What’s New In NYC In 2026 — Celeb Broadway Appearances, Festivals, Record-Breaking Restaurant Openings & More

Danielle Valente – Editor, Secret NYC · January 1, 2026 The holidays are behind us, and NYC is ready to begin anew. From debut attractions to transit changes, world-renowned tournaments to international culinary projects, 2026 has plenty in store to keep us busy. We’ve mapped out a few new things that caught our eye, and we suggest you have a look at our guide to the best [January events](https://secretnyc.co/nycs-best-january-events-ice-skating-2-for-1-broadway-tickets-more/) to kickstart the next 12 months on the right foot. Happy New Year, NYC! Daniel Radcliffe returns to Broadway in ‘Every Brilliant Thing’ --------------------------------------------------------------- 141 W 44th Street February 21, 2026 – May 24, 2026 The Great White Way got a taste of Hollywood in 2025, thanks to George Clooney’s lead role in *[Good Night, And Good Luck](https://secretnyc.co/good-night-and-good-luck-broadway-record/) * and Keanu Reeves’ debut in *[Waiting for Gadot](https://secretnyc.co/waiting-for-godot-keanu-reeves/) * — only but a few A-listers who hit the stage over the past 12 months. Now, our very own Harry Potter will return to Broadway in *Every Brilliant Thing * in 2026 for a limited 13-week run. Daniel Radcliffe’s new solo show at the Hudson Theatre focuses on creating of list of all the most wonderful things in life. “I want to be able to keep finding reasons to come back to Broadway for as long as I am physically capable of doing so,” he recently told *[The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/theater/daniel-radcliffe-broadway.html) *. One thing is for certain: we’ll be along for the ride! Visit the [play’s website](https://everybrilliantthing.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23204420779&gbraid=0AAAABBv6bTIp6kS-2Hg6dcDFHwllPqGdj&gclid=Cj0KCQiAsNPKBhCqARIsACm01fRuBAz3JBof8fBkU8Y0S7vjj3wXBDerik9GmLlx7Apzq-98H17-2QEaAkx8EALw_wcB) for tickets, and be sure to have a look at all of the [great Broadway shows](https://feverup.com/en/new-york/broadway-tickets) happening now. Buy Tickets MetLife Stadium will host the FIFA World Cup -------------------------------------------- 1 MetLife Stadium Drive, East Rutherford, New Jersey June 13, 2026 – July 19, 2026 Ready for football? MetLife Stadium will host *another* type of football this year when it welcomes teams from around the globe for the [FIFA World Cup](https://secretnyc.co/fifa-world-cup-2026-schedule/) , soccer’s biggest tournament. The competition will take place in 16 host cities, including NYC/New Jersey, and 1.2 million people are expected to arrive in the tristate area. The match schedule is as follows: * June 13, 2026 @ 6pm ET: Brazil vs. Morocco * June 16, 2026 @ 3pm ET: France vs. Senegal * June 22, 2026 @ 8pm ET: Norway vs. Senegal * June 25, 2026 @ 4pm ET: Ecuador vs. Germany * June 27, 2026 @ 5pm ET: Panama vs. England Per FIFA, the New York/New Jersey region will serve as the home of a Round of 32 match, a Round of 16 match, and the highly anticipated final: * Match 77 – Tuesday, 30 June 2026 at 17:00 ET, Round of 32 * Match 91 – Sunday, 5 July 2026 at 16:00 ET, Round of 16 * Match 104 – Sunday, 19 July 2026 at 15:00 ET, Final Who’s ready for some competition? OMNY will completely replace the MetroCard ------------------------------------------ We can’t believe it either, but 2026 marks the year we’ll bid adieu to the MTA’s MetroCard, the fare system that got us to and from our destination for the past 31 years. It’s not easy to say goodbye to an icon, but [our guide to the OMNY](https://secretnyc.co/nyc-metrocard-omny-30-days-fare-cap-guide/) , the MetroCard’s replacement, will help you ease into this transition smoothly. While MetroCards won’t be available for purchase beyond December 31st, 2025, you can still use them in 2026 until the MTA reveals a cut-off date. If you want to revel in the nostalgia a little bit longer, be sure to check out the New York Transit Museum’s latest exhibit, “[FAREwell, MetroCard](https://secretnyc.co/farewell-metrocard-exhibit-new-york-transit-museum/).” And while we’ll mourn the MetroCard, we’re definitely not pleased to hear that the [subway and bus fare increase](https://secretnyc.co/mta-subway-3-dollar-fare-hike-2026-omny/) will arrive at the start of the new year on January 4th. (Womp.) The Hip Hop Museum will open in the genre’s birthplace ------------------------------------------------------ 585 Exterior Street, Bronx The Hip Hop Museum will finally open its doors in fall 2026. Considered the first cultural institution completely dedicated to the music genre, this waterfront attraction in the [Bronx](https://secretnyc.co/best-things-to-do-in-the-bronx-nyc/) offers something for every fan — fittingly in the birthplace of hip hop. We can’t wait to see what exhibits, programming, and performances await. Be sure to also have a look at all of the [museums debuting in 2026 in NYC](https://secretnyc.co/new-museums-opening-in-nyc-in-2026/) . MoMA PS1 will be free ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 22-25 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City Beginning promptly on January 1st, 2026, MoMA PS 1 is set to become the largest free museum in NYC, courtesy of assistance from creative entrepreneur, Sonya Yu . This exciting new initiative couldn’t come at a better time: the Long Island City attraction will welcome its next edition of Greater New York , its signature survey spotlighting artists throughout the five boroughs. Look out for it later this spring! NYC gets its first-ever cheese conveyor belt restaurant ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 424 Fifth Ave, New York One of London’s most viral restaurants, Pick & Cheese, will make its way across the pond for its NYC debut in February 2026 at [Shaver Hall](https://secretnyc.co/shaver-food-hall-renderings/) . Considered the world’s first cheese conveyor belt restaurant, Pick & Cheese will delight diners with a slew of British favorites that come whisking past the table, along with accompaniments like tomato & chili jam, rose Turkish delight, and truffle honey, to name a few options. A ‘Lord of The Rings’ tribute will dazzle concert-goers --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 157 Montague Street, Brooklyn February 14, 2026 – April 25, 2026 Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences and Candlelight will join forces for [Candlelight: The Lord of the Rings](https://secretnyc.co/the-lord-of-the-rings-concert-tickets-new-york-city/) , an unforgettable classical music concert that fans of the fantasy series (and beyond) will love. The magnificent St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church in [Brooklyn Heights](https://secretnyc.co/things-to-do-in-brooklyn-heights-nyc/) will assume hosting duties as a string quartet performs iconic scores from *The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring*, *The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers,* and *The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King*. We couldn’t think of a more fitting way to ring in the series 25th anniversary. [Tickets are now on sale](https://feverup.com/m/525141) for this stunning tribute to the legendary film trilogy’s powerful soundtrack. Concerts take place on select dates from February 14th to April 25th. Buy Tickets NYC’s new four-story Asian cultural hub will continue to expand ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 56 E 41st Street, New York Hue House offers a lot to love — Taiwanese street food, a retro Mandopop cocktail bar, traditional Chinese healing philosophies at its spa, and an all-around appreciation for Asian culture. Each floor is dedicated to something different. In 2026, visitors have a lot to look forward to: Apt.Hue, a café culture & creative pop-ups on the third floor, plus Puyu 璞嶼, wellness rooted in traditional Chinese healing. JFK’s Terminal 6 will open in phases ------------------------------------ [JFK’s Terminal 6](https://secretnyc.co/fk-19-billion-airport-renovation-new-terminals/) is undergoing a transformative makeover that will make vacationers look forward to the air travel experience. From [local bites](https://secretnyc.co/jfk-airport-terminal-6-concessions-local-nyc-brands/) to [outstanding artwork](https://secretnyc.co/jfk-terminal-6-collaborates-with-four-nyc-cultural-institutions-for-art-program/) from MoMA, The Met, and other NYC institutions to the arrival of airlines like [Norse Atlantic](https://secretnyc.co/norse-atlantic-jfk-terminal-6/) , [Air Canada](https://secretnyc.co/jfk-welcomes-air-canada-for-operation-from-state-of-the-art-terminal-6-in-2026/) , and beyond, this new terminal is going to be nothing short of phenomenal. BookCon will return after a five-year hiatus ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Javits Center: 429 11th Ave April 18, 2026 – April 19, 2026 Reading was all the rage in 2025, in case you didn’t notice: the Secret Book Club launched, specialized indie bookshops popped up throughout the five boroughs — including The Twisted Spine for horror fanatics and Love & Legends for romantasy readers — and book cafés became mainstays in New Yorkers’ weekly routines. Now, after five years, the highly-anticipated BookCon will make its grand return to NYC, and literary lovers can’t miss out. A product of ReedPop, the event is a “two-day celebration of storytelling in all forms built for readers, by readers.” Alyssa Cole , author of *When No One is Watching,* Jasmine Guillory *(The Wedding Date),* Kate Bornstein *(Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women, and the Rest of Us)* and Leigh Bardugo , author of *The Grishaverse,* are a few authors on the lineup thus far, with more to come. Visit the BookCon website for tickets and more information. A women’s baseball league will make its debut -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We love a visit to the Bronx to watch the Yanks and can’t resist a game at one of the nation’s best stadiums, a.k.a. CitiField. Soon NYC will have another baseball team to cheer on: the first-ever women’s professional team, coming in 2026. [Stay tuned for more information to come](https://secretnyc.co/womens-baseball-league-debut-2026/) . NYC will get its first-ever ‘Vegas-style’ resort casino ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Will Lady Luck be on your side? Here’s hoping. Metropolitan Park at Willets Point, Queens, Resorts World New York City at the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, and Bally’s Bronx in Throggs Neck, have all been approved, meaning the city is about to experience its first-ever Vegas-style resort casino. Resorts World is gearing up for a 2026 debuted, and the remaining two will follow suit in 2030. Amtrak’s new 125MPH Airo Trains will hit the tracks --------------------------------------------------- Brand-new trains are pulling into the station in 2026, and Amtrak’s 125 mph Airo will bring comfort, amenities, and modern aesthetics to travelers. When departing from Moynihan Train Hall, passengers can opt for the following lines, which operate throughout the U.S.: * Northeast Regional * Empire Service * Keystone Service * Amtrak Downeaster * Amtrak Cascades * Maple Leaf * Adirondack * Palmetto * Carolinian * Pennsylvanian * Vermonter * Amtrak Virginia Services * Ethan Allen Express * New Haven-SpringfieldGreenfield Service ‘Romeo & Juliet’ will return to Shakespeare in the Park for the first time in nearly two decades ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A classic tale, well, tragedy, *Romeo & Juliet* will go down in history as one of the most iconic stories of all time. After a 19-year hiatus, the newly-renovated [Delacorte Theatre](https://secretnyc.co/the-delacorte-theater-renovation-first-look-shakespeare-in-the-park/) will host a production of the play during summer 2026’s Shakespeare in the Park season. WE ARE READY TO GET TICKETS! Concerts galore --------------- Doja Cat. Bon Jovi. Ariana Grande. Dua Lipa. Brandi Carlile. Who *isn’t* heading to NYC in 2026? Our monthly [concert guide](https://secretnyc.co/concerts-in-nyc-guide/) will keep you up to date on the latest shows. Source: https://secretnyc.co/whats-new-in-nyc-in-2026/