New York City knows how to throw a party. Every year, one of the most beloved outdoor food festivals in the country returns to the heart of Manhattan. On Wednesday, September 9, 2026, the streets of Times Square will fill with the smell of sizzling food, the sound of live music, and the energy of thousands of hungry visitors from all over the world. Whether you are a longtime New Yorker or visiting the city for the first time, this is one evening you will not want to miss.
This complete visitor guide covers everything you need to know. From the schedule and location to the food, tickets, restaurants, and insider tips, read on and start planning your night out.
What Is the Taste of Times Square?
The Taste of Times Square is one of New York City’s longest-running outdoor food festivals. It is organized each year by the Times Square Alliance, a nonprofit organization that promotes and manages the Times Square neighborhood. The event celebrates the remarkable variety of restaurants that call this iconic district home.
The festival gives visitors a rare chance to sample dishes from more than 30 neighborhood restaurants, all in one outdoor setting, for just a few dollars per taste. It is part food festival, part street party, and part neighborhood celebration all rolled into one unforgettable evening.
The event is presented by The Durst Organization and supported by major sponsors including ATG Entertainment, BXP, Morgan Stanley, The Shubert Organization, and SL Green Realty Corp. Tourism media support is provided by City Guide. Together, these partners help make the festival one of the most polished and well-organized food events in the city.
Date, Time and Location
The 2026 edition takes place on Wednesday, September 9, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. This year marks a notable change from tradition. The event has historically been held on a Monday evening, but 2026 will be the first time it moves to a Wednesday. The reason is a thoughtful one. By holding it midweek, the organizers aim to delight theatergoers and performers during the gap between Broadway matinees and evening shows.
Tom Harris, President of the Times Square Alliance, explained it this way: hosting the event on a Wednesday allows the festival to bring together audiences and Broadway performers at the crossroads of the world in an entirely new way.
The festival stretches along 46th Street, also known as Restaurant Row, from 7th Avenue to 9th Avenue. It also covers the Broadway Plazas between 45th and 47th Streets. This layout gives the event a wide, walkable footprint that allows visitors to move freely between food tents, entertainment zones, and dining areas.
Additionally, the location is incredibly well connected. Visitors can reach the festival by subway, bus, or on foot from almost any part of Manhattan. The nearest subway stations include Times Square-42nd Street, served by the 1, 2, 3, 7, A, C, E, N, Q, R, and W trains.
How Tickets and Pricing Work
One of the best things about this festival is how simple and affordable it is to attend. There is no single entry ticket required to access the event space. Instead, visitors purchase a wristband and link it to their credit or debit card. This wristband then becomes your payment method throughout the evening.
Most food samples, or “tastes,” are priced at just five dollars. A small number of items are priced at ten dollars. These are not tiny nibbles either. Many participating restaurants offer generous portions that give you a real sense of what their kitchen can do.
Advance ticket buyers get an extra benefit. Purchasing your wristband before the event through TSQ.org/Taste saves you 20 percent compared to buying on the day. Therefore, if you are planning to attend, buying in advance is highly recommended. It saves money and means you can get straight to eating when you arrive, without stopping at a registration line.
On-site wristband registration is also available at the event for those who prefer to pay on the night.
The Restaurants: A World of Flavors in One Block
The culinary lineup at the 2026 festival is genuinely impressive. Over 30 restaurants are confirmed to participate, representing cuisines from around the world. Mexican, Caribbean, Cuban, Italian, Indian, American barbecue, seafood, and beyond are all on the menu. Few food festivals in New York can match this kind of diversity in such a compact space.
