Picnic Performances

Enjoy world-class performing arts on the lawn

Bryant Park is excited to announce the 2022 season of Picnic Performances presented by Bank of America: twenty-six live and in-person music, dance, and theater events produced in partnership with a diverse and storied lineup of New York City’s performing arts institutions. Over 20 of this season’s events will also be available to livestream in their entirety.

The season opens on May 27 with New York City Opera’s staged, costumed, and live music-supported production of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville and closes on September 17 with an American Symphony Orchestra 60th Anniversary concert. In between, don’t miss five nights of contemporary dance with established and rising companies; performances in partnership with Carnegie Hall Citywide, The Town Hall, Joe’s Pub, and The Classical Theatre of Harlem; the post-pandemic return of Bryant Park favorites Emerging Music Festival and Accordion Festival; as well as new collaborations with Jazzmobile, Asian American Arts Alliance, and Steinway Artists.

All performances are free to the public and designed to be enjoyed casually – no tickets required—with ample seating available and free picnic blankets for audience members to borrow. Attendees may bring their own food or purchase from on-site food and beverage vendors near the Lawn. COVID-19 vaccinations and masks are not currently required but Bryant Park will continue to monitor and follow updated New York City and New York State COVID-19 guidelines throughout the summer as necessary.

2022 Lineup

All performances begin 7pm.

May/June

May 27: New York City Opera: The Barber of Seville

June 3: Contemporary Dance: Performers TBA

June 4: Contemporary Dance: Ariel Rivka Dance and Works & Process at The Guggenheim’s The Missing Element

June 10: Contemporary Dance: EMERGE125 and Ayodele Casel

June 11: Contemporary Dance: Ballet Hispánico’s Social Latin Dance Class, Music From The Sole, and Dance Heginbotham

June 17: New York City Opera: Pride in the Park

June 24: Emerging Music Festival curated by Ad Hoc

June 25: Emerging Music Festival curated by Ad Hoc

July

July 1: Carnegie Hall Citywide: Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble

July 8: Carnegie Hall Citywide: The Baylor Project

July 15: Carnegie Hall Citywide: Squirrel Nut Zippers

July 22: Carnegie Hall Citywide: The Broadway Sinfonietta

July 23: Jazzmobile: Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band

July 28: Artist TBA

July 29: Carnegie Hall Citywide: Artist TBA

August

August 5: Artist TBA

August 12: New York City Opera: La traviata

August 19: Asian American Arts Alliance: Rafiq Bhatia and Ian Chang

August 26: Habibi Festival with Joe’s Pub: Esraa Warda, Firas Zreik, Yacine Boularès, and AJOYO

August 29: The Town Hall: Eighth Blackbird Celebrates John Cage

September

September 2: New York City Opera: Lucia di Lammermoor

September 8: Steinway Artists Aaron Diehl and Orrin Evans

September 9: Classical Theatre of Harlem

September 16: Accordion Festival: Heart of Afghanistan and More

September 17: American Symphony Orchestra

On the Lawn

The Lawn opens at 5pm. Come early for a front row seat, or drop-in at any time.

Seating

Borrow a picnic blanket or chair – or bring your own. Bryant Park blankets and chairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Food and Drink

Attendees may bring their own food or purchase from on-site food and beverage vendors near the Lawn. At most performances, attendees can purchase food from a rotating line-up of local NYC vendors curated by Hester Street Fair. At all performances, Stout NYC offers cheese and charcuterie boards as well as a selection of beer, wine, frosé, and non-alcoholic beverages for purchase

Weather and Rain

Performances are cancelled when it is unsafe to be outdoors. In some cases, the Lawn may be too wet to open but the performance may continue. Follow @bryantparknyc for day-of event updates.

COVID-19 Safety

COVID-19 vaccinations and masks are not currently required but Bryant Park will continue to monitor and follow updated New York City and New York State COVID-19 guidelines throughout the summer as necessary.