free things to do in New York City
Free events for Wednesday, 01/21/26
<

January 2026

>
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
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 January 21, 2026?

16 free events take place on Wednesday, January 21 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 January 21 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 January . 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.
Join the Club!
Go!
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!

16 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Wednesday, January 21, 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
Join the Club!
Go!
6:30 am
Free
Workshops, January 21, 2026, 01/21/2026, Central Park Running&nbsp;Session (All Levels Welcome)

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
Join the Club!
Go!
10:00 am
Free
Museumss, January 21, 2026, 01/21/2026, New York City: History, Architecture, Social Movements, Cultural Diversity

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
Join the Club!
Go!
12:20 pm
Free
Concerts, January 21, 2026, 01/21/2026, 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
Join the Club!
Go!
1:00 pm
Free
Workshops, January 21, 2026, 01/21/2026, Adult Chorus Session Open to All

Jazz | Live Jazz Standards


Relax to the sounds of classic jazz as guitarist Bill Wurtzel and guests perform timeless standards from the American Songbook. This lively midweek set offers a perfect musical break, blending smooth melodies and swing in an intimate setting.
   New York City, NY; NYC
1:00 pm
Free
Concerts, January 21, 2026, 01/21/2026, Live Jazz Standards

Concert | Weekly Outdoor Bagpipe Tribute: Honoring 9/11 Lives and Legacies


A moving weekly bagpipe tribute honors those who lost their lives on 9/11, as well as individuals affected by the lasting health impacts of that day. The tribute begins with a performance near a symbolic column preserved from the site, followed by a second performance in a nearby outdoor space.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
1:00 pm
Free
Concerts, January 21, 2026, 01/21/2026, Weekly Outdoor Bagpipe Tribute: Honoring 9/11 Lives and Legacies

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
1:30 pm
Pay-What-You-Wish, reservation required
Museumss, January 21, 2026, 01/21/2026, Afternoon in a Magnificent Small Museum

Film | Charlie Chaplin's A Countess from Hong Kong (1967): Romantic Comedy with All-Star Cast


Tale of a shipboard romance between a diplomat and a Russian stowaway. Charlie Chaplin's last film. Director: Charlie Chaplin Cast: Marlon Brando, Sophia Loren, Sydney Chaplin, Tippi Hedren, Patrick Cargill Charlie Chaplin was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is considered one of the film industry's most important figures. His career spanned more than 75 years, from his childhood in the Victorian era until a year before his death in 1977. His films are characterised by slapstick combined with pathos, typified in the Tramp's struggles against adversity. Many contain social and political themes, as well as autobiographical elements. He received an Honorary Academy Award for "the incalculable effect he has had in making motion pictures the art form of this century" in 1972, as part of a renewed appreciation for his work.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
2:00 pm
Free
Films, January 21, 2026, 01/21/2026, Charlie Chaplin's A Countess from Hong Kong (1967): Romantic Comedy with All-Star Cast

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
Join the Club!
Go!
3:30 pm
Free
Gallery Talks, January 21, 2026, 01/21/2026, Learn How a Historic Mansion Turned into a Museum

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
Join the Club!
Go!
6:00 pm
Free
Partys, January 21, 2026, 01/21/2026, Board Games Meet-Up

Workshop | Cardio Circuit Blast: Full-Body Workout


Boost your endurance and get your heart pumping in this high-energy, full-body workout. Participants move through fun and challenging bodyweight circuits designed for all fitness levels. Bring water and a towel. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
6:00 pm
Free
Workshops, January 21, 2026, 01/21/2026, Cardio Circuit Blast: Full-Body Workout

Opening Reception | Film, Ritual, and Memory in Central Asia and the African Diaspora


This pair of concurrent exhibitions features new work by Saodat Ismailova and Tiran Willemse. In Amanat, Uzbek artist and filmmaker Saodat Ismailova presents films and installations exploring ritual, myth, migration, and memory across Central Asian landscapes shaped by empire and cultural transformation. The exhibition centers on the world premiere of Amanat (2026), the first iteration of a newly commissioned film that reflects on inheritance, responsibility, and belief through Ismailova’s long-term engagement with the sacred walnut forests of Arslanbob in present-day Kyrgyzstan.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
6:00 pm
Free
Opening Receptions, January 21, 2026, 01/21/2026, Film, Ritual, and Memory in Central Asia and the African Diaspora

Opening Reception | Mixed Media Exhibition of Works by Konstantin Bokov Exploring the New York Cityscape


Enjoy the exhibit Konstantin Bokov’s Journey Through the New York Cityscape, which features a selection of works on paper and objects from the Kolodzei Art Foundation’s collection by the prominent mixed media artist, Konstantin Bokov, which offers a glimpse into his creative process and celebrates his artistic journey. Konstantin Bokov was born in Shostka, Ukraine, to the Soviet poet and songwriter, Victor Bokov, in 1940. Pursuing a career as an artist was encouraged by his family, and at a young age, he attended the Art Academy of Leningrad in St. Petersburg. After his studies, Bokov moved to Moscow, where he discovered the works of Vincent Van Gogh and knew he had found his calling. Feeling the urge for freedom and artistic expression, Bokov immigrated to New York City in 1974, where the atmosphere of the art world was on the brink of change. A talented draftsman, he is always drawing, capturing the energy and mood of a scene with his impressions and observations of the surroundings. With his vivid imagination, Bokov also utilizes paint, fabric, plastic, and everyday found objects to explore his creative ideas.
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
6:00 pm
Free
Opening Receptions, January 21, 2026, 01/21/2026, Mixed Media Exhibition of Works by&nbsp;Konstantin Bokov Exploring the New York Cityscape

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
Join the Club!
Go!
6:00 pm
Free
Book Discussions, January 21, 2026, 01/21/2026, Quiet Reading Meet Up

Book Discussion | Tracing Moderism Through War & Survival (Online!) 


This discussion examines the Nazis’ aggressive campaign against modern art and their vast looting of Jewish-owned collections across Europe. Through the perspective of a writer, art historian, and Holocaust survivor whose own life intersected with these events, the discussion explores how stolen works resurfaced, what survived in American museums, and how exiled artists and scholars helped shift the center of the art world from Europe to the United States. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
7:00 pm
Free
Book Discussions, January 21, 2026, 01/21/2026, Tracing Moderism Through War & Survival (Online!)&nbsp;

Classical Music | Modern Orchestral Works by Britten & Rachmaninoff (In Person AND Online!)


Manhattan School of Music's OPUS130 orchestra performs two pieces by famous composers of the Modern era. Program: Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) Piano Concert No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 83 Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) Symphonic Dances, Op. 45
   New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Go!
7:30 pm
Free
Concerts, January 21, 2026, 01/21/2026, Modern Orchestral Works by Britten & Rachmaninoff (In Person AND Online!)
Join the Club!
Go!
Complimentary Tickets

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

Play | Broadway Stars in a Play About Lifelong Friendship

Regular Price: $77
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Classical Music | Music by One of The Most-Performed Living Classical Composers at a Landmark Venue

Regular Price: $40
CFT Member Price: $0.00