#1
NYCThursday-Sunday, October 15-18$95-$400 by event
New York City Wine & Food Festival
More than 50 tastings, dinners, brunches and demos take over the Seaport.
FoodFestivalSeaport
Date night in New York the Weekend of Oct 16–18, 2026
Stumblday's hand-checked ranking of the best date night in New York City the weekend of Oct 16–18, 2026: 29 picks, refreshed weekly.
📱 Get the weekend's top 5 by text, every Thursday →29 picks · checked Sep 28
29 picks
NYC#1Thursday-Sunday, October 15-18 · One Weekend Only
NYCNew York City Wine & Food Festival
More than 50 tastings, dinners, brunches and demos take over the Seaport.
Add to calendar#2
NewFest venues (announced in September), Various, ManhattanThursday, October 15 - Sunday, October 25, 2026Ticketed per screening
NewFest38: New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival
New York's largest LGBTQ+ film festival returns for an eleven-day 38th edition of premieres, shorts programmes and filmmaker Q&As.
LGBTQ+ film38th EditionEleven days
#2Thursday, October 15 - Sunday, October 25, 2026 · Limited Run
NewFest venues (announced in September), Various, ManhattanNewFest38: New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival
New York's largest LGBTQ+ film festival returns for an eleven-day 38th edition of premieres, shorts programmes and filmmaker Q&As.
Add to calendar#3
Industry City, Sunset Park, BrooklynSaturday 12pm–6pmFree
A Haunting in Industry City
Twenty horror makers bring art, apparel, jewelry and oddities to Industry City.
FreePopupIndustry City
#3Saturday 12pm–6pm · One Day Only
Industry City, Sunset Park, BrooklynA Haunting in Industry City
Twenty horror makers bring art, apparel, jewelry and oddities to Industry City.
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Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Columbus Circle, ManhattanFriday · October 16–17, 2026Ticketed
Chucho Valdés 85th Birthday Celebration With Special Guests Joe Lovano and Terence Blanchard
The Cuban pianist turns 85 with an all-star quintet: Joe Lovano, Terence Blanchard, John Patitucci and Marcus Gilmore.
JazzLatin jazzAll-star quintet
#4Friday · October 16–17, 2026 · One Weekend Only
Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Columbus Circle, ManhattanChucho Valdés 85th Birthday Celebration With Special Guests Joe Lovano and Terence Blanchard
The Cuban pianist turns 85 with an all-star quintet: Joe Lovano, Terence Blanchard, John Patitucci and Marcus Gilmore.
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#5
Metrograph, Lower East Side, ManhattanSeries runs Sep 4 – Oct 18, 2026Ticketed
Don't Play with Fire: The Films of Tsui Hark
Zu, Don't Play with Fire, Knock Off and Time and Tide play Metrograph in an 11-film Tsui Hark survey — two of them on 35mm prints.
RetrospectiveHong Kong35mm
#5Series runs Sep 4 – Oct 18, 2026 · Limited Run
Metrograph, Lower East Side, ManhattanDon't Play with Fire: The Films of Tsui Hark
Zu, Don't Play with Fire, Knock Off and Time and Tide play Metrograph in an 11-film Tsui Hark survey — two of them on 35mm prints.
Add to calendar#6
Roxy Cinema, Tribeca, ManhattanOct 9–18, 2026Ticketed per screening
The Downtown Festival 2026 at Roxy Cinema
Ten days of one-night-only indie screenings with filmmaker Q&As in the Roxy Hotel's basement cinema, from world premieres to cult anniversaries.
Film festivalScreeningsQ&A
#6Oct 9–18, 2026 · Limited Run
Roxy Cinema, Tribeca, ManhattanThe Downtown Festival 2026 at Roxy Cinema
Ten days of one-night-only indie screenings with filmmaker Q&As in the Roxy Hotel's basement cinema, from world premieres to cult anniversaries.
Add to calendar#7
Film Forum, South Village, ManhattanOct 2–22, 2026Ticketed
Andrzej Wajda 100 at Film Forum
Film Forum's 25-film centennial for Poland's Andrzej Wajda includes new 4K restorations of Ashes and Diamonds, Kanal and Man of Iron.
Retrospective4K restorationsPolish cinema
#7Oct 2–22, 2026 · Limited Run
Film Forum, South Village, ManhattanAndrzej Wajda 100 at Film Forum
Film Forum's 25-film centennial for Poland's Andrzej Wajda includes new 4K restorations of Ashes and Diamonds, Kanal and Man of Iron.
Add to calendar#8
James Earl Jones Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanEpicgenius · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsPreviews from October 15, opening November 8, 2026Balcony from $49
Wanted
Solea Pfeiffer and Liisi LaFontaine play outlaw twins passing for white in 1893 Texas, with Ledisi and Luke James in Angelica Chéri's new musical.
