancestor to AI, dream cycle to IVF cycle, in LCT3's intimate rooftop Claire Tow Theater.
Claire Tow Theater, Lincoln Center Theater, Lincoln Square, ManhattanEpicgenius · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsMfoniso Udofia's world-premiere play weaves ancestor to AI, dream cycle to IVF cycle, in LCT3's intimate rooftop Claire Tow Theater.
Midtown, ManhattanThe Egyptian satirist once called the Jon Stewart of the Arab world brings his Belly of the Beast tour to The Town Hall for a solo night of political stand-up.
Midtown, ManhattanThe Egyptian satirist once called the Jon Stewart of the Arab world brings his Belly of the Beast tour to The Town Hall for a solo night of political stand-up.
Gramercy, ManhattanRosebud Baker brings the Paper Bag Princess Tour to Gramercy Theatre for a hometown night of unsparing, dry-as-a-bone stand-up.
Gramercy, ManhattanRosebud Baker brings the Paper Bag Princess Tour to Gramercy Theatre for a hometown night of unsparing, dry-as-a-bone stand-up.
The Rooftop at Pier 17, Seaport, ManhattanDIY punk hero Jeff Rosenstock headlines the Pier 17 rooftop — cathartic singalongs with the Brooklyn Bridge and harbor as the backdrop.
The Rooftop at Pier 17, Seaport, ManhattanDIY punk hero Jeff Rosenstock headlines the Pier 17 rooftop — cathartic singalongs with the Brooklyn Bridge and harbor as the backdrop.
Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Columbus Circle, ManhattanWynton Marsalis leads the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra through Marsalis and the Masters — big-band jazz royalty above Columbus Circle.
Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Columbus Circle, ManhattanWynton Marsalis leads the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra through Marsalis and the Masters — big-band jazz royalty above Columbus Circle.
The Rooftop at Pier 17, Seaport, ManhattanGravel-voiced country riser Sam Barber sings 'Straight and Narrow' on Pier 17's open-air rooftop, with the Brooklyn Bridge glowing behind the stage.
The Rooftop at Pier 17, Seaport, ManhattanGravel-voiced country riser Sam Barber sings 'Straight and Narrow' on Pier 17's open-air rooftop, with the Brooklyn Bridge glowing behind the stage.
Roxy Cinema New York, Tribeca, ManhattanThe New York premiere of a Leonora Carrington biopic, with both directors staying for a conversation moderated by Pam Grossman.
Roxy Cinema New York, Tribeca, ManhattanThe New York premiere of a Leonora Carrington biopic, with both directors staying for a conversation moderated by Pam Grossman.
Metrograph, Lower East Side, ManhattanWalter Hill's all-night run from the Bronx to Coney Island, on 35mm, starting near midnight on a Saturday.
Metrograph, Lower East Side, ManhattanWalter Hill's all-night run from the Bronx to Coney Island, on 35mm, starting near midnight on a Saturday.
Anthology Film Archives, East Village, ManhattanSEDACMaps · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe collectively directed West Bank documentary screens inside Anthology's series on demolition and destruction, paired with a Super-8 short by Cynthia Madansky.
Anthology Film Archives, East Village, ManhattanSEDACMaps · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe collectively directed West Bank documentary screens inside Anthology's series on demolition and destruction, paired with a Super-8 short by Cynthia Madansky.
The Town Hall, Theater District, ManhattanBrad Williams brings The Tall Tales Tour to The Town Hall for a single 7 pm set night. It is his only New York City date of the weekend.
The Town Hall, Theater District, ManhattanBrad Williams brings The Tall Tales Tour to The Town Hall for a single 7 pm set night. It is his only New York City date of the weekend.
Union Square, ManhattanNYC Parks screens Shrek (2001) free on the North Plaza of Union Square Park, one of the last outdoor movies of the season.
Union Square, ManhattanNYC Parks screens Shrek (2001) free on the North Plaza of Union Square Park, one of the last outdoor movies of the season.
Big weekends coming up — save them now, plan later.
