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At a Glance

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Lincoln Center is one of the world's foremost cultural institutions, situated in the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City. It is home to numerous world-renowned performing arts organizations, including the New York Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Ballet, and the Juilliard School. A tourist visiting Lincoln Center would have the opportunity to witness some of the most exceptional performances and cultural events in the world, ranging from classical music concerts and opera performances to dance shows and theater productions. In addition, Lincoln Center itself is a magnificent complex of buildings and outdoor spaces, with stunning architecture and design that is worth exploring. Lincoln Center also offers a range of programs and events that cater to tourists, including guided tours of the campus, special exhibitions, and workshops for visitors of all ages. Whether you're a fan of the arts or simply seeking a unique cultural experience, a visit to Lincoln Center is an absolute must when in New York City.

10 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023 Get Directions





Lincoln Center Videos

Louis Langrée, conductor Randall Goosby, violin Valerie Coleman Fanfare for Uncommon Times P. I. Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D Major W. A. Mozart Overture to Die Entführung aus dem Serail Jean-Baptiste Lully Selections from Le Bourgeois gentilhomme Zoltán Kodály Dances of Galánta Louis Langrée conducts the inaugural Avery Fisher Legacy Concert, featuring Tchaikovsky's celebrated Violin Concerto with the astonishing Randall Goosby, recipient of a 2022 Avery Fisher Career Grant. The program opens with Valerie Coleman's reflective piece from 2021, Fanfare for Uncommon Times. For the second half, Langrée brings together a jubilant selection that is sure to put a spring in your step—including the overture to Mozart's opera Die Entführung aus dem Serail, selections from Lully's Le Bourgeois gentilhomme, and culminating with Kodály’s colorful Dances of Galánta.

Lincoln Center believes the arts are for everyone! On July 1, we welcomed neurodivergent audiences and their families to our free day of programming at Big Umbrella Day as part of #SummerForTheCity! Launched in 2018, the Big Umbrella Festival centers audiences with autism and other developmental disabilities by sharing unique approaches to sensory-based, interactive, and intimate artistic experiences to meet audiences exactly as they are. This campus-wide festival featured performances, installations, workshops, and online content designed with and for neurodiverse audiences. To learn more about Big Umbrella Festival, visit http://www.LincolnCenter.org/BigUmbrella

_Co-presented by the Center for Puerto Rican Studies/Hunter College and Lincoln Center_ Jazz thrived over generations in San Juan Hill, a historic Manhattan neighborhood home to many iconic musicians, theaters, clubs, and dance halls in the first half of the twentieth century. Jazz musicians who lived and performed there fueled a vibrant creative community and evolved the genre through the stride piano, swing, and bebop eras. Notable residents included James P. Johnson, Benny Carter, and Thelonious Monk, legends in jazz history who are celebrated today. Yet, an important part of this music history is often untold—Latin influence on jazz. As the Afro-Caribbean community in New York grew in the 1920s and 30s, the city was becoming a global leader in the music industry—through recordings, sheet music, piano rolls, and radio. In this environment, Puerto Rican musicians found opportunities to play in the jazz bands and Cuban ensembles that were gaining popularity, as well as to make their own music—bolero, plena, danza, seis, aguinaldo. The Afro-Caribbean sounds that shaped the art form and the accomplishments of Puerto Rican and Cuban musicians, such as Ram Ramirez and Mario Bauza, fundamentally influenced jazz and the music industry. Learn more through this discussion and live musical demonstration of the Latin jazz forged in and around San Juan Hill in the last century, an integral part of the jazz canon and the legacy of the neighborhood that still resonates today. *Moderator:* - David Gonzalez (Staff Writer, New York Times) *Panelists:* - Bobby Sanabria (Musician and Co-Artistic Director, Bronx Music Heritage Center) - Chris Washburne (Musician, Author, and Professor of Music, Columbia University) - Annette Aguilar (Musician and Founder of the Women in Latin Jazz Festival) Part of _Legacies of San Juan Hill,_ an ongoing project that aims to uplift the history, communities, and cultural legacy of the Manhattan neighborhoods that existed in and around the area where Lincoln Center was built. To learn more, visit: LincolnCenter.org/SanJuanHill _This conversation was filmed at Lincoln Center on May 23, 2023._

