The best things to do in New York City on Friday night of Labor Day weekend 2026, Sep 4 — hand-curated and refreshed weekly.
48 picks · checked Sep 2
Delacorte Theater, Central Park, Manhattan100-plus New Yorkers from all five boroughs record a live album onstage at the Delacorte — the Public's free season-closing pageant, five nights only.
Delacorte Theater, Central Park, Manhattan100-plus New Yorkers from all five boroughs record a live album onstage at the Delacorte — the Public's free season-closing pageant, five nights only.
Bryant Park, Midtown, ManhattanBryant Park's first Brass Festival stacks Grammy-nominated New Breed Brass Band, Brooklyn's Aberdeen and the all-female Brass Queens on the lawn.
Bryant Park, Midtown, ManhattanBryant Park's first Brass Festival stacks Grammy-nominated New Breed Brass Band, Brooklyn's Aberdeen and the all-female Brass Queens on the lawn.
Lincoln Square, ManhattanPhotograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net ). · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe Met throws its Live in HD capture of Bellini's I Puritani onto a giant screen over Josie Robertson Plaza. About 2,500 seats go out, admission is free and no tickets or reservations are issued.
Lincoln Square, ManhattanPhotograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net ). · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe Met throws its Live in HD capture of Bellini's I Puritani onto a giant screen over Josie Robertson Plaza. About 2,500 seats go out, admission is free and no tickets or reservations are issued.
The Glade at Little Island, Meatpacking District, ManhattanLeslie Jamison, Eric Kim and Doreen St. Felix read new stories about New York's food scene at Little Island's outdoor Glade.
The Glade at Little Island, Meatpacking District, ManhattanLeslie Jamison, Eric Kim and Doreen St. Felix read new stories about New York's food scene at Little Island's outdoor Glade.
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Metrograph, Lower East Side, ManhattanShane Fleming · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsZu, 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.
Metrograph, Lower East Side, ManhattanShane Fleming · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsZu, 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.
Coney Island, BrooklynMiscellaneous Items in High Demand, PPOC, Library of Congress · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsA free Practical Magic night at Deno's Wonder Wheel Park with midnight margaritas, tarot readings and giveaways, timed to end with the season's last fireworks.
Coney Island, BrooklynMiscellaneous Items in High Demand, PPOC, Library of Congress · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsA free Practical Magic night at Deno's Wonder Wheel Park with midnight margaritas, tarot readings and giveaways, timed to end with the season's last fireworks.
Kirbee's, Greenpoint, BrooklynTwo of Texas's most decorated pitmasters bring a smokehouse to Greenpoint. After a limited first day, Kirbee's opens in full across Labor Day weekend.
Kirbee's, Greenpoint, BrooklynTwo of Texas's most decorated pitmasters bring a smokehouse to Greenpoint. After a limited first day, Kirbee's opens in full across Labor Day weekend.
Ugly Baby, Williamsburg, BrooklynBrooklyn's most feared Thai kitchen returns after nearly two years dark, in a Williamsburg space with double the seats and a full bar.
Ugly Baby, Williamsburg, BrooklynBrooklyn's most feared Thai kitchen returns after nearly two years dark, in a Williamsburg space with double the seats and a full bar.
Flushing Meadows, QueensSee-ming Lee from Hong Kong SAR, China · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThird-round singles under the lights in Arthur Ashe Stadium. The evening card is a separate ticketed sitting from the afternoon session.
Flushing Meadows, QueensSee-ming Lee from Hong Kong SAR, China · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThird-round singles under the lights in Arthur Ashe Stadium. The evening card is a separate ticketed sitting from the afternoon session.
Brooklyn Museum, Prospect Heights, BrooklynKes The Band, Bunji Garlin, Fay-Ann Lyons and WCK play a seven-hour soca marathon on the Brooklyn Museum grounds for Carnival week.
Brooklyn Museum, Prospect Heights, BrooklynKes The Band, Bunji Garlin, Fay-Ann Lyons and WCK play a seven-hour soca marathon on the Brooklyn Museum grounds for Carnival week.
Maimonides Park, Coney Island, BrooklynMinor-league baseball with the Wonder Wheel over the outfield wall, capped by postgame fireworks fired off the Coney Island boardwalk.
Maimonides Park, Coney Island, BrooklynMinor-league baseball with the Wonder Wheel over the outfield wall, capped by postgame fireworks fired off the Coney Island boardwalk.
The Amph at Little Island, Meatpacking District, ManhattanLaurie Anderson, Davone Tines and a rotating house band reset Allen Ginsberg's poems as songs on Little Island's amphitheatre stage.
