1Greater New York 2026
Museum admission (suggested)ArtMuseum
MoMA PS1 fills its former schoolhouse with 150+ works by NYC artists in the sixth Greater New York survey — the city's pulse, floor to floor.
Art Shows vs Live Music This Weekend
Gallery walls or a great set — compare this weekend's art and music picks side by side.
Updated July 9, 2026 · Weekend of Aug 1–2, 2026
Art & exhibitions
2The High Line Plinth: Tuan Andrew Nguyen, The Light That Shines Through the Universe
FreeArtOutdoors
A 27-foot carved-sandstone sculpture reimagining a destroyed Bamiyan Buddha towers over the High Line, free to see from the elevated park.
3Homecoming: Sanford Biggers
FreeArtOutdoors
Sanford Biggers plants monumental outdoor sculpture in Astoria's waterfront park, free to roam with the East River as backdrop.
4New Humans: Memories of the Future
Museum admissionArtMuseum
The New Museum's OMA-expanded galleries fill with 200+ artists probing what 'human' means — the Bowery's blockbuster reopening show.
5Block by Block: Celebrating 30 Years of Community Greening
TicketedArtOutdoors
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden recreates real prize-winning Brooklyn stoops in bloom, celebrating 30 years of community gardening.
6Courtyard Commission: Precious Okoyomon
FreeArtOutdoors
Precious Okoyomon grows a living forest with a giant, toy-like bear sculpture in the courtyard of MoMA PS1 in Long Island City.
7The Unintended Blues at River To River Festival, Governors Island
FreeArtGovernors Island
A free River To River art installation on car-free Governors Island — pair a ferry ride and skyline views with a downtown arts festival.
8Benny Andrews: Migrants — Chelsea Gallery Show
FreeArtGallery show
See Benny Andrews' searching paintings of migration and labor at Michael Rosenfeld — a free Chelsea gallery show in its final week.
9The Audacity of Scale — Chelsea Gallery Show at Sean Kelly
FreeArtGallery show
Sean Kelly's summer group show The Audacity of Scale fills its Chelsea gallery with large-format work — free to visit on a weekend art walk.
Live music
1WayV Live — Free SummerStage Concert in Central Park
FreeK-popCentral Park
K-pop group WayV headlines a free Central Park SummerStage concert with The Either — one of the summer's biggest free outdoor draws.
2WayV, The Either & Chopstix at Central Park SummerStage
FreeK-popCentral Park
K-pop supergroup WayV headlines a free Central Park SummerStage bill with The Either and Chopstix — RSVP and it's yours.
3globalFEST — Free Outdoor Concert at Lincoln Center
FreeWorld musicOutdoor
globalFEST brings Cabo Verde's Elida Almeida, Sinkane and Saha Gnawa to Lincoln Center's outdoor dance floor for a free world-music night.
4Alok: Rave The World at Pacha New York (Brooklyn Mirage)
From $70EDMOpen-Air
Brazilian superstar Alok headlines a Tomorrowland Rave The World night in the open-air Mirage bowl with SIDEPIECE and Bhaskar.
5Project91 Presents Audien at The Rooftop at Pier 17
TicketedRooftopEDM
Grammy-nominated house DJ Audien spins a Project91 rooftop party over the East River with the Brooklyn Bridge in full view.
6Live Jazz at the Village Vanguard
TicketedLive jazzHistoric venue
Hear world-class jazz in the wedge-shaped basement where Coltrane and Evans recorded live albums — the Village Vanguard runs sets nightly.
7Live Jazz at Smalls Jazz Club
Cover chargeLive jazzWest Village
Descend into a tiny West Village basement for straight-ahead jazz and a legendary late-night jam session — Smalls runs music every night.
8Renee Rosnes at Birdland Jazz Club
Ticketed (music charge plus minimum)Live jazzPiano
Acclaimed jazz pianist Renee Rosnes plays two Saturday sets at the storied Birdland — sophisticated post-bop in a classic Midtown club.