NEW YORK CITY TOURISM + CONVENTIONS DETAILS LINEUP OF MAJOR EVENTS ACROSS SPORTS, HISTORY, ARTS & CULTURE LEADING TO HISTORIC 2026

New York City (May 6, 2024) — New York City Tourism + Conventions, the official destination marketing organization and convention and visitors bureau for the five boroughs of New York City, is highlighting special programming for travelers across sports, history, arts and culture this year and beyond. This comes as the City looks forward to a historic 2026, with major events including America250 celebrations and eight FIFA World Cup games, including the final, on the world’s largest stage.

“New York City is ready to once again host some of the world’s largest sporting and cultural events, while welcoming dozens of milestone anniversaries and new, exciting cultural exhibitions, programs and performances through 2026,” said New York City Tourism + Conventions President and CEO Fred Dixon.

ARTS & CULTURE

• This fall, New York City Tourism + Conventions invites visitors and locals to experience its special arts and culture programming, including It’s Time for Culture, NYC Broadway WeekandNYC Off-Broadway Week. It’s Time for Culture, returning October 8–27, 2024 in partnership withBloomberg Connects, showcases the diverse and abundant cultural offerings of New York City, inviting visitors to dive deep into the vibrant cultural landscape. The biannual NYC Broadway Week and annual NYC Off-Broadway Week offer 2-for-1 tickets to some of the hottest shows on stage this season. NYC Broadway Week will return September 3–15, 2024, with NYC Off-Broadway Week following later in the fall.

• Through July 28, 2024, The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents The Harlem Renaissance and Transatlantic Modernism, an exhibition exploring how Black artists portrayed everyday modern life during the 1920s–40s in Harlem and across the United States amid the Great Migration. Featuring 160 works including painting, sculpture, photography, film and ephemera, it’s the first art museum survey of its kind in New York City since 1987.

• The Whitney Museum of American Art has unveiled the roster for Whitney Biennial 2024: Even Better Than the Real Thing, featuring 69 artists and two collectives. This edition marks the 81st installment of the museum’s esteemed exhibition series, the longest-running survey of American art. The program is now open and runs through August 11, 2024. Beginning September 25, 2024, The Whitney will unveil Edges of Ailey, a comprehensive exhibition celebrating the life and impact of American dancer Alvin Ailey, featuring daily performances, workshops and a diverse range of artworks and archival materials.

• Experience a surreal journey inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland at the Bronx’s New York Botanical Garden, with Wonderland: Curious Nature open to the public from May 18–October 27, 2024. Visitors are invited to follow iconic characters through whimsical scenes in the garden and explore imaginative horticultural displays inside the Haupt Conservatory, featuring installations from renowned artists including the likes of Yoko Ono, Alyson Shotz, Abelardo Morell and more.

• A tribute to Ming Dynasty architecture, the New York Chinese Scholar’s Gardenat Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden in Staten Island—one of just two authentic classical outdoor Chinese gardens in the US—is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Crafted in Suzhou, China, its elements include roof tiles, pavilions and bridges. Inspired by ancient poetry and paintings, the garden features magnificent rock formations resembling mountains. Visitors can explore pavilions, a bamboo forest path, waterfalls and a koi-filled pond.

• The Morgan Library & Museum, marking 100 years since its establishment as a public institution by Jack Morgan. The museum, located in Manhattan’s Murray Hill neighborhood, has unveiled several exhibitions including the now open Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature and Walton Ford: Birds and Beasts of the Studio. The next exhibition in the campaign will be Liberty to the Imagination: Drawings from the Eveillard Gift, on view beginning June 7, 2024.

• Since its inception in 1824, the Brooklyn Museum has become a global cultural center, driven by the innovative spirit of its borough. As it celebrates two centuries of groundbreaking initiatives, the museum invites audiences to explore special exhibitions and events showcasing its vibrant artistic community. Highlights include the launch of immersive exhibitions like Solid Gold and Brooklyn Made. Notably, the museum boasts an in-residence composer, Niles Luther, who scores music for various exhibitions and artwork on-site, making it the only museum in the United States to offer such an immersive experience. Visitors can expect a year of discovery and celebration in honor of its bicentennial—kicking off with a 200th Birthday Bash on October 5, 2024.

