free things to do in New York City
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Free Events, Free Things to Do in New York City! Read More
Where else but in New York City can you listen to a world-class musician, discuss a book with a famous author, take a part in poetry reading, have a glass of wine at an art exhibition opening, and all that on the same day, and all that free of charge, and all of that on any day of the year, whether it's December or July, April or November!
The trick is to know about those free events, free things to do BEFORE they happen, not after the fact. That's where Club Free Time comes in handy! Become a Club Free Time member and start using these unique New York City (NYC) opportunities today, January 8, 2026!
Join the Club!
Club Free Time is your perfect guide to Free Entertainment and Free Culture in the City That Never Sleeps.
Join the Club!
In addition to providing information about free events, free things to do in New York, Club Free Time offers its members complimentary tickets to classical music concerts, dance performances and theater: when a producer wants that special buzz of the 'full house' - Club Free Time members are welcomed for their enthusiasm and sophistication!
Join the Club!
Get a taste of free culture and free entertainment in New York City (NYC)!
Join the Club!
Experience an entirely new perspective on New York. 'Open up a whole new cultural world... in one of the most vibrant capital cities in the world, sampling cultural delights beyond anyone's wildest dream.' Rupert Parker, journalist, photographer, cameraman, and TV producer
January 8, 2026. Free shows, concerts, movies, tours are New York (NYC) best kept secret! New York City never ceases to amaze you with quantity and quality of its free culture and free entertainment whether it's day or night, weekday or weekend, summer or winter, spring or fall, January or June, May or September. If you are looking for inexpensive things to do and where to go in Manhattan today, tonight, tomorrow, or any other time, or any other day of any week - you came to the right place: just click on any day on the calendar dispayed on the every page of our site and you will see how many events you can attend in Manhattan free of charge on that very day.
New York's cultural scene is at its busiest in October and March (and the same goes for free events, free things to do), but other months of the year still offer incredible amount of high quality, off the beaten path, unique free events, free things to do which will take your breath away! So if you looking for something to do in April or November, December or February, you will find tons of free things to do, free events to go to. (In June, July and August lots of those free events take place outdoors, of course).
So do not wot till tomorrow, start using these unique New York City opportunities today, January 8, 2026!
Where else but in New York City can you listen to a world-class musician, discuss a book with a famous author, take a part in poetry reading, have a glass of wine at an art exhibition opening, and all that on the same day, and all that free of charge, and all of that on any day of the year, whether it's December or July, April or November!
The trick is to know about those free events, free things to do BEFORE they happen, not after the fact. That's where Club Free Time comes in handy! Become a Club Free Time member and start using these unique New York City (NYC) opportunities today, January 8, 2026!
Join the Club!
Club Free Time is your perfect guide to Free Entertainment and Free Culture in the City That Never Sleeps.
Join the Club!
Free things to do, free events that take place in the City every day of the year are truly amazing. So if you're looking for something interesting to do today (January 8, 2026) or on any other day of the year don't miss those free-of-charge opportunities that only New York provides! You can find lots of high quality, off the beaten path, unique free events, free things to do which will take your breath away!
In addition to providing information about free events, free things to do in New York, Club Free Time offers its members complimentary tickets to classical music concerts, dance performances and theater: when a producer wants that special buzz of the 'full house' - Club Free Time members are welcomed for their enthusiasm and sophistication!
Join the Club!
Get a taste of free culture and free entertainment in New York City (NYC)!
Join the Club!
Experience an entirely new perspective on New York. 'Open up a whole new cultural world... in one of the most vibrant capital cities in the world, sampling cultural delights beyond anyone's wildest dream.' Rupert Parker, journalist, photographer, cameraman, and TV producer
Join the Club!
The quality and quantity of
free events,
free things to do
that happen in New York City
every day of the year
is truly amazing.
So don't miss the opportunities
that only New York provides:
stop wondering what to do;
start taking advantage of
free events to go to,
free things to do in NYC
today!
The quality and quantity of
free events,
free things to do
that happen in New York City
every day of the year
is truly amazing.
So don't miss the opportunities
that only New York provides:
stop wondering what to do;
start taking advantage of
free events to go to,
free things to do in NYC
today!
Let New York City surprise, stimulate, entertain and excite you! Read More
Don't miss the opportunities that only New York provides:
- free concerts in NYC
- free movies in NYC
- free jazz in NYC
- free poetry readings in NYC
- free tours/hikes in NYC
- free city walks in NYC
- free Yoga /Tai Chi in NYC
- fairs and parades in NYC
- free theater in NYC
- free tickets to concerts, theater and dance performances in NYC
'New York is abuzz with so much culture that they're giving it away.' (The New York Times article about Club Free Time).
