free things to do in New York City
Free events for Friday, 05/15/26
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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 May 15, 2026?

17 free events take place on Friday, May 15 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 May 15 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 May . 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!

17 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Friday, May 15, 2026

All events are free unless otherwise noted.
        

Workshop | Outdoor Tai Chi


Improve balance, strength, and focus through gentle exercises. The sights and sounds of the harbor provide a serene background for the ancient flowing postures.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:30 am
Free
Workshops, May 15, 2026, 05/15/2026, Outdoor Tai Chi

Workshop | Zumba Workout for All


Enthusiastic instruction and easy-to-follow Latin dance choreography working on balance, coordination, and range of motion.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:30 am
Free
Workshops, May 15, 2026, 05/15/2026, Zumba Workout for All

Workshop | Mat Pilates Session (Beginners Welcome!)


Sweet Water Dance & Yoga leads a session of mat pilates, a strengthening and lengthening exercise that focuses on conditioning your core muscles while also training your arms and legs. This class incorporates key Pilates principles such as postural alignment, breathing, strength, controlled movement, and flexibility. This class is perfect for beginners but intermediate and advanced movers will also benefit. Bring your own mat.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free
Workshops, May 15, 2026, 05/15/2026, Mat Pilates Session (Beginners Welcome!)

Workshop | Learn to Juggle, All Skill Levels Welcome


This juggling class is ideal for a quick lesson, an extended practice session, or just enjoy watching jugglers put their skills to the test. They're a friendly group and open to drop-ins, even if you catch them outside of the regular juggling lessons. All skill levels welcome. Equipment is provided.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free
Workshops, May 15, 2026, 05/15/2026, Learn to Juggle, All Skill Levels Welcome

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, May 15, 2026, 05/15/2026, Afternoon Bach

Film | American Pastoral (2016): Crime-Drama with Ewan McGregor


In 1960s New Jersey, a Jewish-American businessman finds his seemingly perfect life unraveling after his teenage daughter commits a heinous act of political terrorism in protest of the Vietnam War. Director: Ewan McGregor Cast: Ewan McGregor, Jennifer Connelly, Dakota Fanning, Peter Riegert, Rupert Evans, Uzo Aduba, Molly Parker, David Strathairn Ewan McGregor is a Scottish actor and filmmaker. His accolades include a Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award. In 2013, he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his service to drama and charity.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free
Films, May 15, 2026, 05/15/2026, American Pastoral (2016): Crime-Drama with Ewan McGregor

Jazz | Afternoon Jam Sesh (Play Music or Just Listen)


This jam session is open to all musicians. Come and play or just listen to some jazzy tunes.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free
Concerts, May 15, 2026, 05/15/2026, Afternoon Jam Sesh (Play Music or Just Listen)

Workshop | Play Chess


Sharpen your mind, meet new people, and enjoy this timeless game. Chess sets and timers are provided. Adults only.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free
Workshops, May 15, 2026, 05/15/2026, Play Chess

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, May 15, 2026, 05/15/2026, Evening Birding Tour

Workshop | Learn about, Talk about, and Create Your Own Postcards


Postcard enthusiasts, also known as deltiologists, are welcome to this program! Writing and communicating with postcards is a longstanding tradition, still embraced by many today. Attend to write postcards inspired by suggested prompts, to swap postcards, and to discuss all topics postcard-related. There will be some limited supplies available but you may also bring your own to embellish a 4x6 card to write on. Postage stamps will not be provided at this program.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:30 pm
Free
Workshops, May 15, 2026, 05/15/2026, Learn about, Talk about, and Create Your Own Postcards

Screening | The Grim Game (1919): Silent Drama Film with Harry Houdini (+ Discussion)


In recognition of Harry Housini's amazing life and the library's current exhibition, Mystery & Wonder: a Legacy of Golden Age Magicians in New York, this event is a screening of his 1919 silent film, The Grim Game, with live piano accompaniment by Makia Matsumura. Houdini plays an intrepid young journalist framed for murder after falling in love with a winsome ingenue played by Ann Forrest. Chases, dramatic escapes, and a real mid-air plane crash are only part of the fun. Director: Irvin Willat Cast: Harry Houdini, Ann Forrest, Augustus Phillips, Tully Marshall, Arthur Hoyt Following the screening, Dorothy Dietrich, magician and co-founder of the Houdini Museum, and magician and historian Richard Cohn will discuss the making of the film, its re-discovery and restoration, and Houdini's legacy today.
   New York City, NY; NYC
6:30 pm
Free
Screenings, May 15, 2026, 05/15/2026, The Grim Game (1919): Silent Drama Film with Harry Houdini (+ Discussion)