• The Frick Collection, a popular destination for tourists and New Yorkers for nearly 90 years, is currently undergoing a major renovation and enhancement project to elevate the visitor experience and overall accessibility. With careful attention to preserving the integrity of the 1914 Carrère and Hastings mansion, critical updates to infrastructure will ensure the highest standard of care for its priceless collections such as Madonna and Child, Adoration of the Magi, The Resurrection and more. Upon its completion later in 2024, the museum will offer unparalleled access to the original residence of Henry Clay Frick, will introduce new galleries on the mansion’s second floor and create essential resources for permanent collections, conservation, education and public programs.

• New performing arts offerings are revitalizing New York City’s cultural landscape with the expansion of iconic venues and the emergence of new stages. The historic Apollo Theater recently debuted the Victoria Theater, its first expansion in 90 years, which introduced two new stages and created an arts campus in Harlem. The inaugural season promises a diverse lineup including Alex Harsley, Stefon Harris and David Hammons. Meanwhile, in Brooklyn, the newly restored Brooklyn Paramount, now a concert hall, hosts various shows featuring acclaimed acts like Sting, Liam Gallagher, St. Vincent, Orville Peck and many more in its 2024 lineup. Across the East River, the Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC) stands as a beacon of artistic expression in Lower Manhattan, welcoming emerging and established artists across various disciplines since its launch in September 2023. The PAC’s inaugural 2023–24 season continues this summer with the opening of An American Solider, The Survival, Cats: “The Jellicle Ball” and more.

HISTORY

• The Jackie Robinson Museum commemorates the groundbreaking contributions of Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play Major League Baseball and one of the most celebrated baseball players of all time. Robinson’s legacy extends far beyond the baseball diamond, as he also made significant strides in civil rights, economic empowerment and social justice. From now through December 31, 2024, the museum is offering a free self-guided walking tour, Jackie Robinson’s Harlem, for visitors looking to dive deeper into Robinson’s connection to the neighborhood.

• New York City is the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ movement. The Stonewall Inn, site of the historic 1969 riots, stands as a symbol of resilience and is soon to be complemented by a dedicated visitor center opening in June 2024. On the Upper West Side, the forthcoming American LGBTQ+ Museum at the New-York Historical Society, set to open its doors in 2026, will be the nation’s first museum dedicated to LGBTQ+ history. Other cultural sites include theLeslie-Lohman Museum of Art, which celebrates LGBTQ+ identity through exhibitions and programs that showcase the ever-evolving queer experience, as well as theAlice Austen House Museum, which features the pioneering photographer’s work and has been a National Site of LGBTQ+ History since 2017.

• In 2025, New York City celebrates its 400th anniversary since the founding of the New Amsterdam colony in 1625, a significant moment in North America’s history. Starting with the Dutch settlement in 1624, which evolved into New Amsterdam, the colony expanded into a bustling community of 9,000 individuals before being taken over by the British in 1664. Ahead of the anniversary, the New-York Historical Society is presenting The Castello Plan: Life in New Amsterdam, on view through July 14, 2024. The exhibition offers a glimpse into the colony’s everyday life, Dutch ideas of tolerance, and the troubling legacies of slavery and Native American dispossession.

• The groundbreaking Broadway sensation, Hamilton, created by MacArthur "Genius" Grant recipient Lin-Manuel Miranda, celebrates its 10th anniversary at Richard Rodgers Theatre in 2025. The show, which follows the rise of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton as hecreates a legacy that would shape the course of New York City as well as the nation, boasts various accolades including 11 Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize. Seamlessly blending hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway, the musical continues to captivate audiences, offering a fresh perspective on American history.

• America celebrates its semiquincentennial in 2026, with celebrations and pop-up events of America250 taking place throughout the east coast. Recognizing New York City’s historical significance as the nation’s first capital and as a beacon of innovation and influence, the effort aims to honor the City’s rich legacy and promising evolution. From pivotal events like the first US Congress and the Stonewall Uprising to cultural milestones such as the birth of hip-hop in the Bronx, NYC’s role in shaping groundbreaking practices and cultural movements remains unparalleled. As the milestone is observed, the City will be home to yet-to-be-announced special programming, showcasing its role as a symbol of diversity, culture and strength.

• In honor of America’s 250th birthday on July 4, 2026, New York Harbor will set the stage for Sail4th250, the largest fleet of tall ships and gray hull ships ever assembled. Echoing past landmark celebrations like the bicentennial in 1976 and the Statue of Liberty centennial in 1986, international fleets will gather in the heart of the nation’s first capital for a weeklong event. This occasion will serve as a symbol of unity among sailors worldwide, reflecting the enduring values of freedom, hope and opportunity within the United States.

