free things to do in New York City
Free events for Monday, 01/26/26
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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 January 26, 2026?

22 free events take place on Monday, January 26 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 26 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.
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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!

22 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Monday, January 26, 2026

All events are free unless otherwise noted.

Editor's Picks

free events nyc Evening Light and Sound Experience
free events nyc Cello Works by Beethoven, J.S. Bach, & More (In Person AND Online!)
free events nyc Explore Memorial Museum and Reconnect with History
free events nyc Dance Works-in-Progress
free events nyc Works by Ravel & More for Flute and Piano
More Editor's Picks for 01/26/26
        

Workshop | Start the Day with Morning Meditation


Start your day by balancing your mind, body, and spirit during instructor guided meditation. This renowned practice lowers blood pressure, reduces stress, and strengthens the immune system.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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9:45 am
Free

Workshop | Lunchtime Meditation (in-person and online)


The sessions are non-denominational and will focus on the basics: meditation to quiet the mind, to focus the quiet mind, using the focused mind for analysis, and using the focused mind to create and uphold a positive vision of and outlook on the world. Other more specific uses of meditation may be discussed however the class is meant for all, beginners and those with a regular practice.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:15 pm
$7

Screening | Looking for Horses (2021): Documentary about Unlikely Friendship (+ Filmmaker Discussion/Q&A)


Enjoy a screening and Q&A with filmmaker Stefan Pavlovic to discuss his film Looking for Horses. Looking for Horses is a film about a friendship between a filmmaker and a fisherman who, after losing his hearing in a war, retreat to a remote lake to live in near solitude. The filmmaker, himself struggling with speech and a fractured sense of belonging, finds in the fisherman both a guide and a mirror. Despite their limitations, a bond forms as the fisherman opens his world to the young man—a world of giant catfish, wild horses, vast silences, and sudden storms. For one, the lake is a refuge from a broken land; for the other, it is a way back toward it. As they search for ways to communicate, the camera becomes their shared language. Taking the form of a gentle western, Looking for Horses is a poetic documentary about trauma, survival, and the fragile work of connection. Director: Stefan Pavlovic
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free

Party | Fiber/Textile Arts Meetup


Are you a knitter? Do you like to crochet? Maybe you like a different type of fiber art? Whichever it is, bring your supplies and lose yourself in the meditative world of creating art with fiber. Invite your friends, or make new connections there. This is a meet-up, not a class.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free

Festival | Evening Light and Sound Experience


Until February 17th, explore a unique light-and-sound installation after dark. Enjoy the vibrant city energy, with entertainment and special offers from local businesses, turning your visit into a full evening out.
   New York City, NY; NYC
5:00 pm
Free

Discussion | Experts Explore Elements of Dance in Cinema


Experience a conversation between filmmaker Frederick Wiseman and dance critic Jennifer Homans about the dance elements in his films, with excerpts and discussion ranging from Boxing Gym and Basic Training to Ballet and La Danse.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free

Museums | Historical and Modern Design Spanning Centuries


The museum is dedicated to showcasing the history, influence, and importance of design in everyday life. Housed in a historic mansion, the museum features a diverse collection of design objects, including decorative arts, architecture, graphic design, textiles, and industrial design.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
pay-what-you-wish from 5pm...

Film | The Last of the Mohicans (1992): Epic Historical Drama War Film with Daniel Day-Lewis


Three Mohican trappers agree to protect the daughters of a British Colonel in the midst of the French and Indian War. Based on the novel by James Fenimore Cooper. Director: Michael Mann Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeleine Stowe, Jodhi May Daniel Day-Lewis is an English actor often described as one of the preeminent actors of his generation. He received numerous accolades throughout his career, which spanned over four decades, including three Academy Awards for Best Actor, making him the first and only actor to have three wins in that category.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:30 pm
Free

Classical Music | Cello Works by Beethoven, J.S. Bach, & More (In Person AND Online!)


Cellist Noa Lia Mogle performs three pieces by composers from various musical periods. Program: J.S. Bach (1685-1750) Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012 Witold Lutoslawski (1913-1994) Sacher Variation for Solo Cello Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827) Sonata No. 4 for Cello and Piano in C Major, Op. 102
   New York City, NY; NYC
5:30 pm
Free

Museums | Explore Memorial Museum and Reconnect with History


Reconnect with the feeling of community and cohesion that blanketed our city and nation in the wake of 9/11. This is a monument to human dignity, courage, and sacrifice, this museum honors the nearly 3,000 people killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993, recognizes the courage of those who survived, and salutes those who risked their lives to help others.
   New York City, NY; NYC
5:30 pm
Free

Lecture | From Fieldwork to the Digital World: Rethinking Folk Heritage


Discover how Hungarian folklore research is evolving in the digital age. This presentation looks at how fieldwork, archives, and traditional knowledge are being transformed into open-access resources, making folk heritage more accessible worldwide. The discussion highlights how digital tools can extend, rather than replace, long-standing methods of cultural transmission, ensuring continuity while opening new paths for global engagement. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Learn & Practice Chess with an Expert