Some of the most well-known restaurants returning to the festival include:
- Bond 45, an Italian-American steakhouse and Times Square landmark, located at 221 West 46th Street
- Brooklyn Chop House Times Square, renowned for its creative American steakhouse fare
- Carmine’s, a beloved family-style Italian restaurant famous for its enormous portions
- Ellen’s Stardust Diner, a retro diner at 1650 Broadway where singing servers perform Broadway hits tableside
- Hard Rock Cafe New York, one of the most recognized names in the Times Square dining scene
- Havana Central, serving vibrant Cuban food and high-energy Latin music
- Jasmine’s Caribbean Cuisine, a neighborhood staple at 371 West 46th Street offering bold island flavors
- Junior’s Restaurant at 1626 Broadway, famous citywide for its legendary New York cheesecake
- Lagos TSQ at 727 Seventh Avenue, bringing West African fusion to the festival
- Le Rivage, a classic French bistro at 340 West 46th Street
- Mermaid Oyster Bar Times Square, offering fresh seafood in a lively setting
- Palermo Argentinian Bistro at 373 West 46th Street, serving quality steaks and Latin flavors
- Planet Hollywood at 136 West 42nd Street, a theatrical dining experience with an entertainment twist
- Serendipity 3, known for its frozen hot chocolate and whimsical desserts
- Spice Symphony, serving rich and fragrant Indian dishes
- Tony’s Di Napoli Restaurant, another beloved Italian option with family-style service
- Virgil’s Real Barbecue, delivering slow-smoked American BBQ in the heart of Midtown
- And many more establishments from the neighborhood’s famed Restaurant Row and surrounding streets
The full and final list of participating restaurants can be found at TSQ.org/Taste. The organizers note that the restaurant lineup is subject to change and additions, so checking the website closer to the date is always a good idea.
Live Entertainment: More Than Just Food
The Taste of Times Square is not only a food festival. It is also a celebration of live music and performance. Several participating restaurants bring their own entertainment to the outdoor event, creating a vibrant atmosphere that fills the entire street.
Returning favorites include Ellen’s Stardust Diner’s Stardusters, a group of Broadway performers who deliver show-stopping musical numbers in the open air. Havana Central brings its signature Latin energy to the street with Salsa performances by Sonido Costeño. Jasmine’s Caribbean Cuisine provides a steel pan player and live band that immediately transports you to the islands. Lagos TSQ’s West African Fusion DJ adds another musical dimension to the evening.
Together, these performances create a festival atmosphere that goes well beyond a standard food fair. You are not simply standing in a line waiting for your next bite. You are moving through a living, breathing street celebration.
Additionally, the 2026 event benefits from its Wednesday timing. Broadway Week runs from September 8 to 20, offering 2-for-1 tickets to select Broadway shows. This means the festival sits right in the middle of one of the most exciting theater weeks in the city. Visitors can enjoy the festival between a matinee and an evening performance, making September 9 a genuinely special evening for anyone who loves both food and theater.
A New Wednesday Format: What Changes and What Stays the Same
The shift from Monday to Wednesday is the biggest structural change in this year’s event, and it is worth understanding what it means for your visit.
The good news is that the core experience remains identical. The same outdoor setting on Restaurant Row, the same wristband system, the same mix of food, music, and community energy. However, the midweek timing does add some useful advantages.
Midweek evenings in Times Square tend to have slightly more manageable crowd levels than the busiest Monday evenings have seen in previous years. Additionally, if you are combining the festival with a Broadway show, the Wednesday schedule aligns perfectly with both the matinee and evening performance times. Many theaters run their midweek matinees in the early afternoon, giving you time to grab your seats before heading to the festival at 4:00 PM.
Therefore, a well-planned itinerary for September 9 might look like this: catch a Broadway matinee in the early afternoon, head to the festival from 4:00 to 8:00 PM, and then either attend an evening performance or explore the rest of Times Square’s nightlife with a full stomach.
Visitor Tips for a Great Evening
Getting the most out of the festival takes a little preparation. Here are some practical suggestions to help you enjoy the night to its fullest.
Arrive early. The festival runs from 4:00 to 8:00 PM, and the most popular food tents tend to draw the longest lines in the middle hours. Arriving at or shortly after 4:00 PM gives you a chance to sample more restaurants before the evening crowd builds.
