OHNY Weekend Reveals Secrets of the City, October 16-18

September 18, 2026—Want to go underground and explore the active construction of the Second Avenue Subway? Or peek inside the studio of iconic 20th century artist Roy Lichtenstein? Or stand on the stage of a 4,000-seat Bronx theater inspired by a 16th century Italian Baroque Garden?

Soon, you can.

From October 16 to 18, Open House New York Weekend (OHNY Weekend) offers the chance to see and tour 300-plus destinations across all five boroughs. Since 2003, Open House New York has produced the festival, which taps architects, engineers, historians, curators, and more to give everyday New Yorkers a glimpse into the spaces they create and work in.

“Open House New York Weekend offers a choose-your-own-adventure approach to exploring the city, including places that are typically off-limits to the public,” said Kristin LaBuz, executive director of Open House New York. “From secret rooftop gardens to landmark lobbies, this festival truly gives New Yorkers a hall pass to be a tourist in their own backyard.”

The full 2026 OHNY Weekend lineup will be revealed on September 25, 2026.

More than half of the festival is fully free and open to the public — no tickets required, and visitors can just show up during open hours. Select tours require tickets for safety and security reasons. These tickets are released online on October 2 at noon.

New OHNY Weekend sites

• MTA Second Avenue Subway Phase 2: Underground look at the tunnel excavation and station building that will transform transit access and reliability in East Harlem
• Paradise Performing Arts Center: 4,000-seat theater on the Grand Concourse, built in 1929 as one of the five Loew's Wonder Theatres
• Monumental Labs: Cutting-edge stone carving facility where industrial robots and skilled artisans transform raw stone into intricate architectural details
• Industrious at 190 Bowery: Gritty downtown landmark and former bohemian residence, now a modern office offering public access for the first time
• Roy Lichtenstein Studio: Rarely accessible studio of an iconic 20th-century artist
• DSNY District 3 Garages and Office: State-of-the-art sanitation facility with innovative architecture and sustainability features (green roof, solar panels) that support 24/7 operations
• 3 Times Square: Iconic Times Square skyscraper with hospitality-inspired amenities, an award-winning engine room, and panoramic Midtown views from an outdoor terrace
• 77 Water Street: Office-to-luxury residential conversion in Lower Manhattan
• Flatiron Building at Dusk: Striking LED light display illuminates the landmark’s ornate facade and recent renovation
• Interborough Express Walking Tour: Future light rail route designed to connect Brooklyn and Queens
• William Ulmer Brewery: Landmark 19th-century Bushwick brewery with vaulted cellars
• 20 Exchange Place: Newly renovated Art Deco landmark with a stunning outdoor terrace

Returning festival favorites:

• 610 Loft & Garden and 620 Loft & Garden at Rockefeller Center: A rooftop garden oasis with a view of St. Patrick’s Cathedral known for hosting swanky private parties
• New York Sign Museum at Noble Signs: Over 50 vintage signs, from neon pieces to bodega awnings, rescued from across the city
• Surrogate’s Courthouse: A Beaux-Arts masterpiece with grand marble staircase, zodiac mosaics, and lavish courtrooms, steps from City Hall
• BookOps: Home of the nation’s largest public library book sorter, where millions of books are acquired, processed, and distributed for two major library systems
• Collectors Office at the Alexander Hamilton US Custom House: A monument of Gilded Age executive luxury, featuring intricate carved nautical motifs and rich oak millwork designed by Tiffany Studios
• Ford Foundation: A lush, verdant atrium stands at the center of the nonprofit’s sublime office
• Woolworth Building: A five-and-dime-store magnate used only cash to build this ornately Gothic “cathedral of commerce” in 1913
• Yankee Ferry: An Ellis Island vessel turned into a palatial floating home
• Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch at Grand Army Plaza: A 1892 tribute to Civil War veterans that just emerged sparkling from an $8.9 million restoration
• La Bodega NY Studios: A Bronx recording studio and soundstage with a life-size replica of a city street
• Jack Shainman Gallery: A legendary art dealer’s new space in Tribeca’s iconic Clock Tower Building
• Colossal Media Paint Shop: Working warehouse with rows of meticulously organized pigments, massive grid scaffolds, and towering canvas tests for creating large-scale hand-painted murals
• Con Edison East River Generating Station: Historic power facility on East 14th Street where electricity and high-pressure steam are produced and delivered to the city
• Hildreth Meière's "Red Room" at Printemps New York: A shimmering Art Deco landmark adorned with 8,000 square feet of red and gold glass mosaic tiles
• Vanderbilt University - New York City: Recently opened campus with intricate stonework, vaulted ceilings, and stunning stained glass

Open House New York was founded after 9/11 by a grassroots group of architects, led by Scott Lauer, who believed the openness of our shared urban fabric is the foundation of civil society. Since the first OHNY Weekend festival in 2003, Open House New York has made thousands of significant spaces and hidden-gem spots across all five boroughs accessible to the public with the goal of inspiring civic dialogue, increasing community engagement, and fostering a deeper understanding of the city's built environment. More than 50,000 people participate in the festival each year.