Free in New York

82 things that cost nothing, checked by hand. Free means free to attend. A lottery is a maybe — even one whose tickets are free — so every lottery lives on the Lottery Desk instead.

TV tapings · 11

Audience seats cost nothing — networks do not sell them. You request tickets on the show's own page, and each row says how. Shows currently between seasons are on the Lottery Desk with the date they return.

  • Free to attend

    Good Morning America (Times Square)

    Just turn up · via abc.com
    Official page, Good Morning America (Times Square) tickets on the official site
    How to get in

    What to do: Join the live broadcast from the street on weekdays at Broadway and 44th Street — outdoor viewing, no request system.

    Who can go: None stated

    What it costs: Nothing. Tapings are free, and anyone asking you to pay for one is not the show.

    Last checked:

  • Free to attend

    Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

    Lottery · via lastweektickets.com
    Official page, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver tickets on the official site
    How to get in

    What to do: Weekly lottery opens Tuesday 3 PM ET at lastweektickets.com — one entry, duplicates disqualify; winners emailed. Tapes Saturday 5 PM at the CBS Broadcast Center, 530 W 57th St; arrive 90 minutes early; standby line forms ~3:10 PM.

    Who can go: 18+; first-time attendees only; NYC-area resident or visiting that week; government ID

    What it costs: Nothing. Tapings are free, and anyone asking you to pay for one is not the show.

    Last checked:

  • Free to attend

    Late Night with Seth Meyers

    Free ticket requests · via nbc.com (1iota)
    Official page, Late Night with Seth Meyers tickets on the official site
    How to get in

    What to do: Free 1iota requests; each month's tapings released about a month ahead; waitlist then email confirmation. Standby cards at the Shop at NBC Studios 8 AM–1:30 PM day of show. Tapes Monday–Thursday evenings.

    Who can go: 16+

    What it costs: Nothing. Tapings are free, and anyone asking you to pay for one is not the show.

    Last checked:

  • Free to attend

    Live with Kelly and Mark

    Free ticket requests · via livewithkellyandmark.com (1iota)
    Official page, Live with Kelly and Mark tickets on the official site
    How to get in

    What to do: Free 1iota requests via the show's site. Airs live around 9 AM weekdays from 7 Hudson Square (enter at 281 Spring St). No ticket? Standby numbers from 7 AM day-of; seated first-come after ticketed guests.

    Who can go: Under 10 not permitted; under 18 with an adult

    What it costs: Nothing. Tapings are free, and anyone asking you to pay for one is not the show.

    Last checked:

  • Free to attend

    Saturday Night Live (season lottery)

    Lottery · via nbc.com
    Official page, Saturday Night Live (season lottery) tickets on the official site
    How to get in

    What to do: Annual email lottery, August 1–31 only: send ONE email per household to snltickets@nbcuni.com during the window — no date choice; winners are drawn throughout the season and receive two tickets to an assigned dress (8 PM) or live (11:30 PM) show.

    Who can go: 16+; photo ID required

    What it costs: Nothing. Tapings are free, and anyone asking you to pay for one is not the show.

    Last checked:

  • Free to attend

    Saturday Night Live (standby)

    Standby line · via nbc.com
    Official page, Saturday Night Live (standby) tickets on the official site
    How to get in

    What to do: Digital standby reservation opens Thursday 10 AM ET of show week; in-person check-in Friday 6–7 PM at the NBC marquee on W 49th St with ID; cards issued ~12:01 AM Saturday, one per person; a card is not admission until you are seated in Studio 8H.

    Who can go: 16+ strictly, even with a parent

    What it costs: Nothing. Tapings are free, and anyone asking you to pay for one is not the show.

    Last checked:

  • Free to attend

    The Daily Show

    Free ticket requests · via thedailyshow.com (1iota)
    Official page, The Daily Show tickets on the official site
    How to get in

    What to do: Free tickets via 1iota, released in rolling batches a few weeks ahead. Tapes Monday–Thursday evenings in Hell's Kitchen. Overbooked by design — a confirmed ticket does not guarantee a seat if you arrive late.

    Who can go: 18+

    What it costs: Nothing. Tapings are free, and anyone asking you to pay for one is not the show.

    Last checked:

  • Free to attend

    The Kelly Clarkson Show

    Free ticket requests · via kellyclarksonshowtickets.com (1iota)
    Official page, The Kelly Clarkson Show tickets on the official site
    How to get in

    What to do: Free 1iota requests via kellyclarksonshowtickets.com while tapings continue at 30 Rock.

    Who can go: 18+

    What it costs: Nothing. Tapings are free, and anyone asking you to pay for one is not the show.

    Final season — Season 7 airs through fall 2026, then the show ends; retire this row when taping stops

    Last checked:

  • Free to attend

    The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

    Free ticket requests · via tonightshowtix.com (1iota)
    Official page, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon tickets on the official site
    How to get in

    What to do: Free requests via tonightshowtix.com (1iota): dates released in batches about a month out; join the waitlist and watch for the email confirmation. Day-of standby cards at the Shop at NBC Studios from 8 AM.

    Who can go: 16+

    What it costs: Nothing. Tapings are free, and anyone asking you to pay for one is not the show.

    Last checked:

  • Free to attend

    TODAY (Rockefeller Plaza)

    Just turn up · via today.com
    Official page, TODAY (Rockefeller Plaza) tickets on the official site
    How to get in

    What to do: No tickets needed: the plaza is free and first-come on weekday mornings. Arrive around 6:15 AM, enter near 35 W 48th St. Standing room only, security screening, rain or shine.

    Who can go: None stated

    What it costs: Nothing. Tapings are free, and anyone asking you to pay for one is not the show.

    Last checked:

  • Price not published

    Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

    No public tickets · via bravotv.com
    Official page, Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen tickets on the official site
    How to get in

    What to do: There is no general public ticket path — Bravo's own guide says there is "no real way" to get tickets. Audience access happens through Bravo Insider sweepstakes and occasional charity auctions.

    Who can go: 18+ US residents (Insider terms)

    What it costs: Nothing. Tapings are free, and anyone asking you to pay for one is not the show.

    Last checked:

Every taping we track, on the Lottery Desk →

Free events this week · 3

Parades, festivals and free concerts on the next 7 days of the board. Each one appears once, whatever number of days it runs.

Free places · 12

Parks, gardens and one indoor atrium with no admission charge. These are places rather than events — nothing starts, so each row leads with whether you can go now and what its own page says about its hours.

Every place we track, priced and free →

Markets · 56

Free to walk into, every one of them. Days, hours and seasons come from each market's own page, re-checked every week.

Filters

What kind of market

Showing 56 of 56 markets. Greenmarket days, hours and seasons come from GrowNYC's own page for each market, and we re-check them every week.

Manhattan26 markets

Brooklyn19 markets

Queens6 markets

Bronx3 markets

Staten Island2 markets

Every entry here is checked by hand — oldest check .