New York In April 2026 - Weather, Things To Do & Events

Last Updated on 4th January 2026

This New York in April travel guide contains affiliate links.

Are you looking for tips on the best things to do in NYC during spring? Perhaps you’re just wondering about the average temperature in New York in April or maybe you’re looking for some of the best April events in New York City? This huge NYC April travel guide has got you covered with everything you need to know!

Spring will have officially commenced in New York by the time April rolls around and as cherry blossom season gets underway, there is so much joy and happiness to be discovered in the city during the month of April.

The city should be quieter than the previous month of March as there are fewer events occurring in April in NYC and as it’s just before the busy summer months, you should be able to enjoy the magic of the city without too many crowds.

If you’re looking for some of the best things to do in NYC in spring, then you’ve come to the right place as my huge guide below covers all the best April NYC events, things to do, what you can expect from the weather and more!

Still need help planning your trip to NY in April? Get a copy of my Ultimate New York City Travel Guide Ebook which has over 300 pages of useful tips and recommendations! You can also join my free New York Facebook Group for more travel tips, advice and inspiration for visiting New York City all year round!

Check out my other NYC monthly guides here:

Is April a good month to visit New York?

April is a great time to visit New York City! With spring officially underway in the Big Apple, there’s an exciting promise of warmer weather and longer days blossoming in the air and as April is still in the shoulder season, it’s actually a relatively affordable time to visit.

The shoulder season month of April means that hotels are often cheaper and many of the top tourists sights and attractions are usually still quite quiet, before the hectic summer season begins just a few weeks later.

The cherry blossom trees are also usually in full bloom in April and the weather gets much warmer and brighter, meaning that you’ll have plenty of time to experience the magic of spring in NYC!

If you’re thinking of planning a trip to New York City in April, the guide below will tell you everything you need to know!

New York in April weather

According to the Weather Spark website, the average temperature in New York in April ranges from around 13°C to 19°C (55.4°F to 66.2°F), however it can also get as cold as 5°C (41°F) or as warm as 25°C (77°F).

While the start of April can certainly still see cooler temperatures, from mid-April, the temperatures really start to become a lot warmer and definitely more enjoyable as the city says a final farewell to the harsh winter weather!

The Weather Spark website is my go-to resource for historical weather data for countries and cities all over the world, including NYC.

Does New York get snow in April?

The chance of snowfall in New York in April is extremely low, although it isn’t actually completely unheard of!

Snow days usually stop in mid-March, so you’re very unlikely to get snow if you’re visiting New York City in April; for better chances of snow in NYC, head there in January or February!

However, there is almost a constant chance of rain in NYC in April, with the chance sitting around 29% a day, every day of the month! Of course, this stat doesn’t mean that it will rain all day, every day in April, it just means that there is around a 29% chance that it might rain even a tiny bit every day (even if it’s just 1mm!).

Things to do in New York in April 2026

As I mentioned above, April is a great month to visit New York as the weather starts to improve (even if there is chance of rain!) and there are usually fewer crowds to contend with, meaning that you can enjoy many of the top spots without swarms of tourists (although, it is still New York City, so you can usually expect a crowd regardless of when you visit!).

In the section below, I’ve compiled a list of some of the best things to do in New York in April!

See the cherry blossoms

Seeing the stunning cherry blossom trees is undoubtedly one of the most magical things to do in NYC in April and while the dates of the cherry blossom trees obviously vary each year, if you’re visiting the city in April, you’ll likely have a good chance of seeing at least a few trees around the city!

While Central Park is often considered to be the best place to see the cherry blossoms in NYC, there are actually numerous spots all around the city where you can enjoy a spot of leaf-peeping, including:

Brooklyn Botanical Garden
Central Park
Roosevelt Island
New York Botanical Garden, Bronx
Brooklyn Heights’ Cadman Plaza Park
Prospect Park in Park Slope
Queens Botanical Garden
Green-Wood Cemetery

You can check the “Cherrywatch” page on the Brooklyn Botanical Garden website and the Cherry Blossom Tracker on the Central Park website for updates on all the flowers blooming this spring!

Rowboat rentals from the Boathouse in Central Park

If you’re already in Central Park trying to find some of the city’s best blooms, you might also want to pay a visit to the Central Park Boathouse (formerly known as Loeb Boathouse) where you can hire boats to row around The Lake.