_Co-presented by Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and Lincoln Center_ At the turn of the 20th century, San Juan Hill was home to the largest Black population in New York City. This historic Manhattan neighborhood was established predominantly by Black people from all across the United States and the Caribbean through a wave of migration that grew dramatically from the end of the Civil War to the early 1900s. A densely populated area, San Juan Hill reflected a diverse cross-section of ethnicities, economic classes, and occupations among its residents. A dynamic community emerged, including such trailblazers as Arturo Schomburg (archivist whose collection led to the founding of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture), James Reese Europe (bandleader and founder of the Clef Club Orchestra), James Anderson (founder of the Amsterdam News), and the Black nurses of the Stillman Settlement. These iconic figures made strides in scholarship, music, journalism, and social work through cultural contributions that uplifted the Black community, a precedent for the Harlem Renaissance. In this talk, leading scholars and cultural leaders discuss the origins of San Juan Hill and how the founding of that neighborhood reflects the struggles and triumphs of the African diaspora in New York City over one hundred years ago, while shining a light on today. Moderator: Dr. Vanessa K. Valdés (Associate Provost for Community Engagement, The City College of New York) Panelists: Marcy Sacks (Professor of History, Albion College) Rhonda Evans (Assistant Chief Librarian, Schomburg Center) Ron Scott (Writer, Amsterdam News) Part of _Legacies of San Juan Hill,_ an ongoing project that aims to uplift the history, communities, and cultural legacy of the Manhattan neighborhoods that existed in and around the area where Lincoln Center was built. To learn more, visit: LincolnCenter.org/SanJuanHill _This conversation was filmed at Lincoln Center on Thursday, April 27, 2023._

_Co-presented by the Center for Puerto Rican Studies/Hunter College and Lincoln Center_ Between the two World Wars, Puerto Ricans migrated to New York City in rapidly growing numbers, spurred by the U.S. citizenship status they received in 1917. They established a creative, working-class, politically active community whose artistry flourished amid its struggle for empowerment. Much of this activity was centered in San Juan Hill where a sizeable Puerto Rican enclave anchored the neighborhood. Community activism among its residents grew in response to unemployment, housing practices, and displacement. Against this backdrop, an explosion of musical talent and innovation proliferated. Puerto Rican musicians, such as Rafael Hernández, Ram Ramirez, Pedro Flores, and Manuel Jimenez, performed in the many venues that were hallmarks of the neighborhood and broke new ground musically, influencing Latin and jazz music for generations to come. Learn more through this conversation on the Puerto Rican experience in San Juan Hill—a defining chapter in the history of Puerto Rican New York. Moderator: Ed Morales (Author and Journalist) Panelists: Lorrin Thomas (Professor of History, Rutgers University) Elena Martinez (Co-Artistic Director, Bronx Music Heritage Center) Aurora Flores-Hostos (Writer, Educator, and Producer) Part of _Legacies of San Juan Hill,_ an ongoing project that aims to uplift the history, communities, and cultural legacy of the Manhattan neighborhoods that existed in and around the area where Lincoln Center was built. To learn more, visit: LincolnCenter.org/SanJuanHill _This conversation was filmed at Lincoln Center on Wednesday May 10, 2023._

Harpist Ashley Jackson performs her transcription of "Deep River" by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, in honor of #Juneteenth. Based on the Spiritual of the same name, the piece is about crossing physical and metaphorical boundaries, and explores the deep connection between water and freedom in African American history. Her debut solo album Ennanga is out now by Bright Shiny Things.

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Lincoln Center News

Tony-Nominated Costume Designer Michael McDonald Dies At 61

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report the passing of Tony-nominated costume designer, Michael McDonald. McDonald passed away on September 4 due to complications from a brief illness at the age of 61.

HOUSE ON FIRE by Gretchen Cryer and Gracie Hyland to be Presented at The Green Room 42

THE GREEN ROOM 42 will present the new musical HOUSE ON FIRE by Gretchen Cryer and Gracie Hyland, featuring Kenita Miller and Michael McCorry Rose. Learn how to purchase tickets.

See Santino Fontana, WRITE OUT LOUD & More Next Week At 54

54 Below announced next week's lineup featuring performances by Broadway stars, including a tribute to Stephen Sondheim and a night with Tony Award winner Alice Ripley.

Third Rail Projects Will Premiere TRUE LOVE FOREVER in November

Third Rail Projects will present the World Premiere of TRUE LOVE FOREVER, where immersive theater and an indie rock concert collide. This unforgettable experience of love, heartbreak, and everything in between will begin performances November 21 at ART X NYC.

Trio con Brio Copenhagen Comes to Lakwood Cultural Center in October

The prestigious prize-winning Trio con Brio Copenhagen will perform at the Lakewood Cultural Center at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11.

Theater For The New City Presents SOUP IN THE SECOND ACT By Barry Primus

Barry Primus's new play, SOUP IN THE SECOND ACT, will be presented at Theater for the New City from September 26 to October 6.

The York Theatre Company To Celebrate Noël Coward At I LIKE AMERICA Concert

The York Theatre Company and The Noël Foundation has announced a one-night-only concert, 'I LIKE AMERICA,' celebrating 125 years of Noël Coward on Sunday, October 6.

Wake Up With BroadwayWorld September 6, 2024

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is September 6, 2024 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.

