free things to do in New York City
Free events for Wednesday, 02/11/26
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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 February 11, 2026?

31 free events take place on Wednesday, February 11 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 February 11 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 February . 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!

31 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Wednesday, February 11, 2026

All events are free unless otherwise noted.
        

Workshop | Central Park Running Session (All Levels Welcome)


If you prefer not to run alone or are looking to improve your running performance, you can run with a club! Open to runners of all levels. Weekly changed routes through the park. Coaches, training, running company and inspiration!
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 am
Free
Workshops, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, Central Park Running&nbsp;Session (All Levels Welcome)

Book Discussion | Learn about Building a Career in Fashion with Project Runway Canada's Jeanne Beker (+ Memoir Discussion)


What does it take to build a meaningful and resilient career in the business of fashion? Attend a fireside chat with Jeanne Beker, a renowned Canadian fashion journalist and broadcaster famous for hosting FashionTelevision for 27 years and for her involvem. Dr. Ben Barry, Dean of the School of Fashion and the Joseph and Gail Gromek Professor for Fashion Business, will moderate. The event will be followed by a book signing of her new memoir, Heart on My Sleeve. Drawing from her new memoir, Heart on My Sleeve, and her iconic career as a fashion journalist, Jeanne will share insights on navigating an ever-shifting industry. She will discuss what it takes to build a meaningful and resilient career in the business of fashion. Come with questions about entrepreneurship, strategic partnerships, media innovation, and building a successful career in fashion businesses.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free
Book Discussions, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, Learn about Building a Career in Fashion with Project Runway Canada's Jeanne Beker (+ Memoir Discussion)

Museums | New York City: History, Architecture, Social Movements, Cultural Diversity


This museum holds over 1,5 million artifacts, including photographs, paintings, decorative arts, costumes, and documents that tell the story of New York's development and its inhabitants. Explore the galleries and discover the rich history and vibrant culture of New York City!
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free
Museumss, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, New York City: History, Architecture, Social Movements, Cultural Diversity

Galleries | Award-Winning, Immersive VR Art Experience


Journey into a uniquely interactive virtual reality experience that asks the question: “Where are you feeling?” Soul Paint is an award-winning, immersive world that blends art and science to inspire personal introspection and universal connection. Backed by creative support from behavioral scientists and health care researchers, VR programmers Sarah Ticho and Niki Smit's Soul Paint combines 3-D drawing, playful avatar interaction, video game inputs, and explorations of shared interior worlds, all underscored by narration from NAACP Image Award-winning actor Rosario Dawson. You'll be given the digital tools to create an expressive virtual reality artwork about your own emotions and embodied sensations—depicting what your inner life looks like. Then you are invited to observe the creations of others. This one-of-a-kind VR expedition offers new methods of embodied insight, encouraging us to reflect on the scope of human experience on an individual and global level. Participation to this virtual reality experience is first-come, first-served; advanced reservation is not required. In the event that a line forms, Guest Experience representatives will assist you in registering for our Virtual Queue. Once you're registered, you will send you a text alert the moment your individual time slot is ready! The experience lasts approximately 20 minutes.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free
Galleriess, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, Award-Winning, Immersive VR Art Experience

Tour | Historical House of The Distinguished American President of the Early 20th Century


This historic site honors the early life of a renowned American figure. The restored brownstone reflects late 19th-century architecture and offers insights into the family's daily life. Learn about various exhibits and artifacts that showcase the cultural and historical context of the era, providing a glimpse into the formative years of this visionary leader-to-be. This guided tour is first-come, first-served. It may reach capacity before your desired tour time, so please be sure to arrive early. Tour duration: 45 minutes. This tour takes place at 11 am, 12 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free
Tours, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, Historical House of The Distinguished American President of the Early 20th Century

Book Discussion | Shaping Cities Through Spatial Economic Planning (Online!) 


