free things to do in New York City
Free events for Thursday, 04/23/26
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Free Events, Free Things to Do in New York City!  Read More

Are you looking for free things to do in New York City (NYC) on April 23, 2026?

21 free events take place on Thursday, April 23 in New York City. Don't miss the opportunities that only New York provides! Exciting, high quality, unique and off the beaten path free events and free things to do take place in New York today, tonight, tomorrow and each day of the year, any time of the day: whether it's a weekday or a weekend, day or night, morning or evening or afternoon, December or July, April or November! These events will take your breath away!

New York City (NYC) never ceases to amaze you with quantity and quality of its free culture and free entertainment. Check out April 23 and see for yourself. Summer or Winter, Spring or Fall! Just click on any day of the calendar above and you'll find most inspiring and entertaining free events to go to and free things to do on each day of April . Don't miss the opportunities that only New York provides!

Some events take place all year long: same day of the week, same time there are there for you to take advantage of. One of the oldest free weekly events in Manhattan is Dixieland Jazz with the Gotham Jazzmen, which happen at noon every Tuesday. Another example of an event that you can attend all year round on weekdays is Federal Reserve Bank Tour, which takes place every week day at 1 pm (but advanced reservations are required). You can take at least 13 free tours every day of the year, except the New Year Day, July 4th, and the Christmas Day. If you are classical music afficionado, you can spend whole day in New York going from one free classical concert to another. If you love theater, then New York gives you an option to attend plays and musicals free of charge, or at deep discount. You just need to have information about it. And we are here to make that information available to you.
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The quality and quantity of
free events,
free things to do
that happen in New York City
every day of the year
is truly amazing.

So don't miss the opportunities
that only New York provides:
stop wondering what to do;
start taking advantage of
free events to go to,
free things to do in NYC
today!

21 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Thursday, April 23, 2026

All events are free unless otherwise noted.
        

Workshop | Learn How To Play Mah-Jongg


Mah-Jongg is a four-person tile game of skill, strategy, and luck! Learn the rules and mechanics of American Mah-Jongg. Attend a two hour group lesson with instructor Susan Richards. Sets and a few cards provided, but you are encouraged to bring your own cards.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free
Workshops, April 23, 2026, 04/23/2026, Learn How To Play Mah-Jongg

Classical Music | Afternoon Bach


Take a momentary respite from a busy day to enjoy a selection of organ works by Johann Sebastian Bach in an intimate venue.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:20 pm
Free
Concerts, April 23, 2026, 04/23/2026, Afternoon Bach

Film | The Tarnished Angels (1957): Black-and-White CinemaScope Drama Film with Rock Hudson


A WWI barnstorming pilot, Roger Schumann, settles for work as a stuntman for airshows and takes out his frustrations on his wife LaVerne. Journalist Burke Devlin seeks to write a piece on Schumann and is drawn to LaVerne. Based on the novel "Pylon" by William Faulkner. Director: Douglas Sirk Cast: Rock Hudson, Robert Stack, Dorothy Malone Rock Hudson was one of the most popular movie stars of his time. He had a screen career spanning more than three decades. A prominent heartthrob in the Golden Age of Hollywood, he achieved stardom with his role in Magnificent Obsession (1954), followed by All That Heaven Allows (1955), and Giant (1956), for which he received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor.
   New York City, NY; NYC
1:00 pm
Free
Films, April 23, 2026, 04/23/2026, The Tarnished Angels (1957): Black-and-White CinemaScope Drama Film with Rock Hudson

Classical Music | String Quintet Piece by Schubert (In Person AND Online!)


Quintessence ensemble unites to present a seminal work of the 19th-century chamber music repertoire: Franz Schubert’s String Quintet in C Major. This exquisite piece is seldom performed on period instruments equipped with gut strings, making this a truly unique and authentic interpretation.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:15 pm
Free
Concerts, April 23, 2026, 04/23/2026, String Quintet Piece by Schubert (In Person AND Online!)

Performance | Dramatic Arts Showcase


The School of Drama BFA Dramatic Arts Class of 2026 presents their culminating performances of their degree program with this showcase. Directed by School of Drama faculty member ChiChi Anyanwu. Featuring: Pinhsien Chen, Annabel Cummings, Jabari Elzie, McKenna Flekman, Isabella Graziadei, Eylul Hancilar, Lucie Higuera, Ava Jaffe, Tess Johnstadt, Lebron Kenney, Kristyn Lyman, Iona Mckidd, Callie Okun, Sadie Redmond, Arya Alexander Samini, Sariya Sealey, Dune Streeter, Eva Weitzman
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free
Performances, April 23, 2026, 04/23/2026, Dramatic Arts Showcase

Gallery Talk | Inside the Declaration of Independence and the Transatlantic Circulation of News


Join museum experts, including curators, conservators, scientists, and scholars, for an in-depth look at selected exhibition objects in the galleries. Gain new insights and hear untold stories from insiders in the Department of Drawings and Prints, and examine the artworks more closely. A Q&A will follow the talk. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free
Gallery Talks, April 23, 2026, 04/23/2026, Inside the Declaration of Independence and the Transatlantic Circulation of News

