Looking for a fun new cultural activity but not sure what to check out next? We’ve rounded up some of the highlights that you can experience for free this month with Culture Pass, from new exhibition openings to limited-run live performances. Check back each month for a new set of recommendations!
You can learn more about individual exhibitions and events by clicking the links in the blurbs below, but if you want to book a Culture Pass, click here to return to the homepage and log in with your library card to make a reservation.
July 2026
All offers listed below are subject to availability.
EVENT: Celebrate the Fourth of July at Fraunces Tavern
Date: 7/4
Fraunces Tavern Museum will have its traditional Open House on Independence Day. The open house is being coordinated with the major national event, Sail4th 250, a parade of ships in New York Harbor. The SRNY Color Guard will participate in the Lower Manhattan Historical Association’s Independence Day Parade, and at 2:30 pm, the Museum is hosting its “It Happened Here” lecture highlighting The Passing of Three Presidents—John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe—all of whom died on July 4th.
EXHIBITION: Discover the Cultural Legacy of African Modernism at MoMA
Date: Opening 7/5
During the unprecedented period of liberation and decolonization across Africa, many dreamed of a continent with a boundless future. Ghana gained independence from British rule in 1957, and in 1960—often called the Year of Africa—17 nations struggling for self-determination achieved political autonomy. This upheaval ushered in a boom in cultural production and experimentation in visual art, dance, and music. Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, the first major museum exhibition to examine the role of architecture in shaping this historic change, will open at the Museum of Modern Art this month.
PERFORMANCE: Jam Out at Flushing Town Hall
Date: 7/8
The Jazz Jam All-Stars Concert returns to Flushing Town Hall this month! Featuring ten outstanding musicians chosen from the talented musicians who regularly perform at the Jazz Jam, this stellar lineup performing on sax, guitar, piano, trumpet and voice include: Angela Arthur (vocals), Richard Braithwaite (tenor sax), Gary Davis (guitar, vocals), Richie Desimone (upright bass), Terrence Dove (piano, vocals), Jason Greenberg (piano), Joe Knipes (guitar), Ken Meyer (saxophone), Keeley Mitchell (vocals), Gerald Thomas (bass/piano/sax).
EVENT: Enjoy a Fun Family Activity at the Cooper Hewitt
Dates: 7/8, 7/15, 7/22, 7/29
Every Wednesday this month, drop into the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum for a special summer series of Family Programs to learn about design together through fun and interactive ways! This series celebrates the museum's exciting new collections exhibition, Design Across Time, which includes significant works newly brought out of storage for expanded public access. Programs will highlight the themes of Play, Collaborate, Prototype, and Iterate.
PERFORMANCE: Take Part in a Kuba Festival at BMHC
Date: 7/17
The Bronx Music Heritage Center will host a Kuba Festival as part of their ongoing Bronx Rising! series. This multidisciplinary cultural festival will celebrate the music and art of the Congo, recognizing the Congo’s participation in the World Cup finals for the first time since 1974. Outdoor activities and an evening concert by Nkumu Katalay are included.
GAME: Earn Prizes With Summer Bingo at the AKC Museum of the Dog
The AKC Museum of the Dog has created a new BINGO challenge for dog-loving New Yorkers of all ages. Use the bingo board to spark some creativity with dog-themed activities all summer long and earn up to three small souvenir prizes as you complete lines of five on the board. Finish all of the prompts and turn your board in at the Museum to enter a drawing for a larger prize at the end of summer!
EXTENDED HOURS: Catch the Breeze off the Hudson at Wave Hill
Looking for the perfect place to spend a summer evening? The resplendent gardens of Wave Hill are open late until 8pm on Fridays this month, taking advantage of the longer days and giving visitors more time to relax and enjoy the warm weather. Take in stunning views of the Hudson River and watch the golden hour light play out across the Palisades.