Sierra Boggess to Join Seth Rudetsky at Bell Theater in Holmdel

SiriusXM radio host Seth Rudetsky is bringing Seth’s Big Fat Broadway LIVE! concert series to Bell Theater in Holmdel. Learn how to purchase tickets.

Lilli Cooper, Erika Henningsen & More to Join Santino Fontana at 54 Below

54 BELOW will present the return of Santino Fontana this month. See special guests and learn how to purchase tickets.

Interview: The JLCO Kicks Off Jazz At Lincoln Center's 2024-25 Season with HOT JAZZ & SWING

The 9/19 to 9/21 concert welcomes the Grammy Award-winning composer, saxophonist, and senior scholar at the National Jazz Museum Loren Schoenberg back to JLCO. Read a Q&A with him about this exciting new concert

Musical Theater Creator Daniel Henri Emond Will Perform at Adelphi PAC

Musical theater creator and 2023 Jonathan Larson grant recipient Daniel Henri Emond will bring excerpts from his latest musical to life at Adelphi University's Performing Arts Center (PAC) on Saturday, September 14 at 3 p.m.

Emmy Rossum and Zoe Winters Will Lead WALDEN at Second Stage Theater

Second Stage Theater has announced that EMMY ROSSUM and ZOË WINTERS will star in Amy Berryman’s play, WALDEN, directed by Whitney White. WALDEN will begin previews on October 16th and will officially open on November 7th at the Tony Kiser Theater (305 West 43rd street). 

Broadway's Norm Lewis Will Kick Off MPAC's 30th Anniversary

Three decades in the making, Mayo Performing Arts Center’s 30th anniversary season will officially kick off on Friday, September 20 at 8 pm with a performance by Emmy, Grammy, Tony, and SAG Award nominee Norm Lewis.

Broadway's Pierre Marais Will Debut A Night Of Original Short Films

Broadway’s Pierre Marais (Sunset Boulevard, Aladdin) will debut a night of his original short narrative films; screening this September in Greenwich Village. Voted best Young Filmmaker at the Cannes World Film Festival for his film As Apple Pie, Marais’ films have garnered over 75 selections from film festivals across the globe. 


Lincoln Center Frequently Asked Questions

What are the closest subway stops to Lincoln Center

The closest subway stops to Lincoln Center at 10 Lincoln Center Plaza are:

1. 66th Street - Lincoln Center Station (1 train)

2. 59th Street - Columbus Circle Station (A, B, C, D, and 1 trains)

Both of these subway stations are within a short walking distance to Lincoln Center.

If you're looking for subway updates, I recommend checking the official website of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) at https://new.mta.info/. This website provides real-time service updates, planned service changes, and other important information to help you navigate the subway system efficiently.

When visiting Lincoln Center, I also suggest exploring the surrounding area. Central Park is just a few blocks away, offering a beautiful oasis in the heart of the city. You can take a leisurely stroll through the park, rent a bike, or even have a picnic if the weather permits.

Additionally, there are plenty of dining options near Lincoln Center. Some popular restaurants in the area include The Smith (https://thesmithrestaurant.com/), Bar Boulud (https://www.barboulud.com/nyc/), and Rosa Mexicano (https://www.rosamexicano.com/). These establishments offer a range of cuisines to suit various tastes.

Enjoy your visit to Lincoln Center and have a fantastic time exploring the vibrant cultural scene of New York City!


What's the best way to get to Lincoln Center by bus?

The closest NYC bus stops to Lincoln Center at 10 Lincoln Center Plaza are:

1. Broadway/West 64th Street: This stop is served by the M5, M7, M11, M66, and M104 buses. You can check for bus updates and schedules on the MTA Bus Time website.

2. Columbus Avenue/West 64th Street: This stop is served by the M7 and M11 buses. You can check for bus updates and schedules on the MTA Bus Time website.

3. Amsterdam Avenue/West 64th Street: This stop is served by the M11 bus. You can check for bus updates and schedules on the MTA Bus Time website.

Please note that bus routes and schedules are subject to change, so it's always a good idea to check for updates before your trip. Enjoy your visit to Lincoln Center!


How much time should I plan to spend at Lincoln Center?

The ideal length of time to plan to spend at Lincoln Center in New York City depends on your interests and schedule. If you are a fan of the performing arts and want to fully immerse yourself in the experience, I would recommend setting aside at least half a day to explore this cultural hub.

If you are planning to catch a performance at one of the renowned Lincoln Center venues, such as the Metropolitan Opera or the New York Philharmonic, you should allocate enough time to enjoy the show and perhaps grab a pre or post-show meal at one of the nearby restaurants. This could easily take up an evening or afternoon.

If you are more interested in exploring the Lincoln Center campus itself, taking in the stunning architecture and enjoying the outdoor spaces, you can plan for a shorter visit. A couple of hours should be sufficient to stroll around, take photos, and soak up the atmosphere.