Film | Singin' in the Rain (1952): Classic Musical Romantic Comedy with Gene Kelly & Debbie Reynolds


When the transition is being made from silent films to `talkies', everyone has trouble adapting. Don and Lina have been cast repeatedly as a romantic couple, but when their latest film is remade into a musical, only Don has the voice for the new singing part. After a lot of practise with a diction coach, Lina still sounds terrible, and Kathy, a bright young aspiring actress, is hired to record over her voice. Directors: Gene Kelly, Stanley Donen Cast: Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen, Millard Mitchell, Cyd Charisse Gene Kelly was an American dancer, actor, singer, director, and choreographer. He was known for his energetic and athletic dancing style and sought to create a new form of American dance accessible to the general public, which he called "dance for the common man". He starred in, choreographed, and, with Stanley Donen, co-directed some of the best-regarded musical films of the 1940s and 1950s. Debbie Reynolds was an American actress, singer and entrepreneur. Her acting career spanned almost 70 years. Reynolds performed on stage and television and in films into her 80s. She was nominated for several Golden Globes, and a Tony Award. She won an Academy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
   New York City, NY; NYC
4:00 pm
Free
Films, April 23, 2026, 04/23/2026, Singin' in the Rain (1952): Classic Musical Romantic Comedy with Gene Kelly & Debbie Reynolds

Workshop | Learn the Basics of Classic Portrait Photography


Before mastering the craft of portraiture, you must start at the basics--working with your subject, finding/creating the right light, and putting the finishing touches on the portrait in the edit. In this hands-on workshop, photographer Derek Fahsbender will explore the simple basics of classic, intentional portraiture with a live shoot and editing session. Learn how to confidently get into the portrait game, whether for love of the craft or for paid assignments. The group will be covering: Pre-visualizing/collaborating with your subject Simple lighting techniques Light editing for a natural look
   New York City, NY; NYC
4:00 pm
Free
Workshops, April 23, 2026, 04/23/2026, Learn the Basics of Classic Portrait Photography

Museums | Thursday Evenings at a Living Memorial Museum


Explore a museum dedicated to Holocaust remembrance, Jewish life, and education. View expansive galleries, survivor testimonies, and tens of thousands of artifacts. The museum also offers a theater, a genealogy center, an outdoor memorial, and a cafe.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
Free
Museumss, April 23, 2026, 04/23/2026, Thursday Evenings at a Living Memorial Museum

Birdwatching | Evening Birding Tour


Discover the surprising diversity of birds that call the park home during migratory season, with guided tours led by environmental educator and urban naturalist Gabriel Willow. The park is a hotspot for avian visitors and birders alike. Past sightings include warblers, tanagers, vireos, thrushes, and even a Chuck-will's-widow!
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free
Birdwatchings, April 23, 2026, 04/23/2026, Evening Birding Tour

Museums | Photography:The Power of the Image.


This museum is the world's leading institution dedicated to photography and visual culture. It was founded in 1974 to champion "concerned photography"--socially and politically minded images that can educate and change the world. Through its exhibitions, education programs, community outreach, and public programs, the museum offers an open forum for dialogue about the power of the image.
   New York City, NY; NYC
5:00 pm
$5, tickets required
Museumss, April 23, 2026, 04/23/2026, Photography:The Power of the Image.

Workshop | Between Motion & Stasis: Life Drawing Session


Dive into the tension between movement and rest that defines the exhibition at hand. This session provides all drawing supplies and a relaxed environment for participants to capture the nuanced poses of the featured works. Share ideas with fellow artists and discover new ways to render the human figure beyond anatomical precision.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Workshops, April 23, 2026, 04/23/2026, Between Motion & Stasis: Life Drawing Session

Performance | Dramatic Arts Showcase


The School of Drama BFA Dramatic Arts Class of 2026 presents their culminating performances of their degree program with this showcase. Directed by School of Drama faculty member ChiChi Anyanwu. Featuring: Pinhsien Chen, Annabel Cummings, Jabari Elzie, McKenna Flekman, Isabella Graziadei, Eylul Hancilar, Lucie Higuera, Ava Jaffe, Tess Johnstadt, Lebron Kenney, Kristyn Lyman, Iona Mckidd, Callie Okun, Sadie Redmond, Arya Alexander Samini, Sariya Sealey, Dune Streeter, Eva Weitzman
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Performances, April 23, 2026, 04/23/2026, Dramatic Arts Showcase

Talk | Multidisciplinary Artist Explores Her Practice & Poetry (+Q&A)


Hear from multidisciplinary artist Pamela Sneed! Pamela currently has a show open at Leslie Lohman Museum of Art, Sacred and Profane. During the talk, Pamela will reflect on the show at Leslie Lohman as well as her other visual and performance work, speak about her multi-disciplinary practice, and give a poetry reading from a new manuscript titled 9:29 for George Floyd: poetry, criticism, protest, and mourning. The talk will be followed by a Q/A moderated by Professor Fred Moten.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Talks, April 23, 2026, 04/23/2026, Multidisciplinary Artist Explores Her&nbsp;Practice & Poetry (+Q&A)

Book Discussion | Photographer Shares His New Book, Prince: Black, White, Color (+ Signing)


Enjoy a conversation with photographer Steve Parke to celebrate his new book, Prince: Black, White, Color, a collection of over 250 exclusive photographs of the iconic Prince. The conversation will be followed by a signing.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Book Discussions, April 23, 2026, 04/23/2026, Photographer Shares His New Book,&nbsp;Prince: Black, White, Color&nbsp;(+ Signing)

Discussion | Bestselling Authors Discuss Writing Stories on Immigration (In Person AND Online!)


