NYC DOT Seeks Partners For 2026 Summer Streets, Car-Free Earth Day Events

NEW YORK CITY — New York City Department of Transportation is looking for programming partners as it begins shaping its yearly Summer Streets and Car-Free Earth Day events.

DOT invites performers, fitness professionals, nonprofits, artists and community-based organizations to participate in these citywide events.

“From Summer Streets to Car-Free Earth Day, our citywide events are a celebration of this city, its people, and the full potential of our streets as collective public spaces,” New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn, said. “I encourage every artist, performer, and community-based organization interested in participating in these iconic events to reach out and help us make this year’s events unforgettable experiences.”

Summer Streets is an annual celebration where miles of NYC’s streets are open in both directions for people to play, walk, and bike while taking a break at the rest stops along the route to enjoy free activities.

Partners must submit separate application forms for each event. Forms for Car-Free Earth Day should be completed by March 6th while forms for Summer Streets are due by June 26th.

Programming partners will need to provide their contact information, the type of activity they will provide, any materials they will need, and their preferred boroughs to participate in.

In addition, NYC DOT Art invites eligible professional artists to submit proposals for new or existing art installations to be considered for display at Car-Free Earth Day or Summer Streets events in 2026.

The selected artists for Car Free Earth-Day will create a one-day art installation and may receive up to $10,000. The selected artists for Summer Streets will create art installations to be displayed on at least two dates and may receive up to $20,000 to cover project-related costs.

Large-scale installations with potential to be displayed at all Summer Streets events (spanning multiple weekends) may be eligible for a budget of up to $50,000.

Artists are encouraged to submit proposals via the Signature Events Art Interventions Request for Proposals 2026 on Submittable. Artist have until Feb. 11 to apply.

Businesses, nonprofit and community-based organizations and performers can visit nyc.gov/summerstreets and nyc.gov/carfreenyc to learn more.