Mavis Staples, De La Soul Lead Packed NYC SummerStage 40th Anniversary Lineup

The City Parks Foundation in New York City has announced the official lineup and schedule for the Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage concert series, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026.

Unveiled on Tuesday (April 28), the lineup includes a slate of groundbreaking artists, including Mavis Staples, De La Soul, Spoon, Laurie Anderson, and Angélique Kidjo. Additional acts set to appear at variou shows over the course of the summer include Bilal, MIKE’s Young World with Max B, Julieta Venegas, Edem, Black Country, New Road, Horsegirl, Shabaka, Kokoroko, Trueno, Luedji Luna featuring Liniker, Shaggy, WayV, and Charlie Aponte.

The concerts will take place primarily at SummerStage’s flagship venue, Rumsey Playfield in Central Park. But shows will also be held at other parks around New York City, including Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem, Tompkins Square Park in the East Village, Herbert Von King Park in Brooklyn, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, and Crotona Park in the Bronx. Performances will also take place in Staten Island, with the official site to be determined at a later date.

“I am thrilled to announce our 2026 SummerStage lineup and mark our momentous 40th anniversary,” Heather Lubov, Executive Director of City Parks Foundation, stated in a press release.

“This season’s exceptional mix of artists truly embodies why Summerstage has become such a beloved music destination for the past four decades, and reflects our city’s rich cultural diversity. We are excited to continue the tradition of bringing memorable live performances to NYC’s parks and celebrating our communities.”

The theme of the SummerStage’s 40th anniversary celebration is to “honor the past and future,” with special events and websites highlighting landmark moments and performances since SummerStage’s launch in 1986.

Joe Killian, SummerStage founder and City Parks Foundation board member, marveled at the growth and impact that the annual event has had on the local community over the past four decades.
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“Forty years ago, I had a simple idea: that world-class music and performing arts belonged to everyone, not just those who could afford a ticket. Four decades later, I’m genuinely moved by what SummerStage has meant to our city and what we helped build together with our fans,” Killian, who will be honored with the SummerStage Icon Award, said in a statement.

“SummerStage has been the cultural backbone of NYC since 1986, bringing artists from across the globe to share their sounds and stories with our neighbors in their local parks. We’ve curated bold commissions, unexpected collaborations, and showcased rising stars, and New York has shown up every single time. The tremendous loyalty and support from SummerStage’s fans is the fuel that keeps us going. As we step into this 40th season, I’m not just proud of where we’ve been, but I’m also excited for the moments still to come.”

Rafael Espinal, Commissioner of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, echoed those sentiments, highlighting SummerStage’s role in giving New Yorkers access to live entertainment in their own communities.

“We’re proud to support SummerStage by presenting two free shows this season. This is what New York does best, world-class music in our parks, open to everyone,” he said. “At a time when affordability is a real challenge, live music shouldn’t be a luxury, it’s essential. It supports audiences, and it supports the artists and crews who keep this city’s music scene alive.”

The opening night of the Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage concert series will take place June 10, and feature a performance by Grammy Award-winning singer Ledisi in association with Blue Note Jazz Festival.
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Other standout SummerStage events include The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series (June 15), Duck Down Music’s 30th anniversary celebration of Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C. (July 9), a Bastille Day celebration (July 12), The Latin Alternative Music Conference (July 29), Funk Flex’s Birthday R&B Picnic (August 7), The Soapbox Presents: Run It Back, The Art of the Sample Vol. II (August 22), and The Charlie Parker Jazz Festival (August 28-30).

See the full Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage here.