In New York City, the coming of summer can be sensed as much by the warming temperatures as it can by the increasing number of lineup announcements for outdoor performances.
SummerStage released its lineup late last month, and now the BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival — the city’s other significant and long-running source of free outdoor music each summer — has also made its lineup public.
Highlights of the 2026 season schedule include “Queen of Percussion” Sheila E., Brooklyn-born father-son DJ duo Saint James Joy, and Grammy-winning rapper Common. The few ticketed benefit shows (which are still free for those within earshot to listen to) include performances from “Godmother of Soul” Patti LaBelle and Gen X rock legends Sleater-Kinney.
In all, Celebrate Brooklyn’s 47th season will feature 15 free shows and three benefit concerts from June 4 to Sept. 19 at Prospect Park’s Lena Horne Bandshell. Entry works on a first-come, first-served basis, but festival organizer BRIC Arts Media encourages attendees to RSVP for shows online beforehand.
The full 2026 Celebrate Brooklyn! schedule below:
Thursday, June 4: Sheila E., Leon Knight, and DJ SpinnaSaturday, June 13: Antibalas, KidsRead with Kate Yamasaki, and DJ Marc BarsFriday, June 19: Infinity Song, Annie and the Caldwells, Victory Boyd, and DJ DuaneSaturday, June 20: Wayne Wonder, Lila Iké, and DJ GravyFriday, June 26 (benefit show): Patti LaBelleFriday, July 10: EMEL, Mai Elgizouli, Nesrine, Yacine Boulares and the Habibi Festival House Band, and Yalla! Party ProjectSaturday, July 11: Saint James Joy, Pahua, and PuppetmobileSaturday, July 18 (benefit show): Royel Otis, and Ax and the HatchetmenFriday, July 24: Cindy Blackman Santana, The Patricia Brennan Septet, and Lucía. (This show takes place on Park Place between Brooklyn and Kingston avenues.)Saturday, July 25: BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! at Brower Park with Black House RadioFriday, July 31: CARRTOONS & Hailé Supreme, Sofía Valdés, and Julia ZivicFriday, Aug. 7: DakhaBrakha, Yeison Landero, Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars, and Sunju ParkSaturday, Aug. 8: BRIC Celebrates Aaliyah: One in a MillionFriday, Aug. 14: Lyricist Lounge 35th AnniversarySaturday, Aug. 15: Yola, Dom Flemons and the Traveling Wildfires, and Cleo ReedFriday, Aug. 21: Sasha Velour’s NightGownsFriday, Aug. 28: Common and Special Guests To Honor the Social Justice Legacy of Harry BelafonteSaturday, Aug. 29: Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso Presents Dominican Night at the BandshellSaturday, Sept. 19 (benefit show): Liz Phair & Sleater-Kinney, and The Flannel and The Fury 2026