Editor's Picks
30 free things to do in New York City (NYC) today:
Thursday, January 8, 2026
All events are free unless otherwise noted.Workshop | Central Park Running Session (All Levels Welcome)
If you prefer not to run alone or are looking to improve your running performance, you can run with a club! Open to runners of all levels. Weekly changed routes through the park. Coaches, training, running company and inspiration!
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 am
Free
Free
Workshop | Learn How To Play Mah-Jongg
Mah-Jongg is a four-person tile game of skill, strategy, and luck! Learn the rules and mechanics of American Mah-Jongg. Attend a two hour group lesson with instructor Susan Richards. Sets and a few cards provided, but you are encouraged to bring your own cards.
New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free
Free
Film | The Sting (1973): Caper Film Starring Paul Newman & Robert Redford
Two grifters team up to pull off the ultimate con. Director: George Roy Hill Cast: Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Robert Shaw Paul Newman was an American actor, film director, racing driver, philanthropist, and entrepreneur who received numerous awards, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, three Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, a Silver Bear, a Cannes Film Festival Award, and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. Robert Redford is an American actor and filmmaker who has received numerous accolades such as an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and two Golden Globe Awards, as well as the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1994, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 1996, the Academy Honorary Award in 2002, the Kennedy Center Honors in 2005, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016, and the Honorary Cesar in 2019. In 2014, he was named by Time as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free
Free
Classical Music | Piano Works by Robert Schumann & Bartok
Alex Nam, piano, performs pieces by two famous composers. Program: Robert Schumann (1810-1856) Fantasie in C Major, Op. 17 Bela Bartok (1881-1945) Piano Sonata, BB 88, Sz. 80
New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free
Free
Classical Music | Afternoon Bach
Take a momentary respite from a busy day to enjoy a selection of organ works by Johann Sebastian Bach in an intimate venue.
New York City, NY; NYC
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12:20 pm
Free
Free
Film | The Good Earth (1937): Oscar-Winning Old Hollywood Drama Film
Although married Chinese farmers Wang and O-Lan initially experience success, their lives are complicated by declining fortunes and lean times, as well as the arrival of the beautiful young Lotus. Director: Sidney Franklin Cast: Paul Muni, Luise Rainer
New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free
Free
Classical Music | 19th Century French Works for Wind Quartet (In Person AND Online!)
Step into the vibrant musical salons of early 19th-century Paris where a forgotten repertoire of wind quartets once flourished alongside the better-remembered quintet repertoire. In this unique program, Quodlibet (Kelsey Burnham, flute, Elise Bonhivert, clarinet, Rachel Nierenberg, horn, and Aaron Goler, bassoon) resurrects three remarkable works that exemplify the sophisticated and underplayed chamber music of the period, giving listeners a scintillating glimpse into a fascinating and obscure repertoire that deserves renewed attention.
New York City, NY; NYC
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1:15 pm
Free
Free
Film | Darren Aronofsky's Caught Stealing (2025): Black Comedy Crime Thriller Film with Austin Butler
Burned-out ex-baseball player Hank Thompson unexpectedly finds himself embroiled in a dangerous struggle for survival amidst the criminal underbelly of 1990s New York City, forced to navigate a treacherous underworld he never imagined. Director: Darren Aronofsky Cast: Austin Butler, Regina King, Zoë Kravitz, Matt Smith, Liev Schreiber, Vincent D'Onofrio Darren Aronofsky is a filmmaker whose films are noted for their surreal, dramatic, and often disturbing elements, frequently in the form of psychological realism. His accolades include a Golden Lion and a Primetime Emmy Award, as well as nominations for the Academy Awards, the Golden Globe Awards, and the British Academy Film Awards.
New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free
Free
Gallery Talk | Expert Insights: Art and Culture of Ancient Egypt
Explore the art, culture, and symbolism of ancient Egypt in an intimate gallery talk. Experts guide small groups through select objects, sharing fresh insights, untold stories, and close-up perspectives on the craftsmanship and historical context of these works. Attendees will also have the chance to ask questions and engage directly with the discussion.
New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free
Free
Discussion | Conversation on Painting, Community, and Monographs
Join artist Jordan Casteel in conversation with the Director of the Baltimore Museum of Art on the occasion of Casteel’s exhibition Covering the Holes in Our Walls with Sunflowers and her debut monograph. The discussion will explore Casteel’s practice, her focus on community and portraiture, and the ideas behind her paintings. A book signing with Casteel follows the talk.
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free
Free
Museums | Explore Contemporary Craft, Art & Design
On the first Thursday of the month, contemporary makers, designers, and artisans take center stage. Museum visitors can explore exhibitions that highlight innovative approaches to craft and design, from traditional techniques to cutting-edge technologies, and discover the creative processes behind the objects that shape everyday life. Spend the evening moving through galleries that celebrate material experimentation, skilled making, and cross-disciplinary innovation.
