“As reliable as the tide but considerably less predictable, a deep dive into the sheer volume of events scheduled for Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s River To River Festival will leave your head swimming with ways to soak in this annual genre-blurring, boundary-bursting celebration of dance, music, theater, and visual art.”
–Downtown Express
The 2026 River To River Festival
Downtown New York City’s summer arts festival is back, with events from July to September in Lower Manhattan and on Governor’s Island. Now in its 25th year, the River To River Festival celebrates artistic and creative diversity across disciplines, with live performances and exhibitions.
Find the full 2026 River To River Festival lineup here.
About The River To River Festival
Presented by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC), the River To River Festival is Downtown New York City’s completely free summer arts festival, celebrating artistic and creative diversity across disciplines, and presenting live art and installation in public spaces and in partnership with leading institutions in Lower Manhattan.
History of River To River
River To River was created in the aftermath of 9/11 with the intention to heal and celebrate New Yorkers’ resiliency through to the power of art. For almost 20 years, this principle has been the driving force behind this unique festival, totally free and open to all.
The festival has always been a celebration of what is possible when artistic creativity, cultural institutions, civic bodies and corporate entities come together in mutual support, and we recognize the importance of this ecosystem to the health, vibrancy and future of our city.
Past Festivals
2025 Festival
May 31 - October 26
The 24th annual River To River Festival, featured 23 events activating spaces throughout Lower Manhattan, with an expanded programming window from May 31 to October 26, 2025.
2024 Festival
June 7-23
The 2024 River To River Festival explored themes of resonance, reconsideration, and resistance.
2023 Festival
June 9-19
The 2023 River To River Festival explored themes of reclamation, resistance, and interconnectivity.
2022 Festival
June 12–26
Festival artists looked to nature, ritual, and metaphysical wonders to offer a hopeful perspective on the future of public space.
2021 Festival
June 10-27
This edition offered audiences new ways of seeing and opportunities for profound connection—with the artists themselves, with New York City as it emerges from a pandemic, and with each other.
2020 Festival
July-September
LMCC reimagined River To River, inviting four artists who explore social practice to create new works for New Yorkers as we navigated these uncharted waters together.
2019 Festival
June 18-29
The 2019 festival encouraged the discovery of what arises when we all slow down.
2018 Festival
June 15-24
The 2018 edition celebrated New York City’s historic and geographic breadth, while looking to the future of the city in its multiplicity of voices and perspectives.
Sponsorship
Funding for the 2026 River To River Festival is provided by The NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Howard Gilman Foundation, Lily Auchincloss Foundation, and The Robert Lehman Foundation. River To River is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Additional funding for Leslie Wayne: The Unintended Blues is provided by The Deborah Buck Foundation, Morgan Stanley Blue Rider Group and New York State Council on the Arts Support for Artists Grant. Additional funding for esperanza spalding: In Concert is provided by Battery Park City Authority. Additional funding for the Bill T. Jones project is provided by Battery Park City Authority, The National Endowment for the Arts, and Harkness Foundation for Dance.
Sponsorship Opportunities
For corporate and media sponsorship inquiries, please contact Chris Kam, Director of Marketing & Communications at ckam@lmcc.net.