Stumblday's hand-checked ranking of the best music in New York City the weekend of Sep 25–27, 2026: 27 picks, refreshed weekly.
27 picks · checked Sep 7
Culture Lab LIC, Long Island City, QueensFree outdoor concerts in Culture Lab's Long Island City lot - two or three bands a night and the season closes this weekend.
Culture Lab LIC, Long Island City, QueensFree outdoor concerts in Culture Lab's Long Island City lot - two or three bands a night and the season closes this weekend.
Lincoln Square, ManhattanSee-ming Lee from Hong Kong SAR, China · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsGustavo Dudamel leads the New York Philharmonic in Mahler's Symphony No. 5 alongside the world premiere of Imagenes mestizas, a Philharmonic commission from Pulitzer Prize winner Tania Leon, at David Geffen.
Lincoln Square, ManhattanSee-ming Lee from Hong Kong SAR, China · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsGustavo Dudamel leads the New York Philharmonic in Mahler's Symphony No. 5 alongside the world premiere of Imagenes mestizas, a Philharmonic commission from Pulitzer Prize winner Tania Leon, at David Geffen.
Lincoln Square, ManhattanThe Met opens its 2026-27 season with a new production of Verdi's Macbeth: Quinn Kelsey in the title role, Lise Davidsen as Lady Macbeth, Yannick Nezet-Seguin conducting, Louisa Proske directing in her Met.
Lincoln Square, ManhattanThe Met opens its 2026-27 season with a new production of Verdi's Macbeth: Quinn Kelsey in the title role, Lise Davidsen as Lady Macbeth, Yannick Nezet-Seguin conducting, Louisa Proske directing in her Met.
Maspeth, QueensOUTLINE brings Flying Lotus's Layer 3 audiovisual show to Knockdown Center alongside EYE of the Boredoms, Olof Dreijer of The Knife and Black Dice, plus By Storm, Carrier, gyrofield and Silicone Valley.
Maspeth, QueensOUTLINE brings Flying Lotus's Layer 3 audiovisual show to Knockdown Center alongside EYE of the Boredoms, Olof Dreijer of The Knife and Black Dice, plus By Storm, Carrier, gyrofield and Silicone Valley.
Lincoln Square, ManhattanFranco Zeffirelli's La Boheme, the most famous production in the Met's repertory, returns for its season premiere and stays in rotation, conducted by Ramon Tebar.
Lincoln Square, ManhattanFranco Zeffirelli's La Boheme, the most famous production in the Met's repertory, returns for its season premiere and stays in rotation, conducted by Ramon Tebar.
Midtown, ManhattanThe Who's frontman brings his A Great Night Out solo tour to The Town Hall with a semi-acoustic band, mixing Who classics, rarities and solo material. Leslie Mendelson opens.
Midtown, ManhattanThe Who's frontman brings his A Great Night Out solo tour to The Town Hall with a semi-acoustic band, mixing Who classics, rarities and solo material. Leslie Mendelson opens.
Flatbush, BrooklynA live orchestra performs Bear McCreary's Outlander score at Kings Theatre while highlights from all eight seasons play on screen, in a program curated by showrunner Matthew B. Roberts.
Flatbush, BrooklynA live orchestra performs Bear McCreary's Outlander score at Kings Theatre while highlights from all eight seasons play on screen, in a program curated by showrunner Matthew B. Roberts.
Madison Square Garden, Midtown, ManhattanAjay Suresh from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTourist History played front to back at the Garden, with Phantogram, STRFKR and Friendly Fires stacked underneath it.
Madison Square Garden, Midtown, ManhattanAjay Suresh from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTourist History played front to back at the Garden, with Phantogram, STRFKR and Friendly Fires stacked underneath it.
Brooklyn Steel, East Williamsburg, BrooklynCurrier and Ives · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsThe riot grrrl originators at Brooklyn Steel with Brighton's Lambrini Girls opening - a generational handoff on one bill.
Brooklyn Steel, East Williamsburg, BrooklynCurrier and Ives · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsThe riot grrrl originators at Brooklyn Steel with Brighton's Lambrini Girls opening - a generational handoff on one bill.
Greenpoint, BrooklynThe Prodigy outdoors under the Kosciuszko Bridge, with Brutalismus 3000, Sextile and Lip Critic on the undercard. 18+.
Greenpoint, BrooklynThe Prodigy outdoors under the Kosciuszko Bridge, with Brutalismus 3000, Sextile and Lip Critic on the undercard. 18+.
Madison Square Garden, Midtown, ManhattanHarry Styles plays back-to-back Garden nights on his 30-show residency — his only U.S. dates this year, with Jamie xx opening both.
Madison Square Garden, Midtown, ManhattanHarry Styles plays back-to-back Garden nights on his 30-show residency — his only U.S. dates this year, with Jamie xx opening both.
