13 Apr Lincoln Center’s Big Umbrella Festival is Back

Celebrating Neurodiversity with Inclusive Arts Experiences for All Ages

Featuring Performances and Activities Spanning Dance, Theater, Art, Comedy, Music, and more from Artists Across the Globe

April 10 — 26, 2026

The Big Umbrella Festival returns to Lincoln Center this spring for a multi-week series of free and choose-what-you-pay performances, workshops, and outdoor installations designed with and for the neurodiverse community. From April 10-26, the festival invites audiences of all ages to experience the arts in welcoming, accessible ways with offerings across dance, music, theater, comedy, art installations, and more.

Launched in 2018, the Big Umbrella Festival was the first large-scale performing arts festival of its kind designed specifically with neurodivergent audiences at its center. From the beginning, the festival has championed innovative, sensory-based, and interactive arts experiences that meet audiences where they are.

The Big Umbrella Festival continues to grow in scale and scope each year, welcoming thousands of New Yorkers to Lincoln Center’s campus for a wide-ranging slate of performances and activities from artists around the world. Photos and videos from past festivals are available HERE.

“The arts are central to our individual and collective wellbeing, no matter your background or lived experiences. Creating welcoming, accessible pathways to the arts for all is central to our mission,” said Shanta Thake, Ehrenkranz Chief Artistic Officer of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. “We want every audience member to feel seen and welcome at Lincoln Center, and the Big Umbrella Festival expands opportunities for everyone to experience the arts in ways that work best for them. Every year of this Festival, we have seen increased demand from across the New York area. We are deeply grateful to our audiences, as well as the artists and collaborators from around the world whose creativity and dedication help shape and elevate this work year-round.”

Location:

Lincoln Center
10 Lincoln Center Plaza
New York, NY 10023

Learn more at LincolnCenter.org/BigUmbrella.

See event details.