Stumblday's hand-checked ranking of the best things to do in New York City in September 2026: 348 picks, refreshed weekly. September is New York at full tilt: the US Open runs through its finals (September 12-13), Fashion Week takes over mid-month, the Feast of San Gennaro turns 100 on Mulberry Street (September 17-27), and Climate Week fills the city's calendars from the 20th. Labor Day weekend brings the West Indian American Day Carnival to Brooklyn — one of the biggest parades in North America. The weather is the year's most reliable; book the tentpoles early.
Whitney Museum of American Art, Meatpacking District, ManhattanAchaikon · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsOnly Floor 6 of the Whitney Biennial remains on view through the holiday Monday.
Whitney Museum of American Art, Meatpacking District, ManhattanAchaikon · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsOnly Floor 6 of the Whitney Biennial remains on view through the holiday Monday.
Add to calendar
American Academy of Arts and Letters, Washington Heights, ManhattanBeyond My Ken · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe Final Fantasy artist's first New York institutional solo show: a Pandora frieze of drawings, free at Audubon Terrace from opening day.
American Academy of Arts and Letters, Washington Heights, ManhattanBeyond My Ken · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe Final Fantasy artist's first New York institutional solo show: a Pandora frieze of drawings, free at Audubon Terrace from opening day.
Add to calendar
Madison Square Garden, Midtown / Penn District, ManhattanHarry Styles' 30-night Garden residency, his only US shows this year, rolls on with two more nights at MSG this weekend — Harryween is coming.
Madison Square Garden, Midtown / Penn District, ManhattanHarry Styles' 30-night Garden residency, his only US shows this year, rolls on with two more nights at MSG this weekend — Harryween is coming.
Add to calendar
Van Cortlandt Manor, Croton-on-Hudson, Hudson ValleyMore than 7,000 hand-carved jack o'lanterns light up an 18th-century manor, dinosaurs and a pumpkin carousel included — an easy train ride up
Van Cortlandt Manor, Croton-on-Hudson, Hudson ValleyMore than 7,000 hand-carved jack o'lanterns light up an 18th-century manor, dinosaurs and a pumpkin carousel included — an easy train ride up
Add to calendarEach September weekend's list lands the Friday before it, one email every Friday. Unsubscribe anytime.
Film at Lincoln Center, Lincoln Square, ManhattanAjay Suresh from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsNYFF's final weekend at Film at Lincoln Center: 32 Main Slate films from 31 countries, closing with Ava DuVernay's world premiere of 14th.
Film at Lincoln Center, Lincoln Square, ManhattanAjay Suresh from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsNYFF's final weekend at Film at Lincoln Center: 32 Main Slate films from 31 countries, closing with Ava DuVernay's world premiere of 14th.
Add to calendar
New York Renaissance Faire at Sterling Forest, Tuxedo, Hudson ValleySixteen acres of Sterling Forest become a 16th-century village: three armored jousts a day, a living chess match, falconry and 100-plus artisans. A ShortLine bus runs from Port Authority straight to the gate.
New York Renaissance Faire at Sterling Forest, Tuxedo, Hudson ValleySixteen acres of Sterling Forest become a 16th-century village: three armored jousts a day, a living chess match, falconry and 100-plus artisans. A ShortLine bus runs from Port Authority straight to the gate.
Add to calendar
NYC Parks (citywide), All five boroughs, CitywideU.S. Army 353CAG by Staff Sgt. Emilie Lenglain · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsOver 300 free screenings light up park lawns in all five boroughs, from Encanto to Lilo & Stitch and they start when the sun goes down.
NYC Parks (citywide), All five boroughs, CitywideU.S. Army 353CAG by Staff Sgt. Emilie Lenglain · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsOver 300 free screenings light up park lawns in all five boroughs, from Encanto to Lilo & Stitch and they start when the sun goes down.
Add to calendar
Bronx Zoo, Bronx Park, BronxStavenn · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsA new hay maze, costume parades with stilt walkers and a pumpkin garden take over the Bronx Zoo — opening weekend, included with admission.
Bronx Zoo, Bronx Park, BronxStavenn · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsA new hay maze, costume parades with stilt walkers and a pumpkin garden take over the Bronx Zoo — opening weekend, included with admission.
Add to calendar
Brooklyn Children's Museum, Crown Heights, BrooklynDisco roller skating on a rooftop with skyline views returns to Brooklyn Children's Museum, a nod to the legendary Empire Rink — reopening weekend.
Brooklyn Children's Museum, Crown Heights, BrooklynDisco roller skating on a rooftop with skyline views returns to Brooklyn Children's Museum, a nod to the legendary Empire Rink — reopening weekend.
Add to calendar
Museum of the City of New York, Upper Manhattan, ManhattanJakub Hałun · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsA rescued New Deal mural cycle painted for a hospital children's ward goes back on public view in East Harlem.
Museum of the City of New York, Upper Manhattan, ManhattanJakub Hałun · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsA rescued New Deal mural cycle painted for a hospital children's ward goes back on public view in East Harlem.
Add to calendar
Agger Fish Building, Brooklyn Navy Yard, BrooklynGorillaz's 25th-anniversary immersive exhibition takes over the Brooklyn Navy Yard's Agger Fish Building for September — the band's only East Coast stop.
Agger Fish Building, Brooklyn Navy Yard, BrooklynGorillaz's 25th-anniversary immersive exhibition takes over the Brooklyn Navy Yard's Agger Fish Building for September — the band's only East Coast stop.
