picture of a crowd at a festival
Photograph: By Chris Lavado
Photograph: By Chris Lavado

NYC's best summer music festivals of 2025

Get the scoop on all the best summer music festivals happening this year (and don't forget the sunscreen).

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There's more than one kind of New York City music festival—in fact, there's probably one for every type of music lover you could think of. The first events that come to mind might be the big-tent fests like Governors Ball, but just as important are staple series like the queer-centered All Things Go, Afropunk and BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!, which keep crowds coming out to our beloved green spaces and stadiums all season long.

Overwhelmed by all the choices? Check out our hand-picked this guide to the very best summer music festivals hitting town this year. We'll keep updating this as summer approaches, so stay tuned.

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Top summer music festivals in NYC

  • Theater & Performance

In the four years since it opened its gates, Little Island has become one of New York's primo warm-weather destinations: an elevated oasis of trees and knolls and winding paths that rises—as though suspended on a bed of coupe cocktail glasses—above Pier 55 in the Hudson, just west of the Meatpacking District. In the same brief period, it has established itself as one of the city's most vital sources of low-cost high culture in the summer. 

Concerts, plays, dance shows, operas: These and more can be found on Little Island all summer long, whether at its 687-seat open-air amphitheater (the Amph), its smaller performance stage (the Glade) or at pop-up locations throughout the space. Performances have been part of Little Island's mission from the start, but the offerings have gotten more and more ambitious. Last year, the park upped its game to present a sold-out season of world premieres. Building on that success, Little Island has just announced its lineup for its 2025 season, which includes many new works by major artists. Many of the shows are free, and those that aren't cost just $25; to buy tickets to them, visit Little Island's ticketing page on TodayTix.  

  • Music

One of our favorite festivals of the year is coming up, and we can't help but be stoked about their lineup on June 9. Grace Jones and Janelle Monae are actually performing side by side at BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!, just in time for Pride. This year's festival will take place at the Prospect Park Bandshell and the stars' performance will begin at 7pm, so expect good outdoor vibes while witnessing two of the greatest queer performers to ever grace this planet.

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  • Music
  • Music

Since its humble beginnings at D.C.’s Union Market, All Things Go Music Festival has become one of the most anticipated events of late New York City summers. With lineups that predominantly feature queer artists, the event stands sturdy in its values. Previous iterations of the festival have featured superstars like Billie Eilish, boygenius, Lana Del Rey, Maggie Rogers, Hozier, Lorde and many others. 

This year, the festival will return to Forest Hills Stadium and will take place from September 26 through September 28. You can sign up to be the first to learn who will be on this year's lineup and get access to presale tickets here.  

  • Music
  • Music

For the past fifteen years, Boiler Room has done more to elevate DJing as an art form than arguably any other cultural institution. Through its massive YouTube channel and global events, the institution has helped raise the profiles of countless artists, including Kaytranada, Fred Again and Charli xcx. 

Head to the Brooklyn Mirage on July 11 or July 12 to enjoy what's sure to be an iconic lineup of A-list DJs. They haven't announced the lineup yet, but we'll update as soon as they do. 

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