Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage has announced its 40th anniversary season, celebrating four decades of free outdoor performances across New York City’s parks.
The festival, which launched in June 1986 with Sun Ra Arkestra at the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park, has presented thousands of global artists to audiences numbering over seven million.
SummerStage launched a digital landing page featuring a photo-driven timeline, fan portal and archival content from the past four decades. Fans can submit photos, videos and stories from past shows through the portal, with select content to be featured during the 2026 season at a Central Park show, on social media and on the anniversary webpage. An archival photo series launched this month across the festival’s social channels.
A free commemorative photo exhibition titled “40 in Focus: SummerStage through the Lens of Photographer Jack Vartoogian” will run June 12 through Aug. 21 at the Arsenal Gallery at 830 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The exhibition, presented by City Parks Foundation in collaboration with NYC Parks Art & Antiquities, features rarely seen imagery from past decades of outdoor live music in New York City, backstage photos and tributes to artists who have passed.
Joe Killian, SummerStage Founder and Executive Producer from 1986 to 1993, emphasized the festival was created to reflect the extraordinary diversity of New York City and its people. The festival has championed unique collaborations, bold commissions and a vibrant mix of music, dance and theater spanning pop, rap, jazz and more, focused on bringing people together through shared community among fans.
The festival plans special performances by legacy artists who have graced SummerStage stages throughout the years, marquee talent returning to their hometown boroughs, genre-defying collaborations and breakout stars from across the globe. Live Nation returns as the exclusive producer of benefit concerts, with select benefit performances on sale now. The full 2026 season lineup will be announced in April here.
Executive Artistic Director Erika Elliot stated the festival has been curating a lineup featuring iconic artists and longtime friends of the festival alongside fresh, new voices that make the festival as diverse and vibrant as the communities it serves.
SummerStage will offer special giveaways and contests throughout the season, including surprise VIP upgrades in Central Park, commemorative merchandise, trivia games and prizes.
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