Forty years ago in New York City, cosmic jazz maestro and Afrofuturist pioneer Sun Ra touched down in Central Park, bringing his legendary Sun Ra Arkestra to the Naumburg Bandshell for the first-ever SummerStage concert. Since then, everyone from Joan Baez to Stevie Wonder to Public Enemy to Sonic Youth to players from the Metropolitan Opera have delighted SummerStage audiences in Manhattan’s Central Park and across all five boroughs. Last year, a diverse assortment of artists (James Blunt, Soccer Mommy, The Roots, Rakim, Femi Kuti and more) performed a serious of 70 concerts (some free, some benefit shows) throughout New York City.
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The 2026 Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage lineup won’t be revealed until April, but the festival announced on Wednesday (Feb. 4) that the 40th anniversary celebration will feature shows in all five boroughs (including shows from artists native to those boroughs) as well as special performances from artists who have hit SummerStage over the last four decades. Live Nation continues to serve as the exclusive producer of SummerStage benefit shows.
The anniversary celebrations won’t be limited to the stage, either. Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage has launched an interactive online experience that not only boasts photos and clips from past SummerStage performances but invites people to share their photos, videos and SummerStage stories through a fan portal. You can check out a video journey highlighting 40 years of the beloved NYC concert series, soundtracked by the music of SummerStage veteran Angélique Kidjo, below. Beginning on June 16 at the Arsenal in Central Park, a decades-spanning collection of photographs by Jack Vartoogian chronicling SummerStage since its inception will be on view.
“SummerStage was created to reflect the extraordinary diversity of New York City and its people. This year, as we celebrate 40 years, the festival continues to showcase the sounds of the city, from the streets and clubs to the parks, ” said Joe Killian, SummerStage founder and executive producer (from 1986-1993) and City Parks Foundation board member. “For four decades, SummerStage has championed unique collaborations, bold commissions, and has embraced a vibrant mash-up of music, dance and theater, from pop to rap to jazz and more. It has always been about bringing people together and a shared joy of community among fans and I couldn’t be more proud of the work that has gone into the last 40 years. I’m thrilled to see it continue on for future generations to experience and enjoy.”