The Amph at Little Island, Meatpacking District, ManhattanLaurie Anderson, Davone Tines and a rotating house band reset Allen Ginsberg's poems as songs on Little Island's amphitheatre stage.
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey (regional)Ed Sheeran loops MetLife for two stadium nights with Macklemore, Lukas Graham and BIIRD opening — the fall's biggest pop pilgrimage from NYC.
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey (regional)Ed Sheeran loops MetLife for two stadium nights with Macklemore, Lukas Graham and BIIRD opening — the fall's biggest pop pilgrimage from NYC.
Museum of Modern Art, Midtown, ManhattanMoMA's free Friday evening for New York State residents lands on Labor Day weekend — 5:30 to, reserve ahead with proof of residency.
Museum of Modern Art, Midtown, ManhattanMoMA's free Friday evening for New York State residents lands on Labor Day weekend — 5:30 to, reserve ahead with proof of residency.
Greenwich House Theater, West Village, ManhattanMarin Ireland's acclaimed play returns with Lupita Nyong'o opening a rotating star cast — this is its first full weekend of previews at Greenwich House.
Greenwich House Theater, West Village, ManhattanMarin Ireland's acclaimed play returns with Lupita Nyong'o opening a rotating star cast — this is its first full weekend of previews at Greenwich House.
Hommali, West Village, ManhattanThree friends from Bangkok open a contemporary Thai restaurant built around jasmine rice, which arrives free with every meal. Labor Day is its first weekend.
Hommali, West Village, ManhattanThree friends from Bangkok open a contemporary Thai restaurant built around jasmine rice, which arrives free with every meal. Labor Day is its first weekend.
La MaMa (The Ellen Stewart Theatre), East Village, ManhattanJohn Donnelly's Royal Court play about two closeted footballers gets its American premiere at La MaMa, directed by Max Hunter. Friday at 7 is the last performance of the run.
La MaMa (The Ellen Stewart Theatre), East Village, ManhattanJohn Donnelly's Royal Court play about two closeted footballers gets its American premiere at La MaMa, directed by Max Hunter. Friday at 7 is the last performance of the run.
Barclays Center, Prospect Heights, BrooklynRobyn brings the sexistential tour to Barclays Center with Yaeji opening, her first Brooklyn arena run in years and a full production.
Barclays Center, Prospect Heights, BrooklynRobyn brings the sexistential tour to Barclays Center with Yaeji opening, her first Brooklyn arena run in years and a full production.
Knockdown Center, Maspeth, QueensThe UK dance legends close their sold-out two-night Labor Day stand at Knockdown Center — two full sets, no opener, their only U.S. headline shows of 2026.
Knockdown Center, Maspeth, QueensThe UK dance legends close their sold-out two-night Labor Day stand at Knockdown Center — two full sets, no opener, their only U.S. headline shows of 2026.
Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, Bedford Park, BronxPrincess Nokia brings her shape-shifting rap catalog to Lehman Center, with a pre-show wine and beer reception for front orchestra ticket holders.
Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, Bedford Park, BronxPrincess Nokia brings her shape-shifting rap catalog to Lehman Center, with a pre-show wine and beer reception for front orchestra ticket holders.
The Mets host the Giants at Citi Field in an afternoon start, one 7 train stop past the US Open grounds in Flushing Meadows.
The Mets host the Giants at Citi Field in an afternoon start, one 7 train stop past the US Open grounds in Flushing Meadows.
Yankee Stadium, Concourse, BronxNew York City FC hosts Nashville SC at Yankee Stadium, an MLS match staged on a converted baseball diamond in the South Bronx.
Yankee Stadium, Concourse, BronxNew York City FC hosts Nashville SC at Yankee Stadium, an MLS match staged on a converted baseball diamond in the South Bronx.
Palladium Times Square, Times Square, ManhattanLatin singer Luis Angel El Flaco headlines Palladium Times Square, a rare Broadway-block marquee for a Spanish-language dance night.
Palladium Times Square, Times Square, ManhattanLatin singer Luis Angel El Flaco headlines Palladium Times Square, a rare Broadway-block marquee for a Spanish-language dance night.
Peral, Bedford-Stuyvesant, BrooklynBed-Stuy's Michelin Bib Gourmand Olmo teams up with Mexico City's Cicatriz for an all-day taqueria next door. Tacos start at $6.
Peral, Bedford-Stuyvesant, BrooklynBed-Stuy's Michelin Bib Gourmand Olmo teams up with Mexico City's Cicatriz for an all-day taqueria next door. Tacos start at $6.
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