We look forward to you joining us for another summer of amazing concerts and performances at Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage.
Here are some tips to help you plan your visit with us.
Our neighborhood park performances run from June – August in all five boroughs and our Central Park series at Rumsey Playfield (E 71st St and East Drive, New York, NY 10021) will run from May – October.
Times vary per show location. For Central Park shows, doors open one hour prior to the listed showtimes. In all other locations, shows start promptly at the times listed on the schedule.
SummerStage is located in our flagship venue at Rumsey Playfield (E 71st St and East Drive, New York, NY 10021) in Central Park and also in additional parks that span across the five boroughs.
Tickets or RSVPs are not required to attend a FREE performance and admission is first come first serve. If you would like to help support the City Parks Foundation, there is a suggested donation of $5 for free SummerStage in Central Park events which can be dropped in our donation bins at the doors or paid by credit card at our Information Booth.
SummerStage also offers benefit concerts produced by Live Nation at our Central Park venue that require a ticket purchase. You can locate those shows, noted as Ticketed, on our calendar. Please note that re-entry is not permitted to these shows once you exit the venue.
Tickets for our Benefit Concerts can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com or through our SummerStage website.
All ages are welcome! Parents and guardians, please be aware that some performances may contain content or language that is not suitable for younger children.
For our ticketed benefit events, tickets are required for patrons ages 4 and up.
For Central Park shows, doors open one hour prior to the performance.
In all other park locations outside of Central Park, shows start promptly at the times listed on our calendar.
You are allowed to bring:
We ask that you keep the following list of items at home when you attend SummerStage. Please note outside of Central Park, guests must follow the rules and regulations of neighborhood parks. SummerStage reserves the right to determine what items are deemed appropriate for entry. In 2026, the following is not permitted at SummerStage in Central Park:
Sorry, we do not offer a bag or coat check. We apologize but cannot be responsible for items left outside the venue.
In Central Park, food and drink is for sale by our food concessionaire. Cash and credit cards are accepted.
Guests must be 21+ and must show a current valid federal or state ID to buy alcoholic beverages. You can purchase up to two drinks at a time per ID.
For our other events outside of Central Park, food vendors are available at most parks, but are not guaranteed. Please check event details for the show for specific park information. Cash and credit cards are accepted (may be subject to vendor).
There is limited bleacher seating available at select Central Park performances (please note that for some ticketed benefit shows, the bleachers may be closed to general admission ticket buyers so please contact us to confirm). Bleachers will not be available to general admission guests for certain free shows in Central Park as well.
Chairs are available at dance shows in Central Park. All seating is first-come, first served. Outside chairs are not permitted inside the Central Park venue. Sitting on picnic blankets and beach towels are allowed, however if the venue gets crowded, patrons may be asked to pick up their blankets and towels.
For all other park locations outside of Central Park, audience members are welcome to bring folding chairs and/or blankets to sit on.If you are interested in seating at our events, learn more about our SummerStage membership program to gain access to bleacher seating, premium seats, express entry and more.
Smoking or vaping of any kind are prohibited in all NYC parks.
Yes. Accessible entrances, exit points, and seating are available for every event in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and we are happy to accommodate requests.
At our Mainstage venue in Central Park, the accessible seating area is located in front of the Stage Left deck on the East side of the venue. At our Citywide shows in other parks around the city, the accessible seating area is located by the stage, with exact layouts varying by park. Folding chairs with backs are provided in these areas, and each patron is allowed to bring one companion with them.
If you would like to request an assisted listening device at Rumsey Playfield or accessible seating at any of our venues, please request your accommodation up to 24 hours before the event through our Accessibility and Accommodations Request Form. If you are requesting an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter, please submit your request at least two weeks prior to your event of interest.
Please note while we do our best to fulfill all requests, ultimately the ADA section is limited by capacity and first-come first-serve, and your requested seats may be given to another patron in the case you do not arrive by showtime to claim them. In addition, some views of our stage may be partially obstructed in the section.
Sensory Warning: Our performances may feature loud noises, bright or flashing lights/strobes, and/or imagery that may cause discomfort and/or seizures for those with photosensitivity. Audience discretion is advised.
If you have any additional questions regarding accessibility needs or specific access requests, please reach out to summerstage@cityparksfoundation.org.
All SummerStage events are rain or shine unless the weather poses a danger to audiences or performers. We may need to cancel if conditions are dangerous – lightning, high winds or flooding, for example. We will make announcements on Facebook, Instagram, X and our website in the event we need to cancel. It is unlikely that shows will be rescheduled.
Refunds are at the discretion of the event organizer Live Nation. For more information regarding cancellations of ticketed events, contact Ticketmaster via your account for Live Nation performances.
Yes, all SummerStage events have restrooms and accessible facilities.
In Central Park, restrooms are located behind the Member Lounge.
For benefit shows produced by Live Nation, please go through Ticketmaster for more assistance:
Their Virtual Assistant is available 24/7 to answer questions. If you need further assistance, they will transfer you to an agent.
While attending a SummerStage performance, our photographer may take a photo of you. All photos and videos taken are permitted to be used publicly in future City Parks Foundation & SummerStage promotional materials.
Thanks for reaching out with press interest for SummerStage. Please fill out our application form here or email summerstagepress@dkcnews.com with any questions.
At the moment, we are not looking for vendors for the 2026 season. If you are a food vendor interested in vending at one of our Citywide concerts, please fill out our Vendor Application Form, and we will keep your information on file in case of interest for future events. Please note that you will not receive correspondence from us unless our team is interested.
SummerStage is produced by City Parks Foundation, an independent nonprofit organization. Capital One is the title sponsor of SummerStage.
City Parks Foundation (CPF) is dedicated to invigorating and transforming parks into dynamic, vibrant centers of urban life through sports, arts, community building and education programs for all New Yorkers. Our programs — located in more than 300 parks, recreation centers and public schools across New York City — reach over 275,000 people each year. Our ethos is simple: thriving parks mean thriving communities.
For more information about our work, please explore the menu bar above on this website.
We do not accept unsolicited submissions. There is no application process for performing at the SummerStage festival. If you want to keep us informed of your artist(s) or project, e-mail is the best means to do so; please send information to talent@cityparksfoundation.org. Please note that you will not receive correspondence from us unless our booking team is interested.
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of SummerStage, please contact sponsorship@cityparksfoundation.org.
Absolutely! SummerStage in Central Park is the perfect venue for corporate outings, private events, celebrations and more. Our rental specialists will help you find the right package. Visit our rentals page for more information.
To learn more about venue rentals, contact rentals@cityparksfoundation.org.
Thanks for your interest in working with SummerStage! Please refer to our Employment Opportunities page for the most up-to-date information on available positions and how to apply: Work for Us.
Thank you for your interest in volunteering at SummerStage. Unfortunately, we will not be accepting any volunteers for the 2026 season. However, you are welcome to apply to any of our seasonal paid positions via our Work For Us page.
If you have a question you still need assistance with, please contact summerstage@cityparksfoundation.org or for up-to-date information visit us on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
If you have any questions on-site, visit our information booth at any SummerStage show.