Rowboat rentals start at $25 an hour and they are usually open every day from the beginning of April until October, from 10 AM to 6.30 PM (often later during the summer months).

Find out more on the Central Park Boathouse website.

Smorgasburg food market

Enticing more than 2 million foodies each year, Smorgasburg is the largest weekly open-air food market in America, with markets in Los Angeles, Miami and, of course, New York!

The name “Smorgasburg” is a mash-up of “smorgasbord” and “Williamsburg” (where the first NYC location was held). This year, Smorgasburg has markets at the Oculus at the World Trade Center, at the original Williamsburg waterfront location, and at Breeze Hill in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.

The iconic food market opens on the first week of April 2026 and will operate every weekend at the above locations until the last weekend of October, so if you’re a foodie visiting New York for the first time, Smorgasburg is the perfect place to delve into some of NYC’s delicacies!

Smorgasburg New York City dates and venues for 2026:

Fridays – The Oculus at the World Trade Center, Fulton St & Church St.
Saturdays – Williamsburg, Marsha P. Johnson State Park, 90 Kent Ave, Brooklyn.
Sundays – Prospect Park, Breeze Hill, Lincoln Road, Brooklyn.

Washington Square Park

Washington Square Park is one of the best free things to do in NYC in April as it doesn’t cost a penny to visit this iconic park in Greenwich Village.

Located just next to New York University, Washington Square Park has always been one of my favourite outdoor spaces in the city, ever since I first watched buskers performing in the park back in April 2016! Since then, I always make it a habit to return to WSP to see what’s going on and if you have a trip planned to NYC in April, I would encourage you to do the same!

Hop on Hop off Bus Tour

With fewer crowds and (slightly!) better weather in April, a Hop on Hop off Bus Tour is a great way to get a good feel for the city, especially if it’s your first time in New York!

The open-top tour bus takes you all around the highlights of New York City (depending on exactly which loop you take) and it’s a lovely activity to enjoy on a beautiful spring day, either with family, as a couple or even as a solo traveller!

Book a Hop on Hop off Bus Tour in NYC here!

New York observation decks

Of course, New York’s observation decks can (and should!) be enjoyed at any time of the year, but as the weather starts to improve throughout the month of April, it’s a good idea to visit one of the city’s tallest buildings to enjoy spectacular views of NYC from above.

Whether you opt for the immersive observation deck experience at Summit One Vanderbilt or you’d prefer to see more of Downtown Manhattan from the vantage point of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, New York has numerous observation decks to choose from!

Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Cruise

Another activity that can certainly be experienced all year-round, but one that’s arguably more enjoyable as the weather starts to improve is a cruise to see the infamous Lady Liberty and Ellis Island.

There are several ways to see the Statue of Liberty, but I personally think the best option is to visit Liberty Island and Ellis Island on a cruise so that you can see the iconic statue up close and also learn about the fascinating history of the Ellis Island Immigration Museum!

NYC events in April 2026

As well as the many fun things to do in NYC, there are also several events happening in the city in April that will hopefully coincide with your visit so that you can experience fun and quirky events such as the Tartan Day Parade, the Macy’s Flower Show and the New York International Auto Show.

NYC Tartan Week & National Tartan Day Parade – 11th April 2026

National Tartan Day was declared by the U.S. Senate in 1998 to recognise and honour the “outstanding achievements and contributions made by Scottish Americans to the United States.”

On the 5th of April, after numerous Scottish-themed celebrations and events over the course of “Tartan Week”, the NYC Tartan Day Parade brings together thousands of Highland dancers, bagpipers, Scottish dogs and more as they march along Sixth Avenue in front of thousands of onlookers.

The first parade took place in 1999, led by actor Cliff Robertson, who marched from the British Consulate to the UN. Today, the Tartan Day Parade is still going strong and if you’re in NYC during the event, you should definitely head along to Sixth Avenue to see some of the parade highlights!

Visit the NYC Tartan Week website for more information.

Macy’s Flower Show – 2026 dates tbc

Hosted at the department store’s world-renowned Herald Square flagship location, the beloved Macy’s Flower Show usually takes place over the course of two weeks from the end of March to the beginning of April.

The displays at this fancy flora festival are completely free to visit and while it might not be the most thrilling April event in NYC, it is worth checking out if you’re nearby as some of the showcases, created in collaboration with Dior, are absolutely stunning!

