Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Lincoln Center’s summer festival returns with hundreds of free or $5 performances
By
Ryan Kailath
Published Apr 15, 2025
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Sean Chee / Lincoln Center
By
Ryan Kailath
Published Apr 15, 2025
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Lincoln Center’s sweeping summer arts festival is back for its fourth season, with more than 200 free or $5 minimum “choose-what-you-pay” events, ranging from jazz and classical music to dance and theater to opera and comedy.
Highlights of “Summer for the City" include shows from the foundational psych-rock band Os Mutantes, an opening night party on June 11 featuring boundary-pushing jazz composer and performer Robert Glasper, and a theatrical retelling of the Indian epic the Mahabharata.
The festival celebrates Lincoln Center’s “founding promise to always enliven the city with arts for all New Yorkers,” said Shanta Thake, chief artistic officer for the performing arts center.
Along with individual performances, there are a number of curated series, including 10 New York premieres from the American Modern Opera Company, which is making its Lincoln Center debut. “Harawi,” an hourlong song cycle, features soprano Julia Bullock, pianist Conor Hanick and choreographer Bobbi Jene Smith.
The BAAND Together dance festival brings five of New York’s most lauded dance companies onto one stage, including Alvin Ailey, Ballet Hispánico, the Dance Theatre of Harlem, New York City Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre in late July.
Nadia Sirota, the violist and conductor who won a Peabody Award for her WQXR podcast “Meet the Composer,” is curating a new music series called “Living Music Underground,” featuring artists from ambient, electronic, classical, jazz and experimental music. (WQXR, like Gothamist, is owned by New York Public Radio.)
The festival’s tradition of devoting a week of programming to one country will continue with Brazil Week. In addition to Os Mutantes, Brazil Week will showcase seven-time Latin Grammy-winner Lenine, soul singer Liniker and an art exhibition from the Instituto Museu Itamar Assumpção.
As always, the main plaza of the Lincoln Center campus will be transformed into a dance floor underneath an enormous disco ball, with DJ sets and live performances across tango, country, disco, bachata, salsa and more.
“Summer for the City” runs from June 11 to Aug. 9. Nearly all performances are free, but some indoor shows are “choose what you pay,” starting at $5 per ticket. These go on sale to the general public at noon on May 15 here, and on May 8 for Lincoln Center members. “Fast Track” reservations that allow priority admission to free events will be available Mondays at noon for that week’s events here.
Tagged
new york city
arts
Ryan Kailath
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
The Knicks are NBA champions. Now they have to start dressing the part.
Before they attempt to fend off LeBron James and the 76ers on Tuesday, the Knicks will have a chance to show off their winning mentality through their tunnel fits.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 12:43 p.m. ET
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Arts & Entertainment
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years
By
Hannah Frishberg
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .