SUMMER FOR THE CITY’S 4TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL
Contributor - Jack Bartholet | Lifestyle Consultant • 6/17/25
Celebrate Summer in the City—Elegantly
Year-round, Lincoln Center stands as a crown jewel of New York culture—but in summer, it truly dazzles. Summer for the City, the Center’s seasonal festival, transforms the Upper West Side into an open invitation for global artistry, immersive performance, and shared connection.
As travel plans whisk you away to the Hamptons, Fire Island, or even across the Atlantic, don’t overlook the extraordinary cultural programming right here at home. When decision fatigue sets in, let Lincoln Center be your effortless “yes.”
LINCOLN CENTER’S SUMMER FOR THE CITY: CULTURE, CONNECTION & CELEBRATION
Since its debut in 2022, Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City has become a seasonal beacon, drawing more than 400,000 arts enthusiasts with an inclusive lineup spanning classical music, comedy, pop, and global dance. Anchored by its iconic disco ball, the festival celebrates New York’s diverse cultural voices and invites all to take part through complimentary access or a Choose-What-You-Pay structure.
Running through August 9, this year’s edition offers immersive experiences for every age and interest—grounding guests in the pulse of NYC while connecting them to a global creative dialogue.
Four Hundred spotlights five standout events: the ever-evolving Run AMOC! Festival, The Wedding: New York’s Biggest Day, the Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center, Mahabharata, and the BAAND Together Dance Festival—each an unmissable moment in the city’s summer cultural calendar.
RUN AMOC* FESTIVAL (JUNE 18 - JULY 16)
The American Modern Opera Company (AMOC*) is a leading force among today’s most innovative and visionary interdisciplinary ensembles—recognized for producing deeply resonant, boundary-pushing art. This summer, AMOC* embarks on its most significant artistic endeavor to date, presenting a bold slate of opera, dance, and music that creates an immersive artistic landscape and redefines the festival experience.
Performances will take place both indoors and outdoors across Lincoln Center, moving fluidly between the spectacular and the intimate. Each production draws audiences into a space where the lines between disciplines blur—celebrating the company’s audacious creativity and deeply personal approach to storytelling.
This series includes: The Comet / Poppea, Canto Ostinato, Harawi, Julius Eastman: A Power Greater Than, King Britt, Zarabanda Variations, Edinburgh Rollick, Dance in the Park, Music for New Bodies, Rome Is Falling, and, finally, the echoing of tenses.
THE WEDDING: NEW YORK’S BIGGEST DAY (SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2025, @ 5:00 PM)
Everybody Say Love: New York Is Getting Married
Recognizing the many forms of love and companionship, New York’s Biggest Day—brought to you by Jason Eagan, Founding Artistic Director of Ars Nova, and Isaac Oliver of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Broadway’s new hit Just in Time—is a joyful celebration of romance, vow renewals, and communal ceremonies of matrimony.
Faith leaders Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis, Dr. Hussein Rashid, Anu Gupta, and Rabbi Dr. Barat Ellman will bring their spiritual gifts to the celebration, while live performances by Shayna Steele, David Cook, Varsity Interpretive Dance, Ukrainian Village Voices, Michael Olatuja, The Bengsons, Steve Long, and Alicia Hall Moran unify guests through artful expression and shared joy.
FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA OF LINCOLN CENTER (JULY 19 - AUGUST 9)
The Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center celebrates its second season under Renée and Robert Belfer Music & Artistic Director Jonathon Heyward, presenting a dynamic mix of exciting premieres, bold commissions, and timeless classics. This electrifying season invites audiences to explore beloved melodies and discover new works that span drama, passion, romance, melancholy, and triumph.
Formerly known as the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, the ensemble is comprised of world-class musicians who perform year-round as soloists, chamber artists, and members of leading ensembles across Lincoln Center’s campus and around the globe. Their performances honor iconic works of classical music while also championing new and rediscovered compositions.
This season’s highlights include Symphony of Choice, Folklore and Legends, Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, soprano Gabriella Reyes, Ravel and Prokofiev, a world premiere commission by James Lee III, and a series of engaging Pre-Show Discussions.
MAHABHARATA (JUNE 24 - 29)
Discover a once-in-a-generation theatrical experience in Why Not Theatre’s visually stunning retelling of the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata.
A contemporary interpretation of a story over 4,000 years old and foundational to Indian culture, this sweeping tale of a family feud delves into profound philosophical and spiritual themes—made all the more relevant in today’s world.
This large-scale narrative unfolds in two distinct parts: Part One: Karma – The Life We Inherit and Part Two: Dharma – The Life We Choose. As the story progresses, the production evolves—from ancient, intimate storytelling to a modern, technologically rich spectacle.
Led by an international South Asian cast, Mahabharata is a cultural fusion, balancing East and West, tradition and innovation, in a theatrical journey unlike any other.
BAAND TOGETHER DANCE FESTIVAL (JULY 29 - AUGUST 2)
Where else are you seeing this kind of in-depth collaboration, bringing together the very best of the city’s dance scene? Imagine the nuance, distinctive styles, and signature flair of five iconic companies converging in this Summer for the City highlight. Experience dance as it can only be conceived in New York City.
Celebrate the fifth anniversary of the BAAND Together Dance Festival, as five of NYC’s most legendary companies—Ballet Hispánico, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem—reunite on one stage from July 29–August 2.
This is a rare opportunity to experience beloved programming, curated collaboratively by the artistic directors of each company and featuring repertory favorites.
In the afternoons, join FREE dance workshops in the David Geffen Hall lobby, where each company shares its unique teaching approach with participants of all ages.
Contributor — Jack Bartholet | Lifestyle Consultant
Jack effortlessly transitions from the entertainment industry to the world of luxury hospitality and travel, bringing a rich background of collaboration with celebrated artists and extensive personal travel experiences. When not consulting, he can be seen onstage with cabaret and theatre performances. Jack's enduring passion centers on fostering a sense of belonging for LGBTQ travelers wherever their journey takes them.
