The best things to do in Manhattan over Labor Day weekend 2026 (Sep 5–7) — hand-curated and refreshed weekly.
69 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 Lawn, Midtown, ManhattanAnother Believer · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTim Allen and Sigourney Weaver spoof Star Trek on the Bryant Park lawn, where the 33rd season of free blanket cinema winds toward its finale.
Bryant Park Lawn, Midtown, ManhattanAnother Believer · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTim Allen and Sigourney Weaver spoof Star Trek on the Bryant Park lawn, where the 33rd season of free blanket cinema winds toward its finale.
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.
New World Stages, Stage 3, 340 West 50th Street, Hell's Kitchen, ManhattanThe Tony-winning spelling bee musical that pulls four audience members onstage to compete against the cast, live and unrehearsed.
New World Stages, Stage 3, 340 West 50th Street, Hell's Kitchen, ManhattanThe Tony-winning spelling bee musical that pulls four audience members onstage to compete against the cast, live and unrehearsed.
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Lyceum Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanEpicgenius · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsMeg Stalter plays a boozy, cabaret-obsessed Mary Todd Lincoln in Cole Escola's comedy, in her final stretch before Bowen Yang takes over.
Lyceum Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanEpicgenius · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsMeg Stalter plays a boozy, cabaret-obsessed Mary Todd Lincoln in Cole Escola's comedy, in her final stretch before Bowen Yang takes over.
Marquis Theatre, 210 West 46th Street, Theater District, ManhattanThe Hawkins prequel staged with flying bodies, a burning house and illusions that make the Marquis feel structurally unsafe.
Marquis Theatre, 210 West 46th Street, Theater District, ManhattanThe Hawkins prequel staged with flying bodies, a burning house and illusions that make the Marquis feel structurally unsafe.
Palace Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanThe 1987 vampire movie becomes a four-Tony-winning rock musical at the Palace, with Shoshana Bean's 'Wild' as the peak.
Palace Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanThe 1987 vampire movie becomes a four-Tony-winning rock musical at the Palace, with Shoshana Bean's 'Wild' as the peak.
Film Forum, Hudson Square, ManhattanCoppola's 1992 vampire fever dream in a 35mm print, closing out a Saturday of the Film Forum retrospective. Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins and practically no digital anything.
Film Forum, Hudson Square, ManhattanCoppola's 1992 vampire fever dream in a 35mm print, closing out a Saturday of the Film Forum retrospective. Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins and practically no digital anything.
59E59 Theaters (Theater B), Midtown East, ManhattanThe Negro Ensemble Company's staging of Terence Anthony's 1935 asylum drama takes its final bow at 59E59 afternoon. Benjamin Rowe plays a man who builds coffins inside a Jim Crow institution.
59E59 Theaters (Theater B), Midtown East, ManhattanThe Negro Ensemble Company's staging of Terence Anthony's 1935 asylum drama takes its final bow at 59E59 afternoon. Benjamin Rowe plays a man who builds coffins inside a Jim Crow institution.
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.
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.
Blue Note Jazz Club, Greenwich Village, ManhattanThe rapper behind 1999 and B4.Da.$$ squeezes into the 200-seat Blue Note for two nightly sets rather than an arena stage.
Blue Note Jazz Club, Greenwich Village, ManhattanThe rapper behind 1999 and B4.Da.$$ squeezes into the 200-seat Blue Note for two nightly sets rather than an arena stage.
The Rooftop at Pier 17, Seaport, ManhattanA full R&B dance party at nine in the morning, on the Pier 17 rooftop.
The Rooftop at Pier 17, Seaport, ManhattanA full R&B dance party at nine in the morning, on the Pier 17 rooftop.
Gramercy Theatre, Gramercy, ManhattanKevin Fredericks, the comedian millions know as KevOnStage, builds an entire solo show out of losing people and laughing anyway.
Gramercy Theatre, Gramercy, ManhattanKevin Fredericks, the comedian millions know as KevOnStage, builds an entire solo show out of losing people and laughing anyway.
New Amsterdam Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanAjay Suresh from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsAladdin plays the restored New Amsterdam Theatre, where Friend Like Me remains the loudest eleven o'clock number in town.
New Amsterdam Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanAjay Suresh from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsAladdin plays the restored New Amsterdam Theatre, where Friend Like Me remains the loudest eleven o'clock number in town.
Eugene O'Neill Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanAjay Suresh from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTwo missionaries hit Uganda in the nine-Tony musical from the South Park writers, holding the Eugene O'Neill since 2011.
Eugene O'Neill Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanAjay Suresh from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTwo missionaries hit Uganda in the nine-Tony musical from the South Park writers, holding the Eugene O'Neill since 2011.
August Wilson Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanThe found-footage horror franchise becomes a stage haunting at the August Wilson, with illusions by the designer behind Harry Potter's magic.
August Wilson Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanThe found-footage horror franchise becomes a stage haunting at the August Wilson, with illusions by the designer behind Harry Potter's magic.
Film at Lincoln Center, Lincoln Square, ManhattanFrantisek Vlacil's 1967 medieval epic — routinely called the greatest Czech film ever made — opens Friday in a 4K restoration, three shows a day.
Film at Lincoln Center, Lincoln Square, ManhattanFrantisek Vlacil's 1967 medieval epic — routinely called the greatest Czech film ever made — opens Friday in a 4K restoration, three shows a day.
Metrograph, Lower East Side, ManhattanTsui Hark's 1984 screwball-musical-romance in a 40th-anniversary 4K restoration he supervised himself, anchoring Metrograph's Tsui Hark series.
Metrograph, Lower East Side, ManhattanTsui Hark's 1984 screwball-musical-romance in a 40th-anniversary 4K restoration he supervised himself, anchoring Metrograph's Tsui Hark series.
Anthology Film Archives, East Village, ManhattanJill Godmilow's 1995 film of Ron Vawter's legendary two-part performance, on 16mm, inside Anthology's weekend tribute to Godmilow.
Anthology Film Archives, East Village, ManhattanJill Godmilow's 1995 film of Ron Vawter's legendary two-part performance, on 16mm, inside Anthology's weekend tribute to Godmilow.
Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanEpicgenius · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTaraji P. Henson and Cedric the Entertainer keep a 1911 Pittsburgh boardinghouse in August Wilson's revival, now down to its last bows.
Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Theater District, ManhattanEpicgenius · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTaraji P. Henson and Cedric the Entertainer keep a 1911 Pittsburgh boardinghouse in August Wilson's revival, now down to its last bows.
Roxy Cinema New York, Tribeca, ManhattanA brand-new indie horror shot for a 35mm release — undead friars, a college radio DJ, a punk band in the woods — with director Kurtis Spieler in person after the show.
Roxy Cinema New York, Tribeca, ManhattanA brand-new indie horror shot for a 35mm release — undead friars, a college radio DJ, a punk band in the woods — with director Kurtis Spieler in person after the show.
Metrograph, Lower East Side, ManhattanRay Harryhausen's skeleton army on a 35mm print at noon opening Metrograph's Classical Cinema strand of myth-on-screen.
Metrograph, Lower East Side, ManhattanRay Harryhausen's skeleton army on a 35mm print at noon opening Metrograph's Classical Cinema strand of myth-on-screen.
Laura Pels Theatre, Midtown, ManhattanA Catskills bungalow colony, a traveling blouse salesman and the summer of the moon landing — the film, remade as a musical.
Laura Pels Theatre, Midtown, ManhattanA Catskills bungalow colony, a traveling blouse salesman and the summer of the moon landing — the film, remade as a musical.
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