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free
Free
Museums | Thursday Evening Exploring the Photography Museum
This museum is the world’s leading institution dedicated to photography and visual culture. It was founded in 1974 to champion “concerned photography”—socially and politically minded images that can educate and change the world. Through its exhibitions, education programs, community outreach, and public programs, the museum offers an open forum for dialogue about the power of the image.
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
$5, tickets required
$5, tickets required
Master Class | Emanuel Ax, Famous Pianist, Teaches the Ins & Outs of Piano Mastery
Classical pianist Emanuel Ax--known for his chamber music collaborations with cellist Yo-Yo Ma and violinists Isaac Stern and Young Uck Kim, as well as his piano recitals and performances with major orchestras in the world--leads a piano master class. Featuring ChamberFest ensembles performing selections from: David Baker (1931-2016) Roots II Johann Brahms (1833-1897) Piano Quartet No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 25 Johann Brahms (1833-1897) Piano Trio No. 2 in C Major, Op. 87 Please note, capacity is limited and will be filled first-come, first-served.
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:30 pm
Free
Free
Film | Lili (1953): Classic Romantic Musical
An MGM technicolor musical spectacular! Naive country girl Lili falls in with a circus troupe, navigating personal dramas, all while performing with, and loving, a tortured puppeteer. Director: Charles Walters Cast: Leslie Caron, Mel Ferrer, Jean-Pierre Aumont, Zsa Zsa Gabor
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Concert | Alt-Jazz and R&B Singer-Songwriter Amanda Berise
Enjoy an unforgettable evening with Amanda Barise, the rising alt-jazz and R&B singer-songwriter whose pitch-perfect vocals, magnetic presence, and genre-bending sound have made her one of contemporary music's most exciting new voices. Fresh off her national breakthrough as a Top 14 finalist on Season 23 of American Idol, Amanda has been praised by Carrie Underwood as "a once-in-a-generation vocalist," celebrated by Lionel Richie for her "pure silk" tone, and admired by Luke Bryan for performances you don't just hear--you feel. Industry acclaim quickly followed, with Billboard naming her a breakout "genre-bender" and Variety spotlighting her as a voice destined for both jazz clubs and festival stages.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Discussion | Curator Shares Her New Book, Architecture for Culture
Attend a conversation with curator and writer Béatrice Grenier to celebrate her new book, Architecture for Culture: Rethinking Museums, an in-depth and richly detailed examination of museums as sites of cultural and historical importance. She will be in conversation with Abraham Thomas and Jeanne Gang, followed by a signing.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Opening Reception | Juried Textile Exhibition Exploring Identity and Cultural Narratives
This juried exhibition of works by members of a textile group explores themes of memory, identity, resilience, and cultural narrative through fiber and form. Using textiles as a lens for personal and collective histories, the artists reflect on place, belonging, and lived experience, drawing on landscape and anthropological perspectives. The exhibition highlights the diversity of artistic approaches, styles, and techniques among the artists, highlighting fiber’s expressive range as a contemporary art medium.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Lecture | Learn More about Claude Monet
This talk by Eleanor Sypher will dive into the life of Claude Monet (1840-1926), one of the foremost landscape painters in Western Art. He intuitively understood how the eye perceives light and color, as expressed in his plein air paintings. Monet hoped to document the French countryside with his series of Haystacks, Rouen Cathedral, and waterlilies which he portrayed in his garden at Giverny. In 1908, he made a quick trip to Venice and some of those images are now on display at The Brooklyn Museum.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
$5, RSVP required
$5, RSVP required
Opening Reception | Mirror Images: Working With Portraits & Presence
This exhibition presents a focused selection of paintings spanning three decades, bringing together group portraits alongside works in self-portraiture, still life, landscape, and architecture. The show highlights artist Marcia Marcus’s formal approach to portraiture and her sustained attention to presence, gaze, and the inner life of her subjects.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Opening Reception | Painted Photographs on Plywood: Between Memory and Image
This exhibition presents a selection of paintings by Elisheva Biernoff that explore the intersection of memory, photography, and meticulous craftsmanship. Biernoff recreates found photographs on paper-thin plywood with delicate brushstrokes, capturing every detail and imperfection of the original. The works, both intimate in scale and in recent larger-format compositions, invite reflection, exploring how images preserve traces of the past while maintaining a sense of distance. The paintings act as "reservoirs of time," highlighting the tension between reality, memory, and the emotional resonance of what is remembered.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Opening Reception | Painting Kinetic Abstraction in Motion
Romanian artist Alex Voinea presents abstract paintings that explore the tension between control and spontaneity. He experiments with liquid paint and vibration; his works capture moments of suspended motion through fluid gestures, drips, and splashes layered against atmospheric grounds. Voinea’s paintings evoke rhythm, movement, and emotional intensity, inviting viewers to experience abstraction as an energy briefly held in place.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Opening Reception | Photography Between Abstraction and Documentation
Two concurrent photography exhibitions open on the same evening, bringing together distinct approaches to image-making that span abstraction, perception, and social history. All a Blur surveys more than two decades of photographs by Bill Armstrong, whose deliberately out-of-focus images hover between abstraction and representation, exploring color, perception, and psychological depth. The Ramble presents previously unseen photographs by Arthur Tress documenting a clandestine queer gathering place in New York City in the late 1960s, offering a rare social and historical record shaped by intimacy and urban neglect.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Workshop | The Art of Storytelling: Space, Mystery, and the Unknown with The Moth
This two-hour storytelling workshop, led by facilitators from The Moth, invites participants to develop personal stories in preparation for an upcoming StorySLAM focused on space, mystery, and the unknown. Through guided exercises and group discussion, attendees will learn the elements of compelling storytelling while shaping a life experience of their choosing into a polished narrative. No prior storytelling experience is required, and brainstorming story ideas is part of the workshop.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Free
Author Reading | Anti-Clout Reading with Authors of Color
Attend this anti-clout reading series featuring writers of color in NYC. Hosted and curated by writer and comedian Ruth Minah Buchwald.