Head to the Macy’s website for more information.

New York International Auto Show – 3rd to 12th April 2026

The New York International Auto Show brings tens of thousands of motor enthusiasts together over the course of ten days. The Auto Show has been held in NYC for more than a century and aims to showcase everything that the automobile industry has to offer, both in the present and in the future.

Originally opened in November 1900 and hosted at the original Madison Square Garden venue, the New York Auto Show is a must-visit for car enthusiasts.

You can buy tickets online and general admission tickets start at just $22 for adults and $8 for children aged 3-12.

New York Knicks games at Madison Square Garden

There are still a few more NY Knicks games left before the 2025-2026 basketball season concludes on the 13th of April. Check out some of the remaining fixtures below!

Knicks vs Chicago Bulls – 3rd April 2026
Knicks vs Boston Celtics – 9th April 2026
Knicks vs Toronto Raptors – 10th April 2026
Knicks vs Charlotte Hornets – 12th April 2026

New York Rangers ice hockey at MSG

If ice hockey is more your thing, there are still five home games left to play for the New York Rangers at their home venue of Madison Square Garden before the season finishes on the 16th of April 2026.

New York Rangers vs Montreal Canadiens – 2nd April 2026
New York Rangers vs Detroit Red Wings – 4th April 2026
New York Rangers vs Washington Capitals – 5th April 2026
New York Rangers vs Buffalo Sabres – 8th April 2026

New York Yankees Baseball at Yankee Stadium – multiple dates in April 2026

The start of April also marks the beginning of baseball season in the USA and there are more than a dozen home games for the New York Yankees at their infamous stadium in the Bronx.

If you happen to be in the city on one of the dates that they’re playing, there’s few things more iconic than watching a New York Yankees baseball game!

The Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden – 7th February to 26th April 2026

If you’re in NYC in April, you can still get tickets to the Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden where you can admire extravagant displays of orchids. The theme in 2026 is MexicanModernism and it’s an experience like no other, with both traditional and contemporary art forms, complete with astonishing displays of orchid artistry.

This year’s show runs from mid-February to the end of April and you can get tickets for the event on the NYBG website.

Easter Parade and Easter Bonnet Festival – 20th April 2026

Easter in New York is such a lovely occasion, and it’s made even more enjoyable on Easter Sunday when the city hosts the annual Easter Bonnet Festival and Parade.

The parade begins near St. Patrick’s Cathedral at around 10 AM and takes place along Fifth Avenue. You can join in with the fun and don your stylish/most extravagant hat, or you can simply just enjoy watching the festivities.

Brooklyn Half Marathon – 26th April 2026

While most tourists visiting New York in April won’t want to take part in any extreme forms of exercise, you can still enjoy cheering locals on in the Brooklyn Half Marathon which takes place at the end of the month.

The run begins in North Brooklyn, then continues along the waterfront where runners (and spectators!) can enjoy dramatic views of the Williamsburg, Manhattan, and Brooklyn Bridges. Runners will then head into Downtown Brooklyn, towards Fulton Street and Flatbush Avenue, before sprinting along Grand Army Plaza and concluding the race in Prospect Park.

You can find the complete course map wth the best viewing points on the Brooklyn Experience website.

What to wear in New York in April

As the weather in April will likely be much warmer than the previous months, it will finally be time to ditch the huge, winter coat and boots and instead opt for something a little lighter.

With rain expected quite a lot throughout the month, it’s a good idea to pack a decent raincoat for your trip to NYC in April and you should always pack the comfiest shoes you own, whether that’s your trusty trainers or a pair of high-quality walking boots.

As mentioned in the weather section above, temperatures in April can range from lows of 5°C (41°F) to highs of 25°C (77°F), so it’s a good idea to bring layers with you such as t-shirts, jumpers and hoodies so that you can easily add or remove an item of clothing, depending on how hot/cold it is!

New York in April events & things to do – conclusion

I hope you found this New York April travel guide useful and I hope it helps you to plan your very own trip to NYC in the spring!

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New York In April Travel Guide - Weather, Things To Do & Events

Do you have any other recommendations for the best spring things to do in NYC in April? Let me know in the comments or on my New York Facebook Group!

New York In April 2026 – Weather, Things To Do & Events