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 10: Contemporary Dance: EMERGE125 and Ayodele Casel
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.
2021 Video Archive
Re-watch and re-live your favorite performances from last summer:
New York City Opera’s Pride in the Park
New York Chinese Cultural Center
Carnegie Hall Citywide: Spanish Harlem Orchestra
Carnegie Hall Citywide: The Knights
Greenwich House Music School: Riley Mulherkar and Ella Bric
Jazz at Lincoln Center: Young Stars of Jazz
Jazz at Lincoln Center: Camille Thurman and the Darrell Green Quartet
Dance: The Limón Dance Company + Music From The Sole
Dance: Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet
New York City Opera - Rigoletto
National Sawdust: Allison Loggins-Hull’s Diametrically Composed