Germany’s forward #26 Deniz Undav celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during a friendly match between Germany and Finland ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup football tournament.
AFP via Getty Images
New York City’s cultural institutions are going all in for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With the excitement of eight matches coming to the region, and with the games, an expected 1.2 million visitors, New York’s tourist hotspots and cultural must-sees are gearing up for a soccer-centric summer. From art installations to global dance parties and DJ nights, plus plenty of outdoor activities, and cultural enrichment, here’s how museums, historic landmarks, and art spaces are planning to make the most of the World Cup excitement this season:
Head to the Upper West Side to visit the American Museum of Natural History’s (AMNH) new exhibition, World Cup, World Cultures: Celebrating the Community of Science and Sport. Programming and experiences tied to the exhibit include FIFA World Cup 2026 watch parties; a community celebration on Saturday, June 13 to mark the first match played in the New York region; For the Win: Objects of Sports Excellence, an exhibition of championship rings, trophies, medals, and jewelry from legendary athletes and teams; Goal Zone, an all-ages interactive soccer play space; a Global Sports Pavilion featuring large-scale photography and video celebrating iconic moments in sports from around the world, alongside trivia and hands-on educational activities exploring the science and culture of sport; and a neighborhood block party on July 11 culminating with a Manhattanhenge sunset.
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) on the Upper West Side will celebrate the World Cup with various family-friendly experiences for children up to 6 years old. Events will connect the excitement of the worldwide game to art, culture and play. Programming includes artmaking, cultural dance, educational sessions and more. CMOM’s Huddle Hub will provide a space to read books about countries participating in the World Cup and learn about professional players.
In celebration of the World Cup coming to New York City, The Guggenheim on the Upper East Side will exhibit the video installation Zidane, a 21st century portrait, from June 11 through July 19. The exhibition will mark the 20th anniversary of the film portrait capturing French soccer star Zinédine Zidane in real time during a 2005 match.
In the Meatpacking District, The Whitney will celebrate the World Cup throughout the tournament with Free Friday Nights and Free Second Sundays, as well as a 20% admission discount to visitors wearing their national team’s jersey or carrying home team memorabilia. Programming includes DJ sets inspired by global music traditions, art-making activities, tours and refreshments, all culminating in a special West Side Fest celebration on the weekend of July 10–12 ahead of the Final match weekend. These activities coincide with the Whitney Biennial 2026, featuring artists from tournament host cities and countries around the world, plus iconic American works by Hopper, Warhol and Basquiat.
Lincoln Center’s annual Summer for the City will host World at Play, celebrating the global spirit of soccer with World Club DJ nights, curated by the legendary DJ Bill Coleman featuring DJs from around the world, freestyle pop-up soccer performers, family-friendly workshops, locally based food trucks on-site including drinks and international cuisine. On select evenings, Film at Lincoln Center will present free open-air showings of soccer-related cinema classics.
In The Bronx, The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) will host its World Cup Garden from June 13 through July 19, celebrating global culture through diverse plants, interactive displays and family-friendly programming. World Cup Garden Kick Off Day on June 13 will feature crafts, lawn games and more.
The 9/11 Museum is hosting an exhibition, The World’s Game: Soccer and 9/11, through August honoring how the global soccer community rallied together during the 2002 FIFA World Cup, when the US made a quarterfinal run, including fundraising matches and more.
In Midtown, The Paley Museum at The Paley Center for Media NYC will host The Global Game: Soccer in the United States and the FIFA World Cup™ June 11 through July 26, exploring the rise of soccer in the US alongside the global impact the World Cup, including early involvement in FIFA to hosting the landmark 1994 tournament. The exhibit includes artifacts including game-worn jerseys from American soccer stars. cleats, signed memorabilia, archival footage, and iconic match moments. The Paley Center will also host watch parties throughout the tournament.
At the top of Museum Mile, El Museo del Barrio will host a free, family-friendly World Cup Final watch party on July 19. Festivities include hands-on art activities for all ages, and a live DJ set with a dynamic mix of deep house, techno and Latin rhythms. The event takes place during exhibition Sophie Rivera: Double Exposures, the museum’s first survey dedicated to the groundbreaking photographer.
In Morningside Heights, the largest cathedral in North America presents Peace Post, a mixed-media portrait collection featuring 198 global peace advocates, one from each sovereign nation, shining a light on individuals working toward positive change.
The German Football Association will open the German House of Soccer for the first time during the World Cup, from June 11 through July 11, bringing German football culture to NYC, welcoming fans for select match screenings, panel discussions, events, and more.