Friday mornings from May through September, Rockefeller Center becomes a stage. The Citi Concert Series on TODAY is one of Manhattan's most beloved summer traditions: free, open-air, and set against the iconic backdrop of 30 Rock. The shows take place on the TODAY Plaza at 48th Street, between 5th and 6th avenues.

The 2026 lineup is genuinely impressive, spanning pop, country, folk, and R&B. Here's the full schedule:

May

Friday, May 8 — Zara Larsson
Friday, May 22 — Bleachers
Friday, May 29 — Charlie Puth

June

Friday, June 5 — Lizzo
Friday, June 12 — Niall Horan
Friday, June 26 — Melanie Martinez

July

Friday, July 3 — Maren Morris
Friday, July 10 — Megan Moroney
Friday, July 24 — Tyla
Wednesday, July 29 — Mumford & Sons
Friday, July 31 — Shaboozey

August

Friday, Aug. 14 — KATSEYE

September

Friday, Sept. 25 — Brandi Carlile

All concerts are free and open to the public. Fan Passes are available by advance request and are limited. Guests who receive one will be notified by email before the show. If you don't get a Fan Pass, you can still join the general admission line the morning of the concert and will be let in if space allows.

The closest subway stop is the 47–50th Streets/Rockefeller Center station on the B, D, F, and M trains. If you're driving, the Rockefeller Center Parking Garage at 53 West 48th Street operates 24/7 and accepts advance reservations.

people watching a show on the rockefeller center stage

Make a Day of It

If you're heading down for a concert, it's worth planning the full morning around it. Before the show, grab breakfast at one of the restaurants along the Plaza. Afterward, head up to Top of the Rock. Rockefeller Center's observation deck offers some of the best skyline views in New York City, with unobstructed sightlines north through Central Park and south to Lower Manhattan. It's the kind of view that earns its reputation.

Radio City Music Hall

Just steps from the TODAY Plaza, Radio City Music Hall is one of the great music venues in New York (and the world). The 6,000-seat Art Deco landmark on Sixth Avenue has hosted everyone from Adele to Phish, and its sightlines and acoustics remain exceptional regardless of where you're sitting. Check the current calendar for 2026 shows; Radio City consistently books artists across genres who want a room with history behind it.

The Rest of New York City's 2026 Concert Calendar

The Citi Concert Series and Radio City are the natural starting point if you're in Midtown, but New York's concert landscape extends well beyond Rockefeller Center. Here's a guide to the venues and upcoming events worth knowing about, from arena-scale shows to the smaller rooms that made this city's music scene what it is.

Greatest Hits & Big Arenas

Madison Square Garden remains the benchmark for arena shows in New York City. In 2026, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are returning to MSG, their longtime home, for what promises to be one of the year's defining concert events. Springsteen's relationship with New York goes back decades, and the E Street Band at the Garden is as close to a civic ritual as rock and roll gets. Bon Jovi's residency-style run is also drawing attention. The band's vocals are a known point of conversation, but the production and catalog make it worth your time if you grew up on the records.

For pop and global acts, MSG continues to anchor world tours. Peso Pluma's continued rise as a crossover star is reflected in his 2026 touring footprint, with a North America run that includes New York dates. His blend of corridos and pop has made him one of the most talked-about performers in music right now. Louis Tomlinson is also touring in support of new material, with a devoted fanbase that fills rooms reliably.

Barclays Center in Brooklyn has cemented itself as the city's second major arena over the past decade, and its 2026 booking slate is strong. Bring Me the Horizon are scheduled for what's shaping up to be a high-production arena show. The British rock band has evolved their sound significantly and their live show reflects it. For country and Americana, keep an eye on Barclays dates as well; the venue has gotten increasingly aggressive about booking artists who would have historically skipped Brooklyn entirely.

While a trek, UBS Arena out in Elmont has quietly become a serious option for stadium-scale shows that aren't playing MSG. The venue's intimacy relative to its capacity is underrated, and parking is considerably less painful.

Technically more mid-sized than an arena, Terminal 5 in Hell's Kitchen is still worth a mention. It’s a well-known option for big headliners, but prepare for crowds (and the venue is infamous for less-than-great views). There are three floors, solid sound, and a booking calendar that tends to catch artists on the way up. It’s standing room only, which means arrive early if you care about your spot.