New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Free
Discussion | Artist & Curator Discuss New Animations Exhibition
Artist Marina Zurkow and curator Christiane Paul will discuss Zurkow’s exhibition, Parting Worlds, and her Hyundai Terrace Commission at the Whitney Museum of American Art. The conversation will explore the three software-driven animations shown at the museum — Mesocosm (Wink, TX) (2012), The Earth Eaters (2025), and The River is A Circle (2025) — in the context of the artist’s broader practice. Zurkow’s work has consistently engaged with the complexity of ecological and social systems and the effects of their temporal and cyclical structure. The artist will discuss how she has addressed planetarity, our interdependence with Earth as a planet, geological time, and fossil fuel formation across various media in different presentation formats. Zurkow’s work process and the technicalities of creating her art — from animation and software to card games and food-based pieces — will also be a focus of the dialogue. The conversation will investigate environmental change due to human intervention, natural evolution, and the role of art in probing possibilities of renewal.
New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Free
Concert | Heavy Folk Nordic Music with FRANDER
Celebrating the visionary, boundary-pushing artistry of the Nordic countries, audiences are invited to transport themselves to the north for a night. Founded one decade ago in Haga, Sweden, FRANDER unites Swedish and Estonian traditions with a bold modern edge, creating a contemporary "heavy folk" sound that is both acoustic and richly powerful. Now a standout voice on the Nordic folk scene, they deliver an evocative soundscape inspired by ancient northern woodlands. The band members include founding siblings Gabbi Dluzewski (Swedish mandola and vocals) and Daniel Dluzewski (double bass and vocals), performing alongside Gabbi's wife Sade Tatar (flute and vocals), percussionist Andreas Berglund, and fiddler Gabriella Josefsson. Together, they create a sound that is at once ancient, modern, and unmistakably their own. There are two ways to access this event: 1. General Admission, first-come first-served. Just show up! 2. Fast Track opening the Monday before the event at noon.
New York City, NY; NYC
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7:30 pm
Free
Free
8:00 pm
Regular: $35
Member: $0
Regular: $35
Member: $0
Join the Club!
Open Mic | Poetry, Music, and Comedy Showcase (Online!)
Join a weekly online showcase featuring poems, songs, and comedy. Performers can sign up for a 4-minute spot by reserving one of 20 Artist-RSVP tickets, available starting Wednesdays at 8:00 PM ET. If all spots are filled, performers may join the “good-luck round” at the end of the session. Audience members are welcome to watch live via Zoom.
New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free
Free
8:00 pm
Regular: $20
Member: $0
Regular: $20
Member: $0
Join the Club!
Comedy Club | Standup Show
Catch some of the best comedians at this free weekly stand-up show, featuring a lineup of rising stars and seasoned favorites. Past performers include Sheng Wang, Mark Normand, Dan Soder, Annie Lederman, and more. Thursday's Lineup: Matt Vita - Killington on Amazon Prime Matt Golditch - Comedy Cellar Keenan Steiner - Late Night With The Keen Teresa Degaetano - Tales From The Table
New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free
Free
Join the Club!
Complimentary Tickets
to shows, concerts ... (CFT Deals!)
Concert | Met Opera Singers Perform Spirituals, Opera Selections and More
Regular Price: $25CFT Member Price: $0.00
Performance | Sound Theater Experience Exploring Sex, Identity, & Consumption
Regular Price: $40CFT Member Price: $0.00
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