New this monthNew musicalOpening night
#8Previews from October 15, opening November 8, 2026 · Limited Run
James Earl Jones Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanEpicgenius · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsWanted
Solea Pfeiffer and Liisi LaFontaine play outlaw twins passing for white in 1893 Texas, with Ledisi and Luke James in Angelica Chéri's new musical.
Add to calendar#9
Metrograph, Lower East Side, ManhattanLate-night 35mm at MetrographTicketed — see box office
House in 35mm
Nobuhiko Obayashi's man-eating-piano haunted house plays on 35mm at Metrograph, right up against midnight.
Film35mmLate Night
#9Late-night 35mm at Metrograph · Limited Run
Metrograph, Lower East Side, ManhattanHouse in 35mm
Nobuhiko Obayashi's man-eating-piano haunted house plays on 35mm at Metrograph, right up against midnight.
Add to calendar#10
The Public Theater (Martinson Hall), NoHo, ManhattanSep 24–Oct 18, 2026 (opens Oct 9)Ticketed
Good Time Charlie
Ryan J. Haddad's world premiere about a dentist uncle who handed his theater dreams to his nephew opens at the Public, with Beth Malone in the cast.
Opening NightWorld PremiereClosing Soon
#10Sep 24–Oct 18, 2026 (opens Oct 9) · Limited Run
The Public Theater (Martinson Hall), NoHo, ManhattanGood Time Charlie
Ryan J. Haddad's world premiere about a dentist uncle who handed his theater dreams to his nephew opens at the Public, with Beth Malone in the cast.
Add to calendar#11
Industry City, Sunset Park, BrooklynJim.henderson · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsSundays through Oct 18Free
Sunday Sessions: Live Jazz & Blues
Free live jazz and blues fill Industry City evening.
FreePopupIndustry City
#11Sundays through Oct 18 · Limited Run
Industry City, Sunset Park, BrooklynJim.henderson · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsSunday Sessions: Live Jazz & Blues
Free live jazz and blues fill Industry City evening.
Add to calendar#12
Laura Pels Theatre, Midtown / Theater District, ManhattanOct 8 – Dec 6, 2026 · Laura Pels Theatre (Roundabout)Ticketed (via Roundabout)
The Heart
Roundabout's new Off-Broadway musical follows one beating heart, two families and a transplant team through 24 hours. Kait Kerrigan wrote the book and Anne and Ian Eisendrath wrote the score.
New musicalOff-BroadwayRoundabout
#12Oct 8 – Dec 6, 2026 · Laura Pels Theatre (Roundabout) · Limited Run
Laura Pels Theatre, Midtown / Theater District, ManhattanThe Heart
Roundabout's new Off-Broadway musical follows one beating heart, two families and a transplant team through 24 hours. Kait Kerrigan wrote the book and Anne and Ian Eisendrath wrote the score.
Add to calendar#13
David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center, ManhattanDEGA MD · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsSeptember 22 – October 18, 2026Ticketed
New York City Ballet: Fall 2026 Season
Seven programs at the Koch Theater, from Balanchine's full-length Jewels to Pithoprakta, revived after decades off the company stage.
BalletSeason openingLincoln Center
#13September 22 – October 18, 2026 · Limited Run
David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center, ManhattanDEGA MD · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsNew York City Ballet: Fall 2026 Season
Seven programs at the Koch Theater, from Balanchine's full-length Jewels to Pithoprakta, revived after decades off the company stage.
Add to calendar#14
Industry City, Sunset Park, BrooklynSaturdays through Oct 17Free
Industry City Gourmet Food and Drinks Tour
Industry City Gourmet Food and Drinks Tour at Industry City.
FreePopupIndustry City
#14Saturdays through Oct 17 · Limited Run
Industry City, Sunset Park, BrooklynIndustry City Gourmet Food and Drinks Tour
Industry City Gourmet Food and Drinks Tour at Industry City.
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Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanThrough Nov 1, 2026
School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play
Patina Miller and Denée Benton lead Jocelyn Bioh's biting Miss Ghana 1986 pageant comedy, newly opened on Broadway after its Off-Broadway hit.
Just openedComedyBroadway
#15Through Nov 1, 2026 · Limited Run
Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanSchool Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play
Patina Miller and Denée Benton lead Jocelyn Bioh's biting Miss Ghana 1986 pageant comedy, newly opened on Broadway after its Off-Broadway hit.
Add to calendar#16
HERE Arts Center, SoHo, ManhattanSep 23–Nov 1, 2026Ticketed
Arias with a Twist
Joey Arias gets abducted by aliens and climbs a King Kong skyline in Basil Twist's puppet fever dream — the downtown cult hit returns home.
Cult revivalPuppets & dragPreviews begin
#16Sep 23–Nov 1, 2026 · Limited Run
HERE Arts Center, SoHo, ManhattanArias with a Twist
Joey Arias gets abducted by aliens and climbs a King Kong skyline in Basil Twist's puppet fever dream — the downtown cult hit returns home.
