Things To Do in NYC in May 2026 include: Cinco de Mayo celebrations, Frieze Week contemporary art fairs, Dance Parade, DanceAfrica, BIG Salsa Festival, Summer for the City, and more.
May 2026 ~ Week 1-3 | 4-10 | 11-17 | 18-24 | 25-31
May is a transitional month from the school and cultural season into NYC’s summer outdoor rhythms. May’s U.S. national holiday is Memorial Day Weekend, the popular start of summer which includes many summer festivals.
Cinco de Mayo and Mother’s Day are popular May holidays. May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The Indigenous Peoples of the Americas came from Asia. Chinese and South Asians came to work after abolition. After building the western end of the Transcontinental Railroad, Chinese built the railroads in the Caribbean before mostly blending in. South Asians are the largest ethnic group in Trinidad and Tobago. Japanese added their flavors to Brazilian and Peruvian cuisine. Easter Island is part of Chile. There is DNA, plant (sweet potato), and linguistic evidence (same words) of contact between Eastern Polynesians and Ancient Latin Americans, specifically the Zenú people of Colombia.
It’s also Haitian Heritage Month, and for Catholics, the Month of Mary.
May weather is late spring. It’s comfortably warm. Average temperature is 54° – 72°. It’s one of our favorite months of the year because weather patterns bring big fluffy clouds up from the Caribbean. They make the best backdrop for New York City.
Latin Things to do in NYC in May 2026
ART
DANCE
Latin Dance
- Latin Mondays NYC salsa @ 5th and Mad ~ Mondays 🇨🇴 🇨🇺 🇩🇴 🇵🇦 🇵🇪 🇵🇷 🇻🇪
- Tango La Nacional @ La Nacional ~ Thursdays 🇦🇷
- El Destino tango @ Solas ~ Sundays 🇦🇷 🇺🇾
FESTIVALS
FILM
MUSIC
- Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra @ Birdland ~ Sundays 🇨🇺
SPORTS
THEATRE
Things To Do in NYC in May 1-3, 2026
Friday, May 1, 2026
Saturday, May 2, 2026
Sunday, May 3, 2026
Argentine Tango Dance Party
El Destino milonga draws some of NYC’s best Argentine tango dancers to dance tango nuevo at Solas Bar in Manhattan’s East Village; on Sundays with an intermediate lesson from 5-6pm, a guided práctica from 6-7pm, and dancing until 11pm. From $20. 🇦🇷 🇺🇾
Latin Jazz
Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra plays Latin jazz at Birdland jazz club in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan; on Sundays at 8:30pm & 10:30pm (Doors 7:30pm & 10pm). From $36 + per person minimum. 🇨🇺
Things To Do in NYC in May 4-10, 2026
Monday, May 4, 2026
Big Band Hot Jazz
Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks play big band vintage jazz in the Birdland Theater at Birdland jazz club in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan; on Mondays at 5:30pm (4:30pm doors) & 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). From $25. 🇮🇹
Salsa Dance Party
Latin Mondays NYC by Talia Castro-Pozo, one of NYC’s most popular salsa dance parties, is at 5th&Mad in Murray Hill, Manhattan; on Mondays. Doors open with DJs at 5pm. Salsa lesson at 7pm. Live music for dancing at 9pm and 11pm with DJs and dance shows until late. From $13. 🇨🇴 🇨🇺 🇩🇴 🇵🇦 🇵🇪 🇵🇷 🇻🇪
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Vintage Hot Jazz
Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks play vintage vintage jazz in the Birdland Theater at Birdland jazz club in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan; on Tuesdays at 5:30pm (4:30pm doors) & 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). From $25. 🇮🇹
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Argentine Tango Dance Party
Tango La Nacional, New York City’s most traditional and longest-running milonga (tango dance party), is at La Nacional, the old Spanish social club in Chelsea, Manhattan; on Thursdays, with an intermediate lesson at 7pm, dancing at 8pm, gets busy at 9pm, performances around 11pm, and “El Choclo” (last dance) around 2am. $25. 🇦🇷
Friday, May 8, 2026
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Sunday, May 10, 2026
Argentine Tango Dance Party
El Destino milonga draws some of NYC’s best Argentine tango dancers to dance tango nuevo at Solas Bar in Manhattan’s East Village; on Sundays with an intermediate lesson from 5-6pm, a guided práctica from 6-7pm, and dancing until 11pm. From $20. 🇦🇷 🇺🇾
Latin Jazz
Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra plays Latin jazz at Birdland jazz club in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan; on Sundays at 8:30pm & 10:30pm (Doors 7:30pm & 10pm). From $36 + per person minimum. 🇨🇺
Things To Do in NYC in May 11-17, 2026
Monday, May 11, 2026
Big Band Hot Jazz
Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks play big band vintage jazz in the Birdland Theater at Birdland jazz club in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan; on Mondays at 5:30pm (4:30pm doors) & 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). From $25. 🇮🇹
Salsa Dance Party
Latin Mondays NYC by Talia Castro-Pozo, one of NYC’s most popular salsa dance parties, is at 5th&Mad in Murray Hill, Manhattan; on Mondays. Doors open with DJs at 5pm. Salsa lesson at 7pm. Live music for dancing at 9pm and 11pm with DJs and dance shows until late. From $13. 🇨🇴 🇨🇺 🇩🇴 🇵🇦 🇵🇪 🇵🇷 🇻🇪
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Vintage Hot Jazz
Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks play big band hot jazz in the Birdland Theater at Birdland jazz club in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan; on Tuesdays at 5:30pm (4:30pm doors) & 8:30pm (7:30pm door). From $25. 🇮🇹
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Argentine Tango Dance Party
Tango La Nacional, New York City’s most traditional and longest-running milonga (tango dance party), is at La Nacional, the old Spanish social club in Chelsea, Manhattan; on Thursdays, with an intermediate lesson at 7pm, dancing at 8pm, gets busy at 9pm, performances around 11pm, and “El Choclo” (last dance) around 2am. $25. 🇦🇷
Friday, May 15, 2026
Saturday, May 16, 2026
Sunday, May 17, 2026
Argentine Tango Dance Party
El Destino milonga draws some of NYC’s best Argentine tango dancers to dance tango nuevo at Solas Bar in Manhattan’s East Village; on Sundays with an intermediate lesson from 5-6pm, a guided práctica from 6-7pm, and dancing until 11pm. From $20. 🇦🇷 🇺🇾
Latin Jazz
Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra plays Latin jazz at Birdland jazz club in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan; on Sundays at 8:30pm & 10:30pm (Doors 7:30pm & 10pm). From $36 + per person minimum. 🇨🇺
Things To Do in NYC in May 18-24, 2026
Monday, May 18, 2026
Big Band Hot Jazz
Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks play big band hot jazz in the Birdland Theater at Birdland jazz club in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan; on Mondays at 5:30pm (4:30pm doors) & 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). From $25. 🇮🇹
Salsa Dance Party
Latin Mondays NYC by Talia Castro-Pozo, one of NYC’s most popular salsa dance parties, is at 5th&Mad in Murray Hill, Manhattan; on Mondays. Doors open with DJs at 5pm. Salsa lesson at 7pm. Live music for dancing at 9pm and 11pm with DJs and dance shows until late. From $13. 🇨🇴 🇨🇺 🇩🇴 🇵🇦 🇵🇪 🇵🇷 🇻🇪
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Vintage Hot Jazz
Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks play big band hot jazz in the Birdland Theater at Birdland jazz club in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan; on Tuesdays at 5:30pm (4:30pm doors) & 8:30pm (7:30pm door). From $25. 🇮🇹
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Thursday, May 21, 2026
Argentine Tango Dance Party
Tango La Nacional, New York City’s most traditional and longest-running milonga (tango dance party), is at La Nacional, the old Spanish social club in Chelsea, Manhattan; on Thursdays, with an intermediate lesson at 7pm, dancing at 8pm, gets busy at 9pm, performances around 11pm, and “El Choclo” (last dance) around 2am. $25. 🇦🇷
Friday, May 22, 2026
Saturday, May 23, 2026
Sunday, May 24, 2026
Argentine Tango Dance Party
El Destino milonga draws some of NYC’s best Argentine tango dancers to dance tango nuevo at Solas Bar in Manhattan’s East Village; on Sundays with an intermediate lesson from 5-6pm, a guided práctica from 6-7pm, and dancing until 11pm. From $20. 🇦🇷 🇺🇾
Latin Jazz
Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra plays Latin jazz at Birdland jazz club in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan; on Sundays at 8:30pm & 10:30pm (Doors 7:30pm & 10pm). From $36 + per person minimum. 🇨🇺
Things To Do in NYC in May 25-31, 2026
Monday, May 25, 2026
Big Band Hot Jazz
Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks play big band hot jazz in the Birdland Theater at Birdland jazz club in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan; on Mondays at 5:30pm (4:30pm doors) & 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). From $25. 🇮🇹
Salsa Dance Party
Latin Mondays NYC by Talia Castro-Pozo, one of NYC’s most popular salsa dance parties, is at 5th&Mad in Murray Hill, Manhattan; on Mondays. Doors open with DJs at 5pm. Salsa lesson at 7pm. Live music for dancing at 9pm and 11pm with DJs and dance shows until late. From $13. 🇨🇴 🇨🇺 🇩🇴 🇵🇦 🇵🇪 🇵🇷 🇻🇪
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Vintage Hot Jazz
Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks play big band hot jazz in the Birdland Theater at Birdland jazz club in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan; on Tuesdays at 5:30pm (4:30pm doors) & 8:30pm (7:30pm door). From $25. 🇮🇹
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Thursday, May 28, 2026
Argentine Tango Dance Party
Tango La Nacional, New York City’s most traditional and longest-running milonga (tango dance party), is at La Nacional, the old Spanish social club in Chelsea, Manhattan; on Thursdays, with an intermediate lesson at 7pm, dancing at 8pm, gets busy at 9pm, performances around 11pm, and “El Choclo” (last dance) around 2am. $25. 🇦🇷
Friday, May 29, 2026
Saturday, May 30, 2026
Sunday, May 31, 2026
Argentine Tango Dance Party
El Destino milonga draws some of NYC’s best Argentine tango dancers to dance tango nuevo at Solas Bar in Manhattan’s East Village; on Sundays with an intermediate lesson from 5-6pm, a guided práctica from 6-7pm, and dancing until 11pm. From $20. 🇦🇷 🇺🇾
Latin Jazz
Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra plays Latin jazz at Birdland jazz club in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan; on Sundays at 8:30pm & 10:30pm (Doors 7:30pm & 10pm). From $36 + per person minimum. 🇨🇺