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Riverside Park Conservancy’s Summer on the Hudson Returns with More Than 400 Free Events Along Manhattan’s West Side

Posted April 24, 2026

Riverside Park Conservancy’s Summer on the Hudson Returns with More Than 400 Free Events Along Manhattan’s West Side

From music and movies to movement, nature, and family fun, the beloved festival returns with fresh collaborations and an even more dazzling season of programming on the waterfront.

April 21, 2026 | New York, NY — Summer on the Hudson, the annual free outdoor arts

and culture festival presented jointly by Riverside Park Conservancy and NYC Parks,

returns this May for another vibrant season along Manhattan’s western waterfront.

Running from May through October, the festival will feature more than 400 free events

at locations between West 59th and 181st Streets.

Now in its 24th year, Summer on the Hudson continues to bring together New Yorkers

and visitors of all ages to experience the Park through arts, culture, wellness, and

education. What began as a small series of community events has grown into a season-

long celebration that transforms the west side into an eclectic outdoor venue for

connection, creativity, and discovery. From live music and outdoor movies to dance

parties and fitness classes, to day-long festivals and hands-on educational opportunities,

the new season offers something for everyone. A full calendar is available online at

www.riversideparknyc.org/soh.

In keeping with Riverside Park Conservancy’s broader commitment to expanding free

public programming in the northern reaches of the park, this year’s lineup brings another

strong slate of events to West Harlem Piers Park, Riverside North, and Fort Washington

Park. Among the highlights is the return of Movies on the Waterfront on the 145th

Street Lawn, which builds on the momentum of the series’ recent success by once again

inviting neighbors to gather for family-friendly films under the stars each Thursday in

August.

Other new uptown offerings this season continue the momentum with fresh ways for

parkgoers to move, connect, and explore. Cardio Dance and Joyflow bring lively, music-

driven wellness programming to the 145th Street Lawn, while new Horticulture Tours

offer all ages the chance to experience the landscape more deeply with Conservancy

experts.

“Our free public programming continues to provide a wide array of high-quality cultural experiences to all New Yorkers at no cost. In recent seasons, we launched more programming uptown, began offering our popular indoor fitness classes in the 102nd Street Field House, and expanded our nature-focused educational offerings,” said Whitney Dearden, Director of Public Programming for Riverside Park

Conservancy. “This season, we’re looking forward to bringing back perennial favorites as well as piloting even more new programs with the community.”

Summer on the Hudson will collaborate in 2026 with dozens of local artists and cultural

organizations. Among them is a new partnership with Uptown Film Center, which will

present a special outdoor movie screening near the Red Clay Tennis Courts on

September 18. 

“As we continue working toward opening our five-screen cinema center,

we’re excited to partner with Riverside Park for the first time on our 2026 summer pop- up series, culminating in an outdoor screening of Lin-Manuel Miranda's vibrant In the Heights,” said Ira Deutchman, President of Uptown Film Center. “This collaboration is a wonderful way to celebrate community, music, and neighborhood stories, and to bring people together for a joyful, open-air finale at the end of the summer.”

Family programming will see a big boost this season with new opportunities for children

and their caregivers to learn and explore together. Debuting this year on Saturdays at

3pm, Story Hour is a weekly program that invites kids and their families to the Field

House for read-aloud stories with rotating books and guest readers. A returning favorite,

Nature Explorers, welcomes kids to discover the Hudson River ecosystem through

hands-on workshops led by Conservancy staff, with each session highlighting a different

seasonal theme — from birds and insects to plants and wildlife.

“Summer on the Hudson continues to grow every year, and that is especially visible in

the way our programming for children and families has expanded,” said Merritt

Birnbaum, President & CEO of Riverside Park Conservancy. “From our new Story Hour to our Nature Explorer workshops and our increasing focus on hands-on activities, we’re creating more ways for young people and their caregivers to learn, play, and connect with one another and their environment in Riverside Park. It’s incredibly meaningful to see our programming keep evolving while remaining rooted in joy, access, and community.”

Speak Up! Festival joins the Summer on the Hudson lineup this year on June 27,

bringing an evening of joyful music, movement, and shared creation to Pier I. At dusk,

the space will transform into a lively celebration where opera, jazz, and Broadway

mingle with dance, yoga, and karaoke. Co-presented with Opera on Tap, Shakespearean

Cabaret, and a wide network of LGBTQIA+ artists and organizations, the event invites

people of all ages to lift their voices and take part in something collective, imaginative,

and proudly rooted in self-expression.

“Summer on the Hudson captures the joy, energy, and sense of community that make

our parks so special, bringing people together through free, accessible arts and cultural

programming,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. “With more than

400 events along Manhattan’s west side, this beloved series invites New Yorkers of all

ages to experience the waterfront in new ways — whether it's through music, film,

fitness, or community celebrations. We're proud to partner with Riverside Park

Conservancy each year to produce this amazing series.”

Also returning after a wildly successful debut last season, Riverside Comedy Club

brings stand-up back to Pier I with a lineup of some of New York’s most exciting

comedians for three Friday nights in June, July and August. 

“Summer on the Hudson is a great opportunity to not only perform in a beautiful location, but to bring that performance to New Yorkers who might never find it otherwise,” said Nat Towsen,

curator and host of Riverside Comedy Club. “It's a great opportunity to connect to

community and provide them with something special.”

Beloved Summer on the Hudson traditions also return throughout the season, anchoring

the calendar with the events New Yorkers look forward to year after year. Crowd-pleasing favorites like Silent Disco, Let’s Dance, Amplified Sundays, and the Pier I Picture Show once again bring music, movement, and waterfront energy to the summer, alongside a broad lineup of wellness classes including Sunset Yoga, Pilates in the Park,Tai Chi, and Bodyweight Blast. Together, these perennial favorites help define the joyful, welcoming spirit of the festival while continuing to draw audiences of all ages back to the park.

“I am delighted the 2026 Summer on the Hudson festival is soon set to begin. The

festival is a marquee and cherished event for hundreds of thousands of Upper Manhattan residents,” said Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Manhattan Borough President. “I am thankful to the Riverside Park Conservancy and NYC Parks for their tireless dedication and planning to make Summer on the Hudson a success, and from what I can tell from the 400+ planned free events, this is going to be the best festival yet!”

“Summer on the Hudson is a great tradition that brings the community together from the Upper West Side to Washington Heights. Riverside Park is the jewel of the west side, and there’s no better backdrop for this summer’s hundreds of free events. From concerts to nature tours to yoga, there is truly something for everyone,” said Shaun Abreu, Council Majority Leader. “Thank you to the Riverside Park Conservancy and NYC Parks for making this world-class program available to all!”

“Summer on the Hudson programming offers hundreds of delightful reasons to summer in the city – most specifically, free live performances, support for fitness efforts, and a country fair in the West Side gem that is Riverside Park,” said Council Member Gale A. Brewer. “I’m excited to partner with the Riverside Park Conservancy on Make Music New York and see New Yorkers and visitors flock to this season’s wonderful offerings celebrating nature, arts and culture, dancing, sports, the Hudson, open space, and goats – with thanks to the Conservancy!”

Summer on the Hudson programming continues to reflect the Conservancy’s

commitment to accessibility and inclusion, with events designed to welcome people of

all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Fans are encouraged to follow Summer on the

Hudson and Riverside Park Conservancy’s social media platforms closely for details

regarding weather cancellations, new pop-up events, and more.

For ADA accommodations, email soh@riversideparknyc.org or submit a request

through NYC Parks website.

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