Indie Faves

Beacon Theatre on the Upper West Side is where New York's concert culture shows its taste. The 2,800-seat landmarked theater on Broadway at 74th Street draws artists who want something more than an arena but not just a club. The results are often the city's best-attended shows. The room itself is gorgeous, and the acoustics reward it.

Sony Hall in Midtown is a sleeper: an intimate, well-designed room in Times Square that books a smart range of acts and rarely feels like a tourist destination despite its location.

Gramercy Theatre in Flatiron has a similar function. It’s a tight, focused room that books artists in the 500–1,000 range who tend to deliver excellent shows. The neighborhood makes it easy to build a proper night around.

Brooklyn Paramount is quickly becoming a crowd favorite for local New Yorkers. The recently restored 4,000-seat theater in Downtown Brooklyn is one of the more exciting additions to New York's venue landscape in recent years. The restoration brought back a genuinely beautiful room, and the booking has been strong since reopening.

Music Hall of Williamsburg remains one of the best smaller venues in the city. The 550-capacity room books credibly across indie, electronic, and emerging artists. If you don't know who's playing and you trust the venue's taste, that's usually enough.

Brooklyn Steel is the mid-size option in Brooklyn for artists who need more than a club but aren't ready (or interested in) the arena circuit. This is where you go if you want the late night party scene.

Webster Hall in the East Village is the city's most storied club venue, and it earns the reputation. At its best, it's one of the better places in New York to see an artist in transition, before they move on to bigger rooms. The main ballroom holds about 1,500; the smaller stages downstairs are worth knowing about too.

Mercury Lounge on the Lower East Side is essential. The 250-capacity room has launched more careers than seems statistically likely, and it's still booking the right artists.

Bowery Ballroom is a beautiful, narrow, 575-capacity room that treats its artists and audience well.

Jazz

We’d be remiss to not include a section on jazz in New York City. Here are a few of our favorite spots.

Birdland on West 44th Street is the place to start. Named after Charlie Parker, the club has been a fixture of Manhattan jazz since 1949. The current location opened in 1996, but the lineage is unbroken. The weekly big band nights are a reliable introduction; for special guest bookings, check the calendar and don't wait. Tables fill up.

Blue Note in the West Village is smaller and more intimate. It’s one of the most recognized jazz clubs in the world, but still very much a working venue. The sight lines are close and the programming is serious. It’s worth planning an entire evening around.

Village Vanguard on Seventh Avenue South is the other anchor of the New York jazz world: the room where the recordings you grew up on were made.

FAQs

What is the Citi Concert Series at Rockefeller Center?

The Citi Concert Series is a free, open-air concert series held on the TODAY Plaza at Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan. Shows take place on Friday mornings from May through September, with some additional dates, and feature national artists across multiple genres. All concerts are free and open to the public.

How do I get Fan Passes for the Citi Concert Series?

Fan Passes are available by advance request through the TODAY show website and are limited. Guests who receive passes are notified by email ahead of the scheduled concert. Guests without Fan Passes can still attend via the general admission line on the morning of the concert, subject to available space.

What is the closest subway to Rockefeller Center concerts?

The closest subway stop is 47–50th Streets/Rockefeller Center station, served by the B, D, F, and M trains.

Are the Citi Concert Series shows really free?

Yes! All shows are free and open to the public. There is no ticket required for general admission. Fan Passes provide priority access but are not required to attend.

What is the best observation deck to visit in NYC near Rockefeller Center

Top of the Rock, located at Rockefeller Center, is widely regarded as offering the best skyline views in Manhattan. It has unobstructed sightlines in all directions. It pairs naturally with a morning Citi Concert Series visit.

What are the best music venues in NYC for smaller shows?

Mercury Lounge, Bowery Ballroom, Music Hall of Williamsburg, and Webster Hall are consistently considered among the best smaller venues in New York City. For jazz specifically, Birdland and Blue Note are essential.

What big concerts are coming to Madison Square Garden in 2026?

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are among the marquee bookings at MSG in 2026, along with a full calendar of world tour stops. Check MSG's website for the full and updated lineup of upcoming events.