New York City hosts a number of significant music festivals each year, with genres ranging from electronic dance music to jazz to indie rock and more. Here are some of the notable music festivals in NYC:
- Governors Ball Music Festival: This multi-day event happens annually on Randall’s Island. It features a diverse lineup of artists across pop, rock, hip-hop, electronic, and more.
- Panorama Music Festival: Another multi-day festival that takes place on Randall’s Island, typically offering a diverse mix of genres.
- Electric Zoo: This is a popular electronic dance music festival that also happens on Randall’s Island over Labor Day weekend.
- Afropunk Festival: Held in Brooklyn, this event is a celebration of black music and culture, featuring a mix of genres, including punk, hip-hop, soul, and reggae.
- Global Citizen Festival: A part of a movement to end extreme poverty, this festival happens annually in Central Park and draws some of the biggest names in music.
- SummerStage: While technically a concert series and not a festival, this is a beloved NYC summer tradition that takes place in various parks across the city, with Central Park being the main hub.
- Hot 97 Summer Jam: An annual hip-hop fest held in East Rutherford, New Jersey, but considered a major event in the NYC metropolitan area.
- Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival: This event is New York’s largest hip-hop cultural event that showcases the positivity of hip-hop culture. The festival includes panel discussions, exhibitions, parties, film screenings, and a massive concert on the final day.
- Blue Note Jazz Festival: Named after the famous Blue Note Jazz Club, this festival runs throughout June with a mix of big names and emerging artists performing at various venues throughout the city.
- New York Gypsy Festival: Celebrating its 15th year in 2021, this festival celebrates the music of the Roma people with performances from traditional to contemporary sounds.
- Makossa Brooklyn Cookout: This event mixes great tunes from hip-hop, soul, and tropical rhythms with a classic summer cookout in Brooklyn.