Add to calendar#17
Todd Haimes Theatre, Times Square, ManhattanEpicgenius · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsSep 25–Nov 22, 2026 (limited run; opening night Oct 22, 2026)
The Imaginary Invalid
Bill Irwin adapts and stars in Molière's hypochondria farce, with Rachel Bloom and Brooks Ashmanskas, in early previews on 42nd Street.
In previewsComedyBroadway
#17Sep 25–Nov 22, 2026 (limited run; opening night Oct 22, 2026) · Limited Run
Todd Haimes Theatre, Times Square, ManhattanEpicgenius · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe Imaginary Invalid
Bill Irwin adapts and stars in Molière's hypochondria farce, with Rachel Bloom and Brooks Ashmanskas, in early previews on 42nd Street.
Add to calendar#18
The Public Theater (Newman Theater), NoHo, ManhattanOct 8–Nov 22, 2026 (opens Oct 21)Ticketed
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
London's Olivier-winning folk musical lands at the Public: 15 actor-musicians spin Fitzgerald's backward-aging tale in a Cornish fishing village.
Now in PreviewsMusicalOlivier Winner
#18Oct 8–Nov 22, 2026 (opens Oct 21) · Limited Run
The Public Theater (Newman Theater), NoHo, ManhattanThe Curious Case of Benjamin Button
London's Olivier-winning folk musical lands at the Public: 15 actor-musicians spin Fitzgerald's backward-aging tale in a Cornish fishing village.
Add to calendar#19
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Upper East Side, ManhattanMay 10, 2026–January 10, 2027Museum admission
Costume Art
The Costume Institute's new blockbuster reframes fashion as fine art, with sculptural gowns staged alongside masterpieces from the Met's collection.
ArtDate NightArt & Exhibitions
#19May 10, 2026–January 10, 2027 · Limited Run
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Upper East Side, ManhattanCostume Art
The Costume Institute's new blockbuster reframes fashion as fine art, with sculptural gowns staged alongside masterpieces from the Met's collection.
Add to calendar#20
Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanThrough October 25From $89
Death Becomes Her
The campy cult film becomes a glittering Broadway musical comedy of vanity, immortality and dueling divas at the Lunt-Fontanne.
BroadwayMusicalComedy
#20Through October 25 · Limited Run
Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanDeath Becomes Her
The campy cult film becomes a glittering Broadway musical comedy of vanity, immortality and dueling divas at the Lunt-Fontanne.
Add to calendar#21
Imperial Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanEpicgenius · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsStrictly limited engagement, Oct 1, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027Ticketed
Billy Crystal: 860
Billy Crystal turns the house he lost in the Palisades fires into a solo memory play, written by him and directed by Scott Ellis.
Limited runSolo showComedy
#21Strictly limited engagement, Oct 1, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027 · Limited Run
Imperial Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanEpicgenius · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsBilly Crystal: 860
Billy Crystal turns the house he lost in the Palisades fires into a solo memory play, written by him and directed by Scott Ellis.
Add to calendar#22
Hudson Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanEpicgenius · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsSep 29, 2026–Jan 17, 2027 (limited run; opening night Oct 18, 2026)
Other Desert Cities
Julia Louis-Dreyfus makes her Broadway debut beside Ed Harris, Allison Janney and Joe Keery in a Palm Springs family blowup — previews now.
Just started previewsStar castBroadway
#22Sep 29, 2026–Jan 17, 2027 (limited run; opening night Oct 18, 2026) · Limited Run
Hudson Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanEpicgenius · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsOther Desert Cities
Julia Louis-Dreyfus makes her Broadway debut beside Ed Harris, Allison Janney and Joe Keery in a Palm Springs family blowup — previews now.
Add to calendar#23
Vivian Beaumont Theater, Lincoln Square, ManhattanPhoto: Andreas Praefcke · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsIn previews from Oct 8, 2026 (playing Oct 9–11, 2026); opening night Oct 29, 2026; 13-week limited engagement
A Few Good Men
Bradley Whitford and Tom Blyth face off in Aaron Sorkin's courtroom drama, staged by Michael Arden on the Beaumont's wide thrust.
Limited runStar castingPlay revival
#23In previews from Oct 8, 2026 (playing Oct 9–11, 2026); opening night Oct 29, 2026; 13-week limited engagement · One Weekend Only
Vivian Beaumont Theater, Lincoln Square, ManhattanPhoto: Andreas Praefcke · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsA Few Good Men
Bradley Whitford and Tom Blyth face off in Aaron Sorkin's courtroom drama, staged by Michael Arden on the Beaumont's wide thrust.
Add to calendar#24
Longacre Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanThrough Nov 29, 2026Ticketed via Telecharge
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Sam Tutty and Christiani Pitts play two strangers who spend three days crossing New York together in this original Broadway musical.
BroadwayOriginal musicalTwo-hander
#24Through Nov 29, 2026 · Limited Run
Longacre Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanTwo Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Sam Tutty and Christiani Pitts play two strangers who spend three days crossing New York together in this original Broadway musical.
Add to calendar
