{"id":37171,"date":"2026-05-20T03:34:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T03:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/?p=37171"},"modified":"2026-06-10T10:59:37","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T10:59:37","slug":"new-nyc-experiences-and-exhibits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/new-nyc-experiences-and-exhibits\/","title":{"rendered":"10 New NYC Experiences and Exhibits To Try in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of the best things about New York is that there\u2019s always something new to do. Done the Statue of Liberty<\/a>, the Met, Central Park, and Times Square? There\u2019s more, and undoubtedly it’s something you\u2019ve never done before and could only do here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Case in point are the 10 experiences below. They\u2019re fairly new, including a museum that just opened (see #2) and a limited-run exhibit closing in August (see #5). They\u2019re all thoroughly New York, from theater to art to food and more. And they’re all right here in Manhattan, easy to add to your next NYC adventure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. ‘Masquerade\u2019 reimagines the Phantom<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Credit: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After a 35-year run on Broadway, the lights went down on \u201cThe Phantom of the Opera\u201d for a final time in 2023. But they rose again September 2025 for something new: “Masquerade<\/a>,” hailed as the world\u2019s first immersive musical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The show begins with a glass of champagne and an invitation to join the masquerade. You’ll be wearing a mask yourself (one is provided if you don\u2019t have your own) as you enter the Opera Populaire. Much like in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s original, you soon learn there’s a mysterious ghost wreaking havoc on the French opera company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But this time, you’re not in your seat. In the tradition of New York’s best immersive theater, you walk through the scenes and among the characters, up and down stairs and escalators, following as the actors beckon. It’s always clear where to go, and the plot is linear, unraveling the famous tale of obsession and genius, with a few twists and flourishes thrown in that still remain true to the story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Credit: Andy Henderson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This experience is much more intimate than a Broadway musical ever can be. You step through the \u201cswirling mist\u201d and hear the strains of the violin at your elbow. Perhaps the Phantom himself will take your hand and lead you apart. In some moments, the audience is broken into smaller groups. In one such, we were ushered into Christine Daa\u00e9\u2019s dressing room. As she sang, the soprano locked eyes with me, pleading, praying, her fear before her coming trial almost palpable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, like the Broadway musical, it’s the talent that makes the show. When the Phantom in his perfect baritone commands, \u201cSing for me,\u201d and Christine hits her highest note \u2014 and you are only steps away \u2014 the dramatic effect is almost dizzying. You too will fall under the spell of the Phantom of the Opera during an unforgettable evening you could only have in New York. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Arte Museum now open<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Credit: Arte Museum<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Something else wonderful debuted on the New York art scene last September. A multisensory experience themed for “Eternal Nature,”\u00a0Arte Museum<\/a> fuses tech and art to create over a dozen installations you can walk through and, often, interact with. In one, I traced my hand along a wall and butterflies followed in my wake. In another, I colored a phoenix and watched it come to life on the screen above me, red and yellow wings flapping.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The highlight exhibit is “Arte Museum x Mus\u00e9e d’Orsay” \u2014 a digital recreation of the French museum\u2019s best works by Monet, Degas, and more, larger than life and fused with movement and sound. Elsewhere, you’ll stand in an endless waterfall, see yourself refracted in an infinity room hung with glowing paper lanterns, and feel the rush of wind as a tornado churns beside you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For tourists, \u201cNew York is Art\u201d is an especially fun exhibit, showing the rise of the city across centuries and boroughs and featuring many of the landmarks you’ll see (or want to see) on your trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Credit: Arte Museum<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You can upgrade your ticket to add on the Art Cafe, which I highly recommend. It includes a drink (I loved the foam-topped tea and zero-proof mojito) with an animated character that appears in your cup as the table transforms into a colorful, moving landscape. Instagrammers will appreciate being able to customize their own message in the scene, but even if you just sip and chill, it’s a relaxing way to wind down your visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Summit One Vanderbilt premium tours<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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In a skyline that\u2019s always changing, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt opened in 2021. It’s currently the only observation deck offering immersive art alongside stunning views (though even that is set to change this June when Edge unveils its own set of indoor installations).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SUMMIT also recently launched their premium experiences<\/a> where you can enjoy a guided tour inside the attraction, including skip-the-line access and admission during in-demand sunset hours. This is the finale of our two-part premium private Skyscrapers & Summit Guided Experience<\/a>, and it’s a splurge-worthy way to discover Midtown’s most defining architecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIncludes your ticket to the SUMMIT One Vanderbilt observatory!<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Race to the Sky: NYC Architecture Tour<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

But even without the premium upgrade, SUMMIT is a must for your NYC visit. This one-of-a-kind skydeck boasts 360-degree panoramas of the city visible from floor-to-ceiling windows. You’ll be walking over 1,000 feet above Madison Avenue on three floors (91st to 93rd) as you experience the skyline from new perspectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first two floors are the showstoppers. The lower of these is filled with mirrors everywhere \u2014 floors, walls, ceiling \u2014 creating unique reflections of the skyline against the sky in its various moods: sunny blue, cloud gray, sunset orange. The next level features multiple installations. There’s a piece by the famous Yayoi Kusama titled \u201cClouds,\u201d all-glass skyboxes so you can step out onto New York with just your group, and a room of more reflections, this time as effervescent balls that spin around you on gusts of air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The top floor, home to the outdoor terrace, gift shop, and cafe, has one more immersive experience if you upgrade: Ascent, an elevator ride 1,210 feet in the air. The window-lined elevator pauses at the top so you have plenty of time for photos before beginning your descent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to time your visit for sunset, I recommend getting in line no more than two hours early. Peak days may vary, and it all depends on how many selfies you snap, but we started at 5:30 p.m. on a Thursday in May and were at the third floor by around 7, with sundown still over an hour away. I’d also recommend doing sunset photos from the mirrored 91st floor. This is the one that glows golden, reflecting the sky. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you do get to the top floor with time to spare, the caf\u00e9 is nice. Along with themed cocktails, the menu has a solid lineup of surprisingly affordable dinner options (several around $15, consistent with what we’d seen around the city), so we grabbed a couple drinks and a sandwich and settled in at one of the tables by the window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To see Midtown from the sky and the streets, take our NYC Architecture Tour<\/a>. It concludes with a visit to SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, but you’ll also explore the skyline from ground level, with stories to entertain you along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. New cuisine at Olly Olly Market<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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I maintain that food halls are an immersive experience. Food is art, after all, as anyone who\u2019s worked in the culinary arts will tell you, and the best markets let you sample a variety, making it more than just a one-and-done meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is exactly what Olly Olly Market<\/a> offers. Opened late 2022, the market is conveniently located in Chelsea, walking distance to Little Island, Arte Museum, and the High Line. They have three new additions to their space this year: Moonburger, which has great vegan options too; Nikkei-ish, specializing in Peruvian-Japanese cuisine, such as their lomo saltado bento box; and Honey Pie Pizza, selling pizza whole and by the slice \u2014 pro tip: get it with truffle honey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Entrance<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The trio joined an already impressive lineup of restaurants. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n