Keep in mind that Lincoln Center also hosts various events, festivals, and exhibitions throughout the year, so it's worth checking their website or event calendar to see if there are any special activities happening during your visit.

Ultimately, whether you are a performing arts enthusiast or simply want to experience the beauty of Lincoln Center, I encourage you to allocate enough time to fully enjoy this iconic New York City institution.


Can I bring food and drinks into Lincoln Center?

Lincoln Center, located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, is a renowned performing arts complex that is home to several world-class institutions, including the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Ballet, and New York Philharmonic. While Lincoln Center itself does not have a specific food/drink policy, each individual venue within Lincoln Center may have its own rules and regulations.

Generally, outside food and drinks are not allowed inside the performance venues. However, there are usually concessions and bars available inside the complex where you can purchase refreshments before the show or during intermission. These establishments offer a variety of snacks, beverages, and alcoholic drinks to enhance your experience.

If you have specific dietary needs or restrictions, it's always a good idea to check with the venue or contact their customer service in advance. They can provide more information about available food options or any accommodations they may have.

Additionally, Lincoln Center is surrounded by a vibrant neighborhood with numerous dining options. Before or after your show, you can explore the nearby restaurants and cafes that cater to various tastes and budgets. From casual eateries to upscale dining establishments, there's something for everyone in the vicinity of Lincoln Center.

Remember, it's important to plan ahead and arrive early to allow enough time to grab a bite or a drink before your performance. Enjoy the show and the culinary delights that New York City has to offer!


Does Lincoln Center offer luggage storage?

Lincoln Center, located on Manhattan's Upper West Side, does not have a designated luggage storage facility. However, there are several options available nearby where you can securely store your bags while you enjoy the attractions at Lincoln Center.

One convenient option is to use a luggage storage service. There are several companies in New York City that offer this service, allowing you to drop off your bags at a secure location and pick them up later at your convenience. Some popular luggage storage services include Vertoe, LuggageHero, and Schwartz Luggage Storage.

Another alternative is to check if your hotel offers luggage storage for its guests, even after check-out. Many hotels in New York City provide this service, allowing you to store your bags with them until you are ready to pick them up.

If you are unable to find a luggage storage service or your hotel does not offer this option, you can also check with nearby transportation hubs such as Penn Station or Grand Central Terminal. They may have luggage storage facilities available for a fee.

It's always a good idea to check with the specific luggage storage service or facility beforehand to confirm their hours of operation, pricing, and any additional requirements they may have. This way, you can plan your visit to Lincoln Center without the worry of lugging around your bags.


Is Lincoln Center a good place to visit for foreign travelers who are not native English speakers?

Absolutely! Lincoln Center is a fantastic destination for visitors from other countries and for non-English language speakers. As one of the world's leading cultural institutions, Lincoln Center offers a wide range of performances and events that cater to diverse audiences.

Many of the shows at Lincoln Center, including opera, ballet, and classical music concerts, are performed in their original languages with English subtitles projected above the stage. This means that non-English speakers can still fully enjoy the performances and follow along with the storylines.

Additionally, Lincoln Center is home to several resident companies, such as the Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic, which attract top international talent. These world-class performances are a must-see for any visitor, regardless of their language proficiency.

Furthermore, Lincoln Center offers a variety of amenities and services to enhance the experience for international visitors. The box office staff is accustomed to assisting guests from all over the world and can provide guidance in multiple languages. The center also has multilingual brochures and information available, making it easy for non-English speakers to navigate the venue and understand the offerings.

So, whether you're a theater enthusiast, a music lover, or simply looking to experience the vibrant cultural scene of New York City, Lincoln Center is a must-visit destination that welcomes visitors from all backgrounds and languages.


What ages are appropriate for Lincoln Center?

Lincoln Center in New York City offers a wide range of cultural experiences that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. While some performances and events may be more suitable for adults, there are also plenty of family-friendly options available.

For classical music enthusiasts, the New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center offers concerts that can be enjoyed by both adults and older children. The Metropolitan Opera also presents a variety of operas that may appeal to teenagers and adults.

If you're interested in dance, the world-renowned New York City Ballet performs at Lincoln Center and showcases both classical and contemporary works. This can be a great experience for older children and adults alike.

For theater lovers, Lincoln Center Theater presents a range of productions that may be more suitable for adult audiences. However, they occasionally offer family-friendly shows, so be sure to check their schedule for any age-appropriate options.

In addition to performances, Lincoln Center also hosts various festivals, exhibitions, and educational programs that cater to different age groups. These events often provide opportunities for families to engage in cultural activities together.

Ultimately, the recommended age range for Lincoln Center depends on the specific performance or event you're interested in. I recommend checking the age recommendations provided by each individual organization or contacting their box office for more information.


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