Book Discussion | Fashion Historians & Curators Discuss Their New Book, Chanel in Vogue


Susanna Brown and Rebecca C. Tuite, authors of Chanel in Vogue, lead an in-depth look at the era of Gabrielle Chanel, her successors, Karl Lagerfeld and Virginie Viard, and the world-famous fashion illustrators and photographers, from Edward Steichen, and Helmut Newton, to Ellen von Unwerth, and many more. Susanna Brown is a writer and curator specializing in photography, fashion and portraiture. She has held curatorial positions at London's V&A and National Portrait Gallery, and is the author and editor of numerous acclaimed books. Rebecca C. Tuite is a fashion historian and writer. She is the author of 1950s in Vogue: The Jessica Daves Years 1952-1962. Books will be available for purchase. Chanel Style is highly encouraged!
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:00 pm
Free
Book Discussions, May 15, 2026, 05/15/2026, Fashion Historians & Curators Discuss Their New Book, Chanel in Vogue

Concert | Reimagining Latin Jazz With Two Influential Musical Groups 


Experience a groundbreaking concert that reimagines the Latin jazz tradition with unprecedented orchestrations of Chico O'Farrill and new works by Arturo O'Farrill. Merging the rhythm section with string textures, the performance signals the beginning of a multi-year collaboration centered on cultural innovation. Presented in partnership with Carnegie Hall, this event underscores a shared dedication to community-focused programming and artistic expression across the Americas.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Concerts, May 15, 2026, 05/15/2026, Reimagining Latin Jazz With Two Influential Musical Groups&nbsp;

Concert | Sunset Singing Circle


Singer/songwriter Terre Roche leads this singing program with the beautiful backdrop of the setting sun over the Hudson. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned crooner, the singing circle is perfect for mellow melodies and healthy harmonizing.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Concerts, May 15, 2026, 05/15/2026, Sunset Singing Circle
7:30 pm
Regular: $30
Member: $0
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Concerts, May 15, 2026, 05/15/2026, 17th- and 18th-Century Music on Period Instruments

Concert | Hypnotic Trio Plays Art-Pop Compositions with Improvisations


Brooklyn-based group Tilt offers intricate, viscerally affecting art-pop compositions that blend carefully interwoven motifs with improvisation. Composed of vocalist Isabel Crespo Pardo, vocalist/bassist Carmen Quill, and trombonist/vocalist Kalia Vandever, their melodies are chiseled at extremes, vacillating between the angular and the achingly lyrical. All three members are accomplished artists and composers, each from strong backgrounds in the jazz world. Their stunning debut LP, something we once knew, is in its own class, stylistically distinct from each player's solo work. Don't miss this symbiotic and hypnotic trio! There are two ways to access this event: 1. General Admission, first-come first-served. Just show up! 2. Fast Track opening the Monday before the event at noon.
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:30 pm
Free
Concerts, May 15, 2026, 05/15/2026, Hypnotic Trio Plays Art-Pop Compositions with Improvisations

Galleries | Upon a Machine: Indonesian Art Collective's Immersive Exhibition on Hyperreality & AI Performance


Discover a newly commissioned project by Tromarama, an Indonesian art collective known for their investigations into hyperreality and the porous boundaries between virtual and physical worlds, through a robust live performance that activates the installation. Tromarama creates immersive, multimedia environments that merge video, installation, and algorithmic processes. Marking the collective’s first institutional exhibition in the United States, this project extends Tromarama's ongoing inquiry into the blurred lines between labor and leisure through the use of artificial intelligence. Departing from earlier works that mined social media data, Tromarama will develop a new work using context conditioning to an AI model, using their personal literary and music archives. This more intimate dataset becomes a lens through which the artists examine how personal and social histories are reinterpreted and remixed by generative technologies.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free
Galleriess, May 15, 2026, 05/15/2026, Upon a Machine: Indonesian Art Collective's Immersive Exhibition on Hyperreality & AI Performance
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Complimentary Tickets

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

Performance | Piercing, Tender, and Hopeful Story

Regular Price: $59
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Classical Music | Highly-Acclaimed Orchestra Performs Tchaikovsky & More

Regular Price: $55
CFT Member Price: $0.00