Barclays Center, Prospect Heights, BrooklynAEMoreira042281 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsBridgers brings The Lost Tour to Brooklyn with Alex G opening - a multi-night Barclays run, phones locked in pouches at the door.
Barclays Center, Prospect Heights, BrooklynAEMoreira042281 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsBridgers brings The Lost Tour to Brooklyn with Alex G opening - a multi-night Barclays run, phones locked in pouches at the door.
Radio City Music Hall, Midtown, ManhattanErmell · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsROLE MODEL's Chuck On Tour hits Radio City with Samia opening - a fast jump from clubs to the Art Deco room on Sixth Avenue.
Radio City Music Hall, Midtown, ManhattanErmell · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsROLE MODEL's Chuck On Tour hits Radio City with Samia opening - a fast jump from clubs to the Art Deco room on Sixth Avenue.
King Jagiello Plaza, Central Park, ManhattanFree Sunday-afternoon social dancing on the plaza above Turtle Pond - swing, jump blues, hot jazz and cha chas, with lessons in the breaks.
King Jagiello Plaza, Central Park, ManhattanFree Sunday-afternoon social dancing on the plaza above Turtle Pond - swing, jump blues, hot jazz and cha chas, with lessons in the breaks.
Beacon Theatre, Upper West Side, ManhattanMetheny's Side-Eye project - the rotating trio he uses to test younger players - takes the Beacon stage on a Saturday night.
Beacon Theatre, Upper West Side, ManhattanMetheny's Side-Eye project - the rotating trio he uses to test younger players - takes the Beacon stage on a Saturday night.
Brooklyn Paramount, Downtown Brooklyn, BrooklynEden, Janine and Jim from New York City · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsA three-deep emo bill - Taking Back Sunday, Thrice and Saves The Day - inside the restored Brooklyn Paramount.
Brooklyn Paramount, Downtown Brooklyn, BrooklynEden, Janine and Jim from New York City · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsA three-deep emo bill - Taking Back Sunday, Thrice and Saves The Day - inside the restored Brooklyn Paramount.
Downtown Brooklyn, BrooklynLiverpool's Loathe bring their third album A Stranger To You to Brooklyn Paramount, the only New York stop on the tour, with Fleshwater and Prostitute opening.
Downtown Brooklyn, BrooklynLiverpool's Loathe bring their third album A Stranger To You to Brooklyn Paramount, the only New York stop on the tour, with Fleshwater and Prostitute opening.
Times Square, ManhattanChinese R&B vocalist Tia Ray brings the Once Upon a Moon world tour to Palladium Times Square for her only New York date.
Times Square, ManhattanChinese R&B vocalist Tia Ray brings the Once Upon a Moon world tour to Palladium Times Square for her only New York date.
East Village, ManhattanDavid Shankbone · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsNew York bassist Karina Rykman headlines Webster Hall the day her second album Late Checkout arrives, with art-punk band Guerilla Toss as special guests.
East Village, ManhattanDavid Shankbone · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsNew York bassist Karina Rykman headlines Webster Hall the day her second album Late Checkout arrives, with art-punk band Guerilla Toss as special guests.
Midtown, ManhattanA Saturday-afternoon reggae day party at Sony Hall, with a seven-piece live band, a resident DJ and an MC playing lovers rock and golden-era reggae.
Midtown, ManhattanA Saturday-afternoon reggae day party at Sony Hall, with a seven-piece live band, a resident DJ and an MC playing lovers rock and golden-era reggae.
Union Square, ManhattanAlabama folk-pop songwriter BRENN! headlines Irving Plaza on the world tour behind Amateur at Best, his debut album.
Union Square, ManhattanAlabama folk-pop songwriter BRENN! headlines Irving Plaza on the world tour behind Amateur at Best, his debut album.
Times Square, ManhattanSymphonic power-metal veterans Kamelot bring the Dark Asylum tour to Palladium Times Square, with Visions of Atlantis and Frozen Crown supporting.
Times Square, ManhattanSymphonic power-metal veterans Kamelot bring the Dark Asylum tour to Palladium Times Square, with Visions of Atlantis and Frozen Crown supporting.
Midtown, ManhattanA seated dinner-and-show night at Sony Hall, with live vocalists and a full band running the Motown and classic soul canon.
Midtown, ManhattanA seated dinner-and-show night at Sony Hall, with live vocalists and a full band running the Motown and classic soul canon.
East Village, ManhattanProducer and selector Kybba plays Webster Hall's late-night strand on the Kybbaholic Tour, a dancehall, afrobeats and reggaeton set starting near midnight.
East Village, ManhattanProducer and selector Kybba plays Webster Hall's late-night strand on the Kybbaholic Tour, a dancehall, afrobeats and reggaeton set starting near midnight.
Big weekends coming up — save them now, plan later.