This virtual book launch introduces Tools for Spatial Economic Planning, a practical guide to analyzing and shaping the economic and spatial structures of rapidly urbanizing regions. The authors present key frameworks and case studies, followed by perspectives from global development organizations on how these tools are applied in real-world planning and policy contexts.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free
Book Discussions, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, Shaping Cities Through Spatial Economic Planning (Online!)&nbsp;

Workshop | Valentine Craft: Heart Wreath


Enjoy some DIY as you make and decorate your very own heart wreath! We will be using colorful string and some cardboard to make the wreath, which can then be decorated however you wish. All materials provided, limited to 10 participants. First come, first served. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free
Workshops, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, Valentine Craft: Heart Wreath

Museums | Wednesday at a Unique Art Museum


Candid, genuine, and unexpected, this is New York City's only museum dedicated to folk & self-taught artists. The Museum celebrates the creativity of individuals whose singular talents have been refined largely through personal experience rather than formal artistic training. The museum's collection includes more than seven thousand works of art from four centuries and nearly every continent--from compelling portraits and dazzling quilts to powerful works by living artists in a variety of mediums. From critically acclaimed exhibitions and publications to inspiring educational programs and robust community outreach, the museum's mission is to be the leading forum shaping the understanding and appreciation of folk and self-taught art across time and place.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:30 am
Free
Museumss, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, Wednesday at a Unique Art Museum

Museums | If Fashion is of Interest to You...


Best known for its innovation and award-winning exhibitions, the museum has a permanent collection of more than 50,000 garments and accessories dating from the eighteenth century to the present.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free
Museumss, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, If Fashion is of Interest to You...

Book Discussion | Uncovering Forgotten Histories in the Early US Modern Art Market (Online!) 


Independent scholar Julia May Boddewyn presents her new book, The Valentine Gallery, tracing the overlooked story of Valentine Dudensing, Matisse, Picasso, and the U.S. market for modern art (1926–1947). The talk highlights Boddewyn’s research methods and key findings, followed by an audience Q&A. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free
Book Discussions, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, Uncovering Forgotten Histories in the Early US Modern Art Market (Online!)&nbsp;

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, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, Afternoon Bach

Workshop | Adult Chorus Session Open to All


Directed by Church Street School of Music, the Downtown Beats adult chorus is open to all who love to sing! Learn contemporary and classic songs and perform at community events throughout the year.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free
Workshops, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, Adult Chorus Session Open to All

Museums | Afternoon in a Magnificent Small Museum


Internationally recognized as a premier museum and research center, this museum is known for its distinguished Old Master paintings and outstanding examples of European sculpture and decorative arts.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:30 pm
pay-what-you-wish, reservation required
Museumss, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, Afternoon in a Magnificent Small Museum

Workshop | Free-Form Creative Writing Session


This event is an afternoon of live, free-form creative writing. No formal writing experience is required - just enthusiasm and curiosity to see where writing takes you. Participants are provided with suggested prompts at the start of the session, approximately 30 minutes to free write, and the remainder of the hour to share and listen to others' pieces. This is a relaxed forum to experiment with and strengthen your writing. There is the option, but not the requirement, to share your work in each session. Come write freely and meet other people who love writing for the sake of writing!
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:30 pm
Free
Workshops, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, Free-Form Creative Writing Session

Film | Respect (2021): Aretha Franklin Biopic with Jennifer Hudson


Following the rise of Aretha Franklin's career from a child singing in her father's church's choir to her international superstardom, 'Respect' is the remarkable true story of the music icon's journey to find her voice. Director: Liesl Tommy Cast: Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, Tituss Burgess, Mary J. Blige Jennifer Hudson is an American singer, actress, and talk show host. Throughout her career, she has received various accolades for her works in recorded music, film, television, and theater. Hudson became the youngest woman and second African-American woman to receive all four of the major American entertainment awards: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT). She also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2013. Time named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2020.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free
Films, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, Respect (2021): Aretha Franklin Biopic with Jennifer Hudson

Workshop | Draw the Human Figure


Challenge your artistic skills by drawing the human figure. Each week a model will strike short and long poses for participants to draw. Artists/ educators will offer constructive suggestions and critique. Materials provided, and artists are encouraged to bring their own favorite media.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free
Workshops, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, Draw the Human Figure