Add to calendar
Doris C. Freedman Plaza, Central Park, ManhattanBronze, stone and concrete dogs on leashes take over the Central Park entrance at 60th and Fifth — Camille Henrot's first public show in New York.
Doris C. Freedman Plaza, Central Park, ManhattanBronze, stone and concrete dogs on leashes take over the Central Park entrance at 60th and Fifth — Camille Henrot's first public show in New York.
Add to calendar
New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bedford Park, BronxClyde Charles Brown · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsNYBG's Flower Power turns 250 acres groovy — psychedelic floral displays plus Warhol and Milton Glaser works channeling sixties counterculture in bloom.
New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bedford Park, BronxClyde Charles Brown · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsNYBG's Flower Power turns 250 acres groovy — psychedelic floral displays plus Warhol and Milton Glaser works channeling sixties counterculture in bloom.
Add to calendar
Hauser & Wirth, 542 West 22nd Street, Chelsea, ManhattanWikipettanko · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsKorean icon Lee Bul fills Hauser & Wirth with major new sculptures — cyborg bodies and glittering future ruins probing technology, nature and history.
Hauser & Wirth, 542 West 22nd Street, Chelsea, ManhattanWikipettanko · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsKorean icon Lee Bul fills Hauser & Wirth with major new sculptures — cyborg bodies and glittering future ruins probing technology, nature and history.
Add to calendar
El Museo del Barrio, East Harlem, ManhattanPaul Lowry from New York, EEUU de A · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe first major retrospective of Teddy Sandoval, a central figure of LA's queer Chicano avant-garde, opens at El Museo del Barrio for its New York run.
El Museo del Barrio, East Harlem, ManhattanPaul Lowry from New York, EEUU de A · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe first major retrospective of Teddy Sandoval, a central figure of LA's queer Chicano avant-garde, opens at El Museo del Barrio for its New York run.
Add to calendar
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.
Add to calendar
City Hall Park, Civic Center, ManhattanNielsoncaetanosalmeron · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsConcrete birds pluck pennies from the City Hall Park fountain and two bronze Lady Justices preside — Genesis Belanger's first big public show.
City Hall Park, Civic Center, ManhattanNielsoncaetanosalmeron · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsConcrete birds pluck pennies from the City Hall Park fountain and two bronze Lady Justices preside — Genesis Belanger's first big public show.
Add to calendar
New World Stages (Stage 1), Hell's Kitchen, ManhattanCasey "Poppins" Nedelka · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsWesterberg High's croquet-mallet queens take their last bow at New World Stages — the cult musical closes before its national tour.
New World Stages (Stage 1), Hell's Kitchen, ManhattanCasey "Poppins" Nedelka · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsWesterberg High's croquet-mallet queens take their last bow at New World Stages — the cult musical closes before its national tour.
Add to calendar
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Upper East Side, ManhattanThe Costume Institute's new blockbuster reframes fashion as fine art, with sculptural gowns staged alongside masterpieces from the Met's collection.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Upper East Side, ManhattanThe Costume Institute's new blockbuster reframes fashion as fine art, with sculptural gowns staged alongside masterpieces from the Met's collection.
Add to calendar
Film at Lincoln Center, Lincoln Square, ManhattanJames Gray's Queens crime drama with Adam Driver, Miles Teller and Scarlett Johansson opens the 64th New York Film Festival.
Film at Lincoln Center, Lincoln Square, ManhattanJames Gray's Queens crime drama with Adam Driver, Miles Teller and Scarlett Johansson opens the 64th New York Film Festival.
Add to calendar
David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center, ManhattanDEGA MD · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsSeven programs at the Koch Theater, from Balanchine's full-length Jewels to Pithoprakta, revived after decades off the company stage.
David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center, ManhattanDEGA MD · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsSeven programs at the Koch Theater, from Balanchine's full-length Jewels to Pithoprakta, revived after decades off the company stage.
Add to calendar
Museum of Arts and Design, Columbus Circle, ManhattanKidfly182 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe Waffle Trainer, Air Force 1 and Vaporfly meet never-shown prototypes from Nike's 200,000-object archive, opening at MAD on Columbus Circle.
Museum of Arts and Design, Columbus Circle, ManhattanKidfly182 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe Waffle Trainer, Air Force 1 and Vaporfly meet never-shown prototypes from Nike's 200,000-object archive, opening at MAD on Columbus Circle.
Add to calendar
New Museum, Bowery / Lower East Side, ManhattanMarcy Hargan from New York City (Manhattan), USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLove is the Message and the Golden Lion-winning The White Album anchor Arthur Jafa's first US museum survey, in the expanded New Museum.
New Museum, Bowery / Lower East Side, ManhattanMarcy Hargan from New York City (Manhattan), USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLove is the Message and the Golden Lion-winning The White Album anchor Arthur Jafa's first US museum survey, in the expanded New Museum.
Add to calendar
The Studio Museum in Harlem, Harlem, ManhattanMomos · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsJulie Mehretu, Alma Thomas, Jack Whitten and William T. Williams anchor a Studio Museum show on geometry as a way of thinking, newly opened in Harlem.
The Studio Museum in Harlem, Harlem, ManhattanMomos · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsJulie Mehretu, Alma Thomas, Jack Whitten and William T. Williams anchor a Studio Museum show on geometry as a way of thinking, newly opened in Harlem.
Add to calendar