Learn to play chess or develop your strategies with chess expert Tamar Chanadiri from the Marshall Chess Club. Participants are encouraged to attend all sessions, as each one builds on the previous. Bring a friend or join on your own--all levels and ages are welcome! Chess sets are provided but you're welcome to bring your own. From 6-7 PM Tamar will provide instruction for beginner-level players. From 7-8 PM there will be open play for all levels.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Move, Groove, and Sweat to 2000s Classics


Get moving in this high-energy dance fitness class that combines cardio, choreography, and fun. Groove to 2000s R&B, reggaeton, and pop hits while building strength and confidence. No dance experience is required. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Reading | CANCELLED: NYT Journalist Shares His New Book, Dining Out: First Dates, Defiant Nights, and Last Call Disco Fries at America's Gay Restaurants


In this conversation about Dining Out: First Dates, Defiant Nights, and Last Call Disco Fries at America's Gay Restaurants, author Erik Piepenburg takes us on a culinary tour of spaces filled with joy, sex, sorrow, activism, and nostalgia, joined by colleagues from the food world Florent Morellet, Telly Justice, and Camille Lindsley. Dining Out explores how gay people came of age, came out, and fought for their rights not just in gay bars or the streets, but in restaurants. From cruisy urban cafeterias of the 1920s to mom-and-pop diners that fed the Stonewall generation to the intersectional hotspots of the early 21st century. Using archival material, original reporting and interviews, and first-person accounts, Erik Piepenburg explores how LGBTQ restaurants shaped and continue to shape generations of gay Americans.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free

Lecture | Expert Discusses Sokrates & the Athens Agora


In collaboration with the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, lecturer John K. Papadopoulos, Director of Excavations at the Athenian Agora, discusses Sokrates while providing an update on some of the great philosopher's favorite and less favored haunts in the Agora, a commercial and political centre in Athens during the Classical period dating back approximately five thousands years. There are very few ancient individuals with the name recognition of Sokrates. Not bad for a person who never wrote anything! Papadopoulos reviews the life and death of this complex, avuncular character, visiting some of his favorite haunts in the Agora -- the Stoa of Zeus Eleutherios, the House of Simon the Cobbler, amongst others -- as well as some of his less favored including the putative "state prison." In so doing, new evidence will be presented and older perspectives reviewed, providing a greater understanding of this fascinating, seminal figure in Western thought.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free

Dance Performance | Dance Works-in-Progress


A high visibility low-tech forum for experimentation, emerging ideas, and works-in-progress held in the Fall and Spring seasons. Artists are selected by a rotating committee of peer artists.
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Retro Music Dance Fitness


Come dance to classic pop tunes: Top 40, Disco, Electronic and more! This class is 45 minutes of peppy beats to enhance your cardio conditioning. A low-impact and fun workout; it is open to any fitness level. Let's dance away blue Monday! Instructor: Patricia Collins
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Book Discussion | Unsung Acts of Defiance: Stories of Resistance Across the Nazi Era (Online!)


Explore powerful but often overlooked stories of those who stood up to Nazism, from artists risking their lives to satirize the regime, to individuals who infiltrated Nazi ranks to expose atrocities, to investigators who uncovered former Nazis decades later. The discussion traces how resistance took many forms across generations and what these acts reveal about confronting extremism today. The author,  Dr. Luke Berryman, a scholar of Holocaust history and founder of a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening Holocaust education, offers insight into the courage and complexity behind these remarkable efforts.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Classical Music | Works by Ravel & More for Flute and Piano


Flutist Rebecca Moranis and pianist Joseph Vaz present a concert featuring the New York City premiere of three works for flute and piano, alongside works by Maurice Ravel and Claude Vivier.
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:30 pm
Free

Classical Music | Bassoon Works by Saint-Saens & More (In Person AND Online!)


Bassoonist Robert Thompson performs a series of pieces by composers from various musical periods. Program: Henri Büsser (1872-1973) Cantilène et Rondeau, Op. 75 Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921) Sonata for Bassoon and Piano, Op. 168 Jean Françaix (1912-1997) Deux Pièces Pour Basson et Piano Valerie Coleman (1970-) Afro-Cuban Concerto
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free

Classical Music | Cello Works by Tchaikovsky, Felix Mendelssohn, Cesar Franck, & More (In Person AND Online!)


Cellist Lucas Chen performs a series of pieces by composers from the Classical period through today. Program: Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) Lied ohne Worte (Songs Without Words), Op.109 Chihchun Chi-sun Lee (1970-) Goan e Koa Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) Pezzo capriccioso, Op.62 Cesar Franck (1822-1890) (arr. for Cello by Jules Delsart) Sonata in A Major for Violin and Piano
   New York City, NY; NYC
8:00 pm
Free

Performance | Entirely New, Audience-Inspired, Episode of The Office


Join the audience for a fully improvised episode inspired by the hit TV series The Office and shaped by viewer suggestions. Watch a new workplace storyline unfold live as performers riff on classic characters, creating scenes and drama in real time. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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9:00 pm
$5.98, reservation required...
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Complimentary Tickets

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

Classical Music | Choral Works by Mendelssohn and More at a Landmark Venue

Regular Price: $50
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Other | Uplifting Interactive Experience

Regular Price: $84
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Musical | Broadway Actors in a Musical

Regular Price: $45
CFT Member Price: $0.00