Galleries | Award-Winning, Immersive VR Art Experience


Journey into a uniquely interactive virtual reality experience that asks the question: “Where are you feeling?” Soul Paint is an award-winning, immersive world that blends art and science to inspire personal introspection and universal connection. Backed by creative support from behavioral scientists and health care researchers, VR programmers Sarah Ticho and Niki Smit's Soul Paint combines 3-D drawing, playful avatar interaction, video game inputs, and explorations of shared interior worlds, all underscored by narration from NAACP Image Award-winning actor Rosario Dawson. You'll be given the digital tools to create an expressive virtual reality artwork about your own emotions and embodied sensations—depicting what your inner life looks like. Then you are invited to observe the creations of others. This one-of-a-kind VR expedition offers new methods of embodied insight, encouraging us to reflect on the scope of human experience on an individual and global level. Participation to this virtual reality experience is first-come, first-served; advanced reservation is not required. In the event that a line forms, Guest Experience representatives will assist you in registering for our Virtual Queue. Once you're registered, you will send you a text alert the moment your individual time slot is ready! The experience lasts approximately 20 minutes.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free
Galleriess, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, Award-Winning, Immersive VR Art Experience

Gallery Talk | Learn How a Historic Mansion Turned into a Museum


Join a museum educator for a brief gallery talk tracing how a Gilded Age mansion was transformed into a world-class art museum.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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3:30 pm
Free
Gallery Talks, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, Learn How a Historic Mansion Turned into a Museum

Book Discussion | Historian Shares Her New Book, Road to Nowhere: How a Highway Map Wrecked Baltimore


Attend an event with Emily Lieb, Ph.D., as she discusses her book, Road to Nowhere: How a Highway Map Wrecked Baltimore. Drawing on land records, oral history, media coverage, and policy documents, Lieb demystifies blockbusting, redlining, and prejudicial lending, highlighting the national patterns at work in a single neighborhood. The result is an absorbing story about the deliberate decisions that produced racial inequalities in housing, jobs, health, and wealth—as well as a testament to the ingenuity of the residents who fought to stay in their homes, down to today.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:15 pm
Free
Book Discussions, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, Historian&nbsp;Shares Her New Book,&nbsp;Road to Nowhere: How a Highway Map Wrecked Baltimore

Book Club | Read & Discuss Poetry by Antonia Pozzi


In this poetry discussion group, attendees will talk about ten poems by Antonia Pozzi, translated from the Italian by Amy Newman. You can find a PDF copy attached to the linked page. Please bring your printed copy to the discussion; the group will be doing close readings and analysis of the poems.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:30 pm
Free
Book Clubs, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, Read & Discuss Poetry by Antonia Pozzi

Screening | Border Incident (1949): Classic Film Noir (+ Q&A with Media Scholar)


Attend the film screening and Q&A of Border Incident, a noir crime drama inspired by true events. Undercover agents expose a brutal cross-border labor smuggling ring and its human cost. Set against the stark landscapes of the U.S.-Mexico border, Border Incident is a tense crime drama inspired by true events. The film follows a joint investigation between American and Mexican law enforcement agencies as they infiltrate a brutal agricultural labor smuggling ring operating on both sides of the border. Director: Anthony Mann Cast: Ricardo Montalban, George Murphy, Howard Da Silva, James Mitchell
   New York City, NY; NYC
6:00 pm
Free
Screenings, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, Border Incident (1949): Classic Film Noir (+ Q&A with Media Scholar)

Party | Board Games Meet-Up


Play a variety of board games, including Scrabble, Chess, Boggle, Bananagrams, Scattergories, and more! Bring a friend or join on your own--all levels are welcome. Studies have shown that playing board games can have positive effects on your mental, emotional, and physical health, including: o Improving memory and focus o Enhancing critical thinking skills o Making connections o Reducing stress (and screen time!)
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Partys, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, Board Games Meet-Up

Lecture | Motherhood and Rituals in Ancient Israel (Online!) 


Professor Emerita Susan Ackerman explores pregnancy and childbirth practices in ancient Israel, tracing rituals from conception to delivery. Drawing on comparisons with Hatti, Mesopotamia, and Egypt, the talk examines protective amulets, incantations, anointing oils, and other practices that illuminate the spiritual and cultural life of mothers-to-be in the ancient world.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
pay-what-you-wish, reservation required
Lectures, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, Motherhood and Rituals in Ancient Israel (Online!)&nbsp;

Opening Reception | Politics of Visibility in Contemporary Art


Deborah Roberts presents new paintings, works on paper, and her first ceramic sculptures in an exhibition examining how Black bodies, particularly Black children, are seen and understood by society. Through collage and repurposed imagery, the works reflect on colonial histories and resilience, transforming materials tied to exploitation into affirmations of presence, spirituality, and survival.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Opening Receptions, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, Politics of Visibility in Contemporary Art

