New York City runs on the magic of live performance.
Our favorite city has no shortage of arts and culture, from intimate neighborhood performances and world-class museums to Broadway productions that can become lifelong memories. People travel from around the world to sit beneath the lights of a Broadway theater, but for young New Yorkers, the cost of a ticket can sometimes make that experience feel out of reach.
Now, the city is taking steps to change that. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Theatre Development Fund (TDF) have announced a new program offering thousands of free and low-cost Broadway and Off-Broadway tickets to New York City high school students, giving more young New Yorkers the chance to experience the city’s legendary theater scene for themselves.
The initiative launches with a lottery for more than 2,000 free tickets to seven Broadway shows, while every student who enters will also receive a free two-month TDF membership with access to discounted theater tickets and participating cultural institutions across the city.
What’s Included in the NYC Free Broadway Ticket Giveaway?
The centerpiece of this new partnership is a massive ticket lottery offering over 2,000 completely free tickets to some of the hottest shows on Broadway.
Even better: Every single student who enters the lottery automatically unlocks a free, two-month TDF Membership. That means even if you don’t win the top prize, you still get access to heavily discounted Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off Broadway tickets year-round—typically priced between just $20 and $40.
Shutterstock / Mulevich
High schoolers entering the city’s lottery can enter for a chance to win up to two free tickets to any of these seven marquee productions:
Buena Vista Social Club
In the Heights (New York City Center)
School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play
Stranger Things: The First Shadow
The Lost Boys
The Great Gatsby
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Shutterstock / Andrey Bayda
Getting your hands on these free tickets is quick and straightforward, but you’ll need to act fast:
Who is eligible: Any New York City student entering grades 9 through 12.
How to enter: Apply online directly at on.nyc.gov/Broadway.
Lottery Deadline: The entry window closes on Monday, August 17, at 10:00 AM.
Claiming Tickets: Winners will be selected shortly after the deadline and can claim up to two tickets per student.
TDF Membership Window: Didn’t win the main draw? No problem. High schoolers can still register to claim their free two-month TDF digital membership card through September 13.
Unlock Free Admission to 20+ NYC Museums and Cultural Landmarks
Your free two-month TDF membership does much more than open doors on Broadway. By showing your digital TDF member card, NYC high school students can gain free or deeply discounted entry to more than 20 world-renowned cultural institutions across all five boroughs, including:
Art & Culture Hubs: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum, The Bronx Museum, MoMA PS1, and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
Nature & Science Centers: American Museum of Natural History, New York Hall of Science, Wildlife Conservation Society locations, and the Brooklyn, Queens, and New York Botanical Gardens.
Historic & Performance Spaces: Carnegie Hall, The Public Theater, Historic Richmond Town, Louis Armstrong House Museum, and Wave Hill.
Source / Alvaro Keding
This initiative builds on broader city efforts—including the interactive Summer in N.Y.C. hub—designed to make the city more affordable and accessible for local families. By breaking down financial barriers, the city and TDF are ensuring that New York’s rich cultural landscape belongs to every young person who calls it home.
Ready to grab your seats? Head over to on.nyc.gov/Broadway before Monday, Aug. 17 at 10 a.m. to submit your lottery entry!