So much to do. Only three days to do it! But I promise this list will make you feel like you’re on vacation, even if you’re a local!
Manhattan, New York
Things to do this weekend in NYC, January 16 – January 18, 2026. There are so many things to do in New York that it would take a lifetime to complete. We scour the internet, TikTok, and Instagram as well as walk on our own two feet to find the things that not only excite and
entertain us but things we think you will enjoy as well. Whether you are on vacation here OR a local that is always looking for things to do, here’s about 30 different places that you might enjoy, despite the predictable frigid temperatures, so they say!
Where: MoMA Design Store (Midtown + SoHo) — 44 W 53rd St and 81 Spring St, New York, NY Dates: January 7 – March 28 Why go: A seasonal pop-up marketplace inspired by a classic NYC bodega, reimagined through contemporary design. Expect playful, design-forward everyday objects, limited editions, and artist collaborations that turn familiar items into collectibles
Where: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028 Dates: Last weekend (ending soon) Why go: A major exhibition exploring how ancient Egyptians viewed images of gods as living presences. Nearly 250 works—plus major international loans—show how faith, ritual, power, and the afterlife shaped Egyptian art across millennia.
Where: Museum of NY, 220 Fifth Ave (at E 103rd St), New York, NY 10029 Dates: Through January 19, 2026 (ending soon) Why go: The museum transforms into a miniature frosted NYC, with edible gingerbread creations inspired by landmarks and neighborhoods. Visitors can vote for a People’s Choice winner.
Where: ARTECHOUSE NYC (Chelsea Market), 439 W 15th St, New York, NY 10011 Dates: TBD Why go: A high-impact immersive digital art show in a dramatic, cinematic space. The exhibit features top 3D artists and music-driven visuals, turning the venue into a futuristic playground of projection, sound, and motion.
Where: The Morgan Library & Museum, 225 Madison Ave (at E 36th St), New York, NY 10016 Dates: Through February 8, 2026 Why go: A rare deep dive into Renoir’s work on paper—drawings, pastels, watercolors, prints, and select paintings, revealing his process from early studies to spontaneous sketches. 225 Madison Avenue (at East 36th Street), New York, NY 10016
Where: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, 1071 5th Ave, New York, NY 10128 Dates: October 10, 2025 – May 3, 2026 Why go: A centennial exhibition celebrating Rauschenberg’s experimental approach to materials and image-making, including the monumental Barge returning to NYC for the first time in decades.
Where: Poster House, 119 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10011 Dates: Ongoing (rotating exhibitions) Why go: The only U.S. museum dedicated entirely to posters—advertising, propaganda, and graphic design—shown through constantly rotating exhibitions. Good to know: Check the museum schedule for current shows and end dates. 119 W 23rd Street, New York, NY 10011
Where: Arte Museum, 62 Chelsea Piers, New York, NY 10011 Dates: Year-round (opened September 2025) Why go: A multi-sensory digital art experience using projection mapping, soundscapes, and scents to create immersive “nature” environments—waterfalls, flowers, oceans, and more. Good to know: Typical hours are ~10am–7pm weekdays, later on weekends/holidays (confirm before you go).
Where: Mercer Labs, 21 Dey St, New York, NY 10007 Dates: Ongoing (exhibitions change periodically) Why go: A Museum of Art and Technology built around immersive, interactive installations—projection, sound, motion-responsive visuals, and sensory environments where you become part of the work. Good to know: You can usually visit more than once and have a different experience as installations rotate.
Where: RiseNY, 160 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036 Dates: Year-round Why go: A three-part attraction combining museum-style galleries and a 4D flying theater ride “over” NYC. It starts with a film, moves through themed exhibits, and ends with a simulated flight using aerial footage and sensory effects. Good to know: Family-friendly; plan ~60–90 minutes.
Where: Multiple venues across Brooklyn + Manhattan (incl. Lincoln Center, La MaMa ETC, New York Theatre Workshop, and more) Dates: January 7 – January 25, 2026 (ending soon) Why go: America’s largest annual festival of experimental theater and performance—bold, boundary-pushing work from artists in NYC and around the world. Expect short-run productions citywide, plus symposiums, artist talks, and community events highlighting new voices and global perspectives.
Where: Studio 54 — 254 W 54th St, New York, NY 10019 Dates: Now – February 8, 2026 Why go: A modern revival of Sophocles adapted and directed by Robert Icke, staged like a tense election-night political thriller. Starring Mark Strong as Oedipus and Lesley Manville as Jocasta, with a tight, no-intermission setup that leans hard into suspense and unraveling revelations.
Where: 218 W 57th St, New York, NY 10019 Dates: Now – February 1, 2026 (closing soon) Why go: An immersive, multi-level, masked-theater experience that reimagines The Phantom of the Opera in a wander-and-discover format. You move through richly designed rooms, follow characters at your own pace, and experience a moody mix of live performance, music, and atmosphere.
Where: Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity — 337 E 74th St, New York, NY 10021 Dates: Multiple dates through spring 2026 (incl. January 22, February 12, and March 26–27, 2026) Why go: Classical programs (Vivaldi, Mozart, Bach, etc.) performed in a candlelit setting under the cathedral’s soaring dome—intimate, dramatic, and very “NYC winter night” energy.
Where:100 W 77th St, New York, NY 10024 (Upper West Side — along Columbus Ave between W 76th–77th) Dates: Sundays, year-round (about 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM) Why go: NYC’s largest and longest-running weekly flea market, with a rotating mix of ~100–220 local vendors—independent makers, vintage/antique sellers, designers, and artisanal food stands. Great for one-of-a-kind finds (vintage clothes, handmade jewelry, quirky collectibles) and easy to pair with a Central Park stroll or the nearby American Museum of Natural History. Good to know: Vendor-fee profits support four local public schools (funding enrichment and classroom resources).
Where: 30 Hudson Yards — 30 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001 Dates: Year-round Why go: A dramatic observation deck on the 100th floor, 1,131 feet above street level, with angled glass walls, a glass floor, and 360-degree views from Central Park to the Statue of Liberty. Good to know: Peak with Priceless (101st floor) is a sleek restaurant/bar with floor-to-ceiling skyline views. Insider tip: Dine at Peak and spend $65+ per person to get complimentary admission to Edge. Reservations are recommended for both.
Where: The High Line — Gansevoort St to W 34th St, New York, NY (notable works near ~30th St) Dates: Seasonal / varies Why go: A 1.45-mile elevated park built on a former rail line, packed with gardens, public art, skyline views, and great places to sit and people-watch. Good to know: Look for Big Pigeon near 30th St, plus Mountain (Pink) nearby—two standout installations that make the High Line feel like an open-air gallery.
Where: Madison Square Park — Madison Ave & E 23rd St, New York, NY 10010 Dates: Through March 15, 2026 (Larry Bell: Improvisations in the Park) Why go: A classic Manhattan park that doubles as a rotating public art space—right now featuring luminous glass sculptures that change with light and weather. Good to know: The park also hosts seasonal projects (including past plant-based works like “Gardens of Renewal”). Bonus: great dog run, and it’s the original home of Shake Shack.
Where: Park Avenue, Murray Hill — visible roughly from E 34th St to E 38th St (easy walk south from Grand Central) Dates: TBD / not sure how long they’ll stay Why go: A fun, photogenic street-level installation—worth a short detour if you’re in the Grand Central area. Good to know: Best as a quick walk-by stop; bring your camera if you like street photography.
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