Book Discussion | Quiet Reading Meet Up


Bring a book or check one out of the library to read to yourself for one hour. After that, spend an hour socializing with those around you!
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Book Discussions, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, Quiet Reading Meet Up

Discussion | Two Authors Celebrate the Launch of Their New Books


Celebrate two new books by New School Faculty, Lana Lin and Radhika Subramaniam.  Situated between memoir, social criticism, and conceptual art, Lin’s The Autobiography of H. Lan Thao Lam narrates a 25-year queer love story through the literary form of ventriloquism that Gertrude Stein invented in her 1933 The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, and responds to the modernist classic by raising the Asian understory to the surface.  Subramaniam’s Footprint: Four Itineraries probes the long history of the footprint’s manifestation in the human imagination—signifying mobility and occupation, inquiry and imperialism, absence and presence, trace, and impact—to ask if it is yet possible to tread lightly on our world. The event will feature a conversation between the two writers and invite questions and discussion, followed by a celebratory reception. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Discussions, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, Two Authors Celebrate the Launch of Their New Books

Book Discussion | Upcoming Romance Book Talk with Authors & Publishing Professionals (In Person AND Online!)


Hear the "buzz" directly from authors and publishing industry professionals about new and upcoming titles in romance. Free and advance copies available while supplies last! Enjoy a delightful evening filled with literature, engaging discussions, and opportunities to meet authors and fellow passionate book lovers. Here's what to expect: Attend panels featuring Romance writers Learn about new and upcoming titles from Penguin Random House staff Browse free and advanced reader copies of titles by a range of authors in the Romance genre Giveaways while supplies last
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Book Discussions, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, Upcoming Romance Book Talk with Authors & Publishing Professionals (In Person AND Online!)

Reading | Writer Larissa Pham Shares Her New Novel, Discipline


Experience a reading with Larissa Pham as she sits down with Jennifer Cho Salaff to discuss her new novel, Discipline. About Discipline: In the novel, the main character, Christine, is on a book tour for her book, which is a thinly veiled revenge fantasy based on a relationship she had with a former professor. Her world is turned upside down when he reaches out after years of silence and invites her to visit him on a remote island off the coast of Maine. "A taut, electrifying debut about a woman forced to confront unsettling truths about herself, her past, and the life she rebuilt following a ruinous affair with her former mentor, from a 'lit world phenom'" -Harper’s Bazaar
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Readings, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, Writer Larissa Pham Shares Her New Novel,&nbsp;Discipline

Master Class | Grammy-Winning Musician Teaches the Ins & Outs of Great Guitar Performance


Grammy-winner Jason Vieaux--“among the elite of today’s classical guitarists” (Gramophone), described by NPR as “perhaps the most precise and soulful classical guitarist of his generation”--leads a class on better practice and performance for guitar mastery.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Concerts, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, Grammy-Winning Musician Teaches the Ins & Outs of Great Guitar Performance

Talk | Photographers Discuss Their Craft & New Book of Photography, West West: Twin Perspectives Of The American West


Experience the captivating vision of photographers Maryam Eisler and Alexei Riboud in West, West, a dual exploration of the American West’s enduring allure. Moderated by curator Carrie Scott, the discussion will examine how both artists interpret the landscapes, light, and legends that have inspired generations of creators. From past filmmakers, photographers, and painters in the NAC’s permanent collection to contemporary voices, this program celebrates the timeless pilgrimage westward. Discover how West, West captures the mythic frontier as a space for imagination, reflection, and creative renewal. The limited-edition book will be available for purchase.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Talks, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, Photographers Discuss Their Craft & New Book of Photography, West West: Twin Perspectives Of The American West

Classical Music | Contemporary Orchestral Works by Emerging Composers (In Person AND Online!)


Manhattan School of Music's Symphony Orchestra (conducted by George Manahan) performs a series of thesis compositions of MSM composition students.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:30 pm
Free
Concerts, February 11, 2026, 02/11/2026, Contemporary Orchestral Works by Emerging Composers (In Person AND Online!)
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Complimentary Tickets

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

Performance | Multi-Award Winners Give Insights into Careers of Iconic Artists

Regular Price: $80
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Play | "Crowd-Pleasing" Shakespeare Comedy

Regular Price: $40
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Classical Music | "Profoundly Moving" Journey through Song with Grammy-Winning Musicians

Regular Price: $50
CFT Member Price: $0.00