Wear comfortable shoes. You will be walking and standing on city streets for several hours. Good footwear makes a real difference by the end of the night.
Buy your wristband in advance. As mentioned, advance purchases at TSQ.org/Taste save you 20 percent. It takes only a few minutes and removes one step from your arrival routine.
Bring a light jacket. September evenings in New York can turn cool, especially once the sun goes down after 7:00 PM.
Follow the hashtag. Joining the conversation on social media using the official hashtag, #TasteTSq, is a great way to see what others are eating, find out which tents are drawing the most attention, and share your own experience in real time.
Plan your route. The event spans several city blocks. Looking at the restaurant map on the official website before you arrive helps you navigate efficiently and ensures you do not miss any dishes you were excited about.
Getting There: Transit and Accessibility
Times Square is one of the best-connected locations in all of New York City. By subway, the Times Square-42nd Street station serves more train lines than almost any other stop in the system, including the 1, 2, 3, 7, A, C, E, N, Q, R, and W trains. The Port Authority Bus Terminal is also just a short walk away for those coming from New Jersey or other parts of the region.
Taxis, rideshare services, and the city’s bike-share program all operate in the area. However, driving and parking in Midtown Manhattan during a busy event evening is not recommended. Public transit is by far the fastest and most stress-free option.
The Broadway Plazas and Restaurant Row are pedestrian-friendly spaces, and the festival layout is designed to be accessible for visitors with mobility needs.
Conclusion
The Taste of Times Square 2026 is shaping up to be one of the best editions yet. On Wednesday, September 9, from 4:00 to 8:00 PM, more than 30 restaurants will take to the streets of Restaurant Row and the Broadway Plazas to serve up an extraordinary range of food from around the world. Cuisines spanning Italian, Caribbean, Cuban, Indian, American BBQ, French, West African, and beyond will all be available for just five or ten dollars per taste. Live entertainment from performers including Broadway’s Stardusters, Latin bands, Caribbean musicians, and DJs will fill the air between every bite.
The switch to a Wednesday evening makes this year’s event a natural pairing with Broadway Week, adding another layer of excitement for theater lovers visiting the city. With advance wristbands available at a 20 percent discount through TSQ.org/Taste, there has never been a better reason to show up early and stay for every last bite. Come hungry, plan ahead, and prepare for one of New York City’s most beloved outdoor food nights.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where does the 2026 festival take place?
The festival takes place on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. It is held on 46th Street and Restaurant Row between 7th Avenue and 9th Avenue, and on the Broadway Plazas between 45th and 47th Streets in Times Square, Manhattan.
How do I buy tickets and how much do they cost?
There is no single entry ticket. Instead, you purchase a wristband linked to your credit or debit card. Most food samples are priced at five dollars, with a few at ten dollars. Buying in advance at TSQ.org/Taste saves you 20 percent off the on-site price.
Which restaurants are participating in 2026?
Over 30 restaurants are confirmed, including Bond 45, Carmine’s, Ellen’s Stardust Diner, Hard Rock Cafe New York, Havana Central, Jasmine’s Caribbean Cuisine, Junior’s Restaurant, Lagos TSQ, Serendipity 3, Spice Symphony, Tony’s Di Napoli, Virgil’s Real Barbecue, and many more. The full and most current list is available at TSQ.org/Taste.
Why is the event on a Wednesday this year instead of Monday?
This is the first time the festival has moved to a Wednesday. The Times Square Alliance made the change to align the event with Broadway matinee and evening performance schedules, giving theatergoers and performers the chance to enjoy the festival between shows during Broadway Week, which runs September 8 to 20, 2026.
Is the event suitable for families and children?
Yes, absolutely. The festival is an outdoor, family-friendly event open to visitors of all ages. The wide pedestrian areas, diverse food options, and live entertainment make it a fun and welcoming environment for everyone. Children are welcome, and the affordable pricing makes it easy to let younger visitors sample a wide variety of dishes.
