The New Colossus Festival is a March independent rock showcase and conference in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. It’s a stop for international bands on their way to SXSW.
The New Colossus is a reference to the Statue of Liberty and its famed poem “The New Colossus” (1883) by Emma Lazarus (“Give me your tired, your poor…”). The original is in the American Jewish Historical Society in Chelsea, Manhattan.
New Colossus Festival 2026
The New Colossus Festival 2026 presents almost 200 emerging global rockers in Lower East Side Manhattan rock clubs, especially opening night host Pianos and closing night host Arlene’s Grocery; from Tuesday-Sunday, March 3-8, 2026. From $20. Festival and Pro passes are available. 🇦🇷 🇦🇼 🇨🇦 🇨🇴 🇫🇷 🇲🇽 🇵🇪 🇵🇹 🇵🇷 🇪🇸
Bad Tomato plays Portuguese alt-rock in the Pianos Showroom on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 10:45pm. 🇵🇹
A Latin Lens Showcase features American acts at Sour Mouse on Friday, March 6, 2026:
A Spanish Wave Showcase is at Baker Falls on Saturday, March 7, 2026:
There’s also
- activemirror from Aruba. 🇦🇼
- Alix Fernz, from Montréal, Canada. 🇨🇦
- Choses Sauvages, from Montréal, Canada. 🇨🇦
- Ditch Days from Lisbon, Portugal. 🇵🇹
- Hause Plants from Lisbon, Portugal. 🇵🇹
- Midscale from Paris, France. 🇫🇷
- Prism Shores from Montréal, Canada. 🇨🇦
- SamWoy from Montréal, Canada. 🇨🇦
- Sean Nicholas Savage from Montréal, Canada. 🇨🇦
- Shallow from Montréal, Canada. 🇨🇦
- Shunk from Montréal, Canada. 🇨🇦
- Sunset Images from Mexico City, Mexico. 🇲🇽
- Surma from Lisbon, Portugal. 🇵🇹
There are many French-Canadian rockers. Glad they are still willing to visit us.
Get Tickets
Single show tickets are available at the venues. Festival ($150) and Pro ($250) Badges are available.