SPORTS

• New York City boasts two of every men’s professional sports franchises in the greater metropolitan area, alongside women’s professional basketball, soccer and ice hockey leagues. These teams include: New York Yankees, New York Mets, New York Giants, New York Jets, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, New York City FC, and New York Red Bulls for the men’s leagues, as well as New York Liberty, NJ/NY Gotham FC, and PWHL New York.

• Baseball is a fan favorite activity for both visitors and residents. Beyond the New York Yankees and New York Mets, New York City is also home to two Minor League Baseball franchises: the Staten Island FerryHawks and the Brooklyn Cyclones. Named after the iconic Staten Island Ferry and inspired by the local cooper’s hawks that grace the island, the FerryHawks proudly represent the borough as its professional baseball team in the Atlantic League. With unmatched views of the New York City skyline as a backdrop, a FerryHawks game promises entertainment for visitors of all ages. In Brooklyn, the Cyclones command attention at Maimonides Park in Coney Island, paying tribute to its namesake, the cherished roller coaster landmark. Both teams have kicked off their 2024 season, with games running through September 2024.

• The New York Sail Grand Prix returns to New York City June 22–23, 2024. As the 12th stop on its global circuit, the event promises thrilling international sailing competition against the iconic Manhattan skyline. Spectators can witness the U.S. SailGP Team and nine other nations face off on identical 50-foot flying catamarans, reaching speeds over 60 miles per hour. Alongside the racing action, spectators can enjoy food, drinks, live music and more on Governors Island for an unforgettable summer weekend.

• The CONMEBOL Copa América 2024 marks a unique edition featuring 10 CONMEBOL teams and six CONCACAF guest teams. Boasting 10 cumulative FIFA World Cup titles across the teams and featuring the world’s top soccer talent, the tournament promises excitement across the 32 matches this summer. Among the highlights, MetLife Stadium will host pivotal encounters, including the Chile vs Argentina match on June 25, 2024 and the Uruguay vs Bolivia match on June 27, 2024, alongside one of the three semifinal matches on July 9, 2024.

• Dating back to 1881, the US Open Tennis Championships is the fourth and final Grand Slam tournament of the year, cementing its role as the largest annual ticketed sporting event in the world. Since 1978, the tournament has found its home at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens’ Flushing Meadows Corona Park, serving as a magnet for the best tennis talent worldwide such as reigning champions Coco Gauff, Novak Djokovic, Diede de Groot and Alfie Hewett. The tournament will return to Queens from August 26–September 8, 2024.

• The TCS New York City Marathon takes runners through all five boroughs of New York City, kicking off in Staten Island, followed by Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, ending in Manhattan’s Central Park. As the largest marathon globally, it saw over 50,000 participants cross the finish line in 2023, with more than 128,000 applicants the same year. Returning on November 3, 2024, the TCS New York City Marathon is one of the top long-distance races in the United States and part of the World Marathon Majors series.

• In 2025, New York New Jersey will host the newly expanded version of the FIFA Club World Cup (Mundial de Clubes FIFA), featuring 32 professional teams. The tournament, which is now set to occur every four years, will feature New York New Jersey as one of the host cities for the inaugural tournament in its new format. The match schedule is to be announced.

• FIFA has chosen New York City alongside co-host partner, New Jersey, as the host city for the FIFA World Cup 2026, where MetLife Stadium will become New York New Jersey Stadium for the world’s largest game. The final, which will take place on July 19, 2026, is one of eight matches that New York New Jersey will host, in what promises to be the largest World Cup tournaments ever. The lineup will also include group stage matches on June 13, 16, 22, 25 and 26; a round of 32 game on June 30; a round of 16 match on July 5, and the Final on July 19. Whether at the stadium watching the match live or attending one of the various World Cup events that will take place citywide, visitors are guaranteed an unforgettable tournament experience.

About New York City Tourism + Conventions

New York City Tourism + Conventions is the official destination marketing organization (DMO) and convention and visitors bureau (CVB) for the five boroughs of New York City. Our mission is to invite the world and energize the City, building equitable, sustainable economic prosperity and community through tourism for the mutual benefit of residents, businesses and visitors. For all there is to do and see in New York City, visit nyctourism.com.