Enjoy a panel discussion on writing stories about immigration across fiction and non-fiction with authors Karla Cornejo Villavicencio, Grace M. Cho, and Ruben Reyes Jr., along with moderator Maria Hinjosa! New York City, a city founded by immigrants, has always been enriched by the groups and communities of immigrants who make up its population. This event will put modern stories of immigrants in dialogue with each other to highlight the experiences that make them unique while also highlighting commonalities between the experiences that immigrants face when entering the United States. The conversations will grapple with the dissonance of keeping one's sense of self while assimilating into a different culture.
   New York City, NY; NYC
6:30 pm
Free
Discussions, April 23, 2026, 04/23/2026, Bestselling Authors Discuss Writing Stories on Immigration (In Person AND Online!)

Book Discussion | Documentary Photographer Shares His Perspective on the Black Cowboy in America


Documentary photographer and videographer Brian Branch-Price brings his own historical perspective to the story of the Black cowboy in America. Brian will show and discuss his 30-year-plus project, focusing on this little-known facet of American culture. His photographs document the life of the Black cowboy from New York to California, at rodeos, trail rides, bull riding, and steer wrestling. Brian will also cover the Buffalo Soldiers, United States Army regiments composed exclusively of Black American soldiers, formed during the 19th century to serve on the American frontier. Brian will show you the importance and power of this marginalized, underprivileged group, including outlaws and lawmen, and the very story of the term “cowboy.”
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Book Discussions, April 23, 2026, 04/23/2026, Documentary Photographer Shares His Perspective on the Black Cowboy in America

Book Discussion | Explore the Life & Work of Walter Benjamin with His Award-Winning Biographer (+ Book Signing)


Award-winning author Peter E. Gordon will present his new biography, Walter Benjamin: The Pearl Diver, and discuss the intersection of Benjamin's life and work with Dean Whiteside. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Walter Benjamin (1892–1940) is widely considered one of the most creative cultural critics of the twentieth century. Esteemed for his literary acumen and capacious imagination, he developed a unique style of criticism—his friend Hannah Arendt called it pearl-diving—that sought out fragments of redemption in the ruins of bourgeois civilization.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Book Discussions, April 23, 2026, 04/23/2026, Explore the Life & Work of Walter Benjamin with His Award-Winning Biographer (+ Book Signing)

Museums | Contemporary Art, Open Doors: Thursday Nights at NYC's Leading Museum


Contemporary art is a vital social force that advances questioning, learning, and working towards a better society. This weekly program offers an accessible opportunity to explore groundbreaking exhibitions by emerging and established artists from around the globe. Engage with current artistic dialogues and help expand the definition of art.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
pay-what-you-wish, reservation required
Museumss, April 23, 2026, 04/23/2026, Contemporary Art, Open Doors: Thursday Nights at NYC's Leading Museum

Reading | Literary Salon Featuring Catherine Lacey & Ben Lerner


A reading by Catherine Lacey and Ben Lerner followed by a conversation/Q&A with Darin Strauss. The event will conclude with a reception/signing with books for sale. Catherine Lacey's most recent work, The Mobius Book, is half pure fiction and half pure memory. She is also the author of four novels: Biography of X, Pew, The Answers, Nobody Is Ever Missing, and a short story collection, Certain American States. Ben Lerner is the author of four books of poetry (The Lichtenberg Figures, Angle of Yaw, Mean Free Path, and The Lights), four novels (Leaving the Atocha Station, 10:04, The Topeka School, and Transcription), and a work of criticism (The Hatred of Poetry). His newest novel, Transcription: A Novel, is forthcoming in April 2026.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Readings, April 23, 2026, 04/23/2026, Literary Salon Featuring Catherine Lacey & Ben Lerner

Comedy Club | Standup Show


Catch some of the best comedians at this free weekly stand-up show, featuring a lineup of rising stars and seasoned favorites. Past performers include Sheng Wang, Mark Normand, Dan Soder, Annie Lederman, and more.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free
Comedy Clubs, April 23, 2026, 04/23/2026, Standup Show
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Complimentary Tickets

to shows, concerts ... (CFT Deals!)

Concert | Multi-Grammy Nominee and The Great American Songbook

Regular Price: $67
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Concert | Spirituals, Broadway Tunes and More at a Landmark Venue

Regular Price: $65
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Performance | 5-Star, One-of-a-Kind High-Energy Show!

Regular Price: $69
CFT Member Price: $0.00