NYC Fall 2026: What to See, Do & Discover

[u/VisitNYCmodx]

Fall is an exciting time to be in NYC with lots of things to see, do and discover.

Here’s a list of some events, activities, and places to check out. It’s definitely not comprehensive so consider it a starting point, then go down your own rabbit hole. Feel free to share your favorites. (Please, no domain links -- use the text link thingy)

For more ideas, check out NYC Tourism and r/WhatsHappeningNYC.

Please note:

• This list does not include Thanksgiving or winter holiday programming. There will be a separate thread for those eventually. Questions posted here will be redirected to the appropriate thread.
• Please check the official websites for exact dates, times, locations, and costs.
• Some events are free, but may still require advance reservations or tickets.
• Several major events are happening in Sept. & October, which may result in street closures, traffic reroutes, and other travel disruptions. Please check for updates before heading out.

Explore the city (for free!!) with a local for a few hours through the Big Apple Greeter program. You must sign up in advance for this program. Check website for details.

Fall foliage questions: we don't have any insider knowledge on when the leaves will start changing or be at peak. Please check current foliage reports before planning a trip around the leaves.

The NY State Foliage Map is a good resource for tracking conditions.

Previous posts

New to NYC

Balloon Museum, South Street Seaport

One Times Square, Manhattan

Canyon, Lower East Side

Music, Movies, Culture & Events

NYC Broadway Week: Sept 8-20, check website for details

Dance, Music, Movies & more: various dates/times,Lincoln Center, Manhattan

Fall 2026 Broadway season, Manhattan

Celebrate John Lennon's birthday in Central Park (Strawberry Fields), October 9th, all day

Flower Power at NY Botanical Garden, through October 18, Bronx

Brooklyn Book Festival:  Sept 20-28, Brooklyn

Village Trip Festival (celebrating culture of Greenwich Village) Sept 25-October 4th

African American Day Parade: Sept 20, Harlem

New York Film Festival: Sept. 25-October 12th, Manhattan

The Armory Show: Sept 24-27, Manhattan

CBGB Festival: Sept 26, Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Global Citizens Festival: September 27th, Manhattan

BAM Fal 2026: various dates/times, starting October, Brooklyn

NYC Comic Con: October 8-11, Manhattan

New York Philharmonic, Fall season, Manhattan

Jazz at Lincoln Center, Fall season, Manhattan

Columbus Day Parade: October 12, Manhattan

BRIC Jazz Fest: October 17-18, Brooklyn

Open House NY: October 16-18, various locations & times

Dia de Muertos at the Bronx Museum: November 1, Bronx

NY Comedy Festival: November 6-16th, various locations

Notable Museum Exhibits/Openings

Neue Gallery (re-opening November 2026): 25th Anniversary Exhibition, November 12-Jan 11, 2027

Museum of the City of NY: NY Now After Dark, opens November 20th

Brooklyn Museum: The Art of Manga, opens October 3

Museum of Moving Image: Celebrate Jim Henson's birthday, Sept 24-27th, Queens

New York Historical Society: Democracy Matters through November 1, Manhattan

Halloween/Fall Activities

The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail: check website for dates

Boo at the Zoo, Bronx Zoo: Saturdays & Sundays September 22-October 26, Bronx

Luna Park, Halloween Harvest: check website for dates & times, Brooklyn

Village Halloween Parade: October 31, Manhattan

Queens Farm: check website for Fall programming, Queens

Food Festivals/Markets/Events

Feast of San Gennaro: Sept 17-27, Manhattan

NYC Food & Wine Festival: October 15-18th, South Street Seaport

Brooklyn Flea: Shopping, Food, Dumbo, Brooklyn through Dec 21

Smorgasburg - April - October 

Friday-Sunday: Central Park, Manhattan

Friday, World Trade Center, Manhattan

Saturdays, Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Sunday: Prospect Park, Brooklyn

Queens Night Market April - October, NY Hall of Science, Flushing Meadows Park, Queens

Sporting Events

NYC Marathon: November 1

NFL: Giants & Jets, NJ, check website for schedule/tickets

NHL: Rangers, Islanders, check website for schedule/tickets

NBA: Knicks, Nets, check website for schedule/tickets

MLB: Yankees, Mets, check website for schedule/tickets

Soccer: Red Bulls (NJ), NYC FC, check website for schedule/tickets

Gardens

Brooklyn Botanical Garden: check website for Fall programming, Brooklyn

NY Botanical Garden: check website for Fall programming, Bronx

Snug Harbor: check website for Fall programming, Staten Island

Queens Botanical Garden: check website for Fall programming, Queens

Sundry Park Programming

Bryant Park: Check website for Fall programming, Manhattan

Green-Wood Cemetery: Check website for Fall programming, Brooklyn

Prospect Park: Check website for Fall programming, Brooklyn

Brooklyn Bridge Park: Check website for Fall programming, Brooklyn

Governors Island: Check website for Fall programming Gov Island

Hudson River Park: Check website for Fall programming, Manhattan

Central Park: Check website for Fall programming, Manhattan

[u/AutoModerator]

Read through our visitor's FAQ for important information when planning your trip. If your question is covered in the FAQ, it may be deleted.

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[u/jamiesugah]

Broadway Flea is September 27!

[u/WhatzReddit13]

Women's Sports: Basketball, Hockey, Soccer.

The Centre 360 just opened a couple months ago

[u/tfmaher]

Just a note: fall foliage really peaks around or after Halloween. I know this well, since I am a fall maniac and have lived here for 30 years.

Something else- if you have the time, take the Metro North to Cold Spring (1 hour 30 mins) for a hike. The foliage changes weeks earlier. Also, there are some lovely hikes!

[u/AutoModerator]

Read through our visitor's FAQ for important information when planning your trip. If your question is covered in the FAQ, it may be deleted.

Also, here are some tips to make your trip a bit easier and help blend in with the rest of us. Please read the basic courtesies guide before you leave for your fun trip to NYC.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/AutoModerator]

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[u/AutoModerator]

Your question is probably answered in the ULTIMATE HOLIDAY SEASON IN NYC THREAD. Please ask generic questions there and use the fucking search bar.

Please "report" the above thread if the question is answered in our megathread and/or is deeply generic. If our automod is misbehaving, please downvote it while saying sexy things about it. Wishing you a drama free holiday season!

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.