New York In February - Things To Do, Weather & What To Wear

Last Updated on 4th January 2026

This post about the best things to do in New York in February 2026 contains affiliate links.

Are you wondering if February is a good time to visit New York? Perhaps you’ve already got a trip planned and you’re wondering about the best things to do in NYC in February? This ultimate guide about visiting New York City in February is for you!

If you’re wondering when is the best time to visit New York City, I’m afraid that answer is very subjective, depending on the kind of thing you want to experience. Christmas is obviously one of the best times to visit NYC if you want to experience the magic of the city over the holidays, whereas the summer is the perfect time to go if you want to experience sunshine in the city!

However, if you’re looking to visit New York at the cheapest time of the year, it’s a good idea to plan a trip in January or February. I’ve already written an extensive guide about visiting NYC in January and after a lot of demand from my New York Facebook Group, I’ve also put together a huge New York City February guide!

The guide below includes everything you need to know about planning a February trip to NYC, including what you can expect from the weather in February in New York, all the best performances and shows in New York in February 2026 and what to pack for your winter trip to NYC!

Still need help planning your trip to NY in February? Get a copy of my Ultimate New York City Travel Guide Ebook which includes over 230 pages of useful tips, recommendations and suggested itineraries! You can also join my New York Facebook Group where I share plenty of free travel tips, advice and inspiration for visiting NYC!

More monthly NYC travel guides:

Is February a good time to visit New York City?

February is a great time to visit New York City if you want to experience the city with fewer crowds and cheaper prices! It’s also not quite as cold as January on average, but it is actually more likely to snow in NYC in February, so if you were hoping to experience a winter wonderland, there’s a good chance it might happen!

Prices in February in New York City also tend to be cheaper (as long as you’re not there over Valentine’s Day!). There are usually fewer crowds as there’s not quite as much going on in the city in February compared to many other months in the city, but you will still find plenty of fun things to do!

New York in February weather

Temperatures in New York in February usually range from around -2°C to 8°C (28.4°F to 46.4°F). However, temperatures have also been known to fall to -10°C (14°F) and reach highs of 15°C (59°) in February.

Of course, temperatures can fluctuate and vary wildly year on year, so this NYC in February weather guide is very much just that; a guide.

Unfortunately, February is also usually quite a rainy month in New York, with an average of 7 days of expected rainfall throughout the month.

For the most accurate and up-to-date weather predictions and historical New York weather February data, I would highly recommend checking out the Weather Spark website as they provide stats on precipitation, expected snowfall, temperatures, cloud coverage and more for every month of the year.

Does it snow in New York in February?

February is actually the most common month for snowfall in New York and you can expect to see as much as 164mm of snow at the beginning of the month, according to historic data from Weather Spark.

Of course, snow isn’t always guaranteed every single year, but February is arguably the best month to visit if you do want to experience snowfall in New York City as it’s statistically more likely to snow in February than in any other month!

Best things to do in NYC in February

Along with January, February is also one of the most affordable months to visit NYC as it’s just after the busy rush of the festive period and just before the spring months when more people start to visit the city again.

Therefore, many attractions, hotels and restaurants offer slightly cheaper prices in February, so if you’re looking to experience New York on a budget, this is one of the best times to visit.

In the section below, you’ll find some of my top recommendations of the best things to do in NYC in February, including the city’s best museums and observation decks, as well as recommendations for seasonal events such as ice skating and Bumper Cars on Ice!

Ice skating

While the festive season may very well be over in February, you can still enjoy many of the city’s top ice skating rinks well into February/March!

Ice rinks such as Wollman Rink, the Rink at the Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park’s Ice Rink are all still very much in use in February, so if you missed out on a festive trip to NYC, but you still want to experience the magic of winter, you can do so at many of the city’s most iconic rinks!

Bryant Park Winter Village Rink – until the 1st of March 2026
Wollman Rink in Central Park – until the 19th of March 2026
The Rink at the Rockefeller Center – until the 30th of March 2026
The Rink at Brookfield Place – until the 3rd of February 2026

Central Park pedicab ride

A Central Park pedicab ride can obviously be enjoyed all year round, but if you are lucky enough to experience snow during your trip to New York in February, then a pedicab ride through a snow-covered Central Park might just be one of the most magical things you can experience!

Pedicab rides start from $30 per person for one hour with Central Park Attractions and while it’s not 100% essential to pre-book in advance, I would encourage you to do so rather than getting one on the spot when you’re there as there are a lot of companies who charge extortionate fees for these tours. When you pre-book online with Central Park Attractions, you know exactly what to expect!

New York museums

Of course, New York’s many museums can be visited all year round, but they’re arguably best enjoyed in the winter months such as January and February as they provide the perfect respite from the cold winter weather outside.

Many of the city’s museums (such as the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, The Met and The Jewish Museum) also offer free admission days or “pay what you wish” throughout the month (although many of these are reserved for museum members or New York City residents).

Best museums – February events NYC:

Read more: 30 Best Museums In NYC

230 Fifth Rooftop Bar igloos

New York’s largest indoor and outdoor bar (and one of my personal favourite rooftop bars in NYC), 230 Fifth, is undoubtedly one of the best places to be in February.

While you might think it somewhat counterproductive to spend time at an outdoor rooftop bar in one of the coldest months of the year, 230 Fifth offer cosy winter igloos on their outdoor terrace from November to April every year.

The igloos at 230 Fifth are available on a walk-in basis, so there’s no need to book in advance, but you can book a prix fixe dinner inside one of the igloos from 5.30 PM to 9.30 PM daily for $49 per person, if you want to enjoy a particular dining experience.

You can find more information about the igloos on the 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar website.

New York observation decks

As with many of the things suggested in this list of the best things to do in New York in February, the city’s observation decks can also be visited all year round. However, if you want to enjoy the breathtaking views of the city during the winter months (especially if there’s a chance of snow!), then I would highly recommend adding a visit to one of the observation decks to your New York itinerary.

From most of the observation decks, you can see many of the city’s top attractions such as the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Times Square and more!

It’s a good idea to try and book tickets online in advance if you want to guarantee a visit for a particular time/day at one of New York’s observation decks. You can see the list of the 5 best observation decks to pre-book below:

New York events in February 2026

Despite February typically being one of the cheapest months to visit New York City, there are still a lot of events for you to enjoy!

From the tail end of NYC Restaurant and Broadway Week to exciting sporting events such as the Super Bowl, as well as the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers home games at Madison Square Garden, there are so many fun experiences to be had in New York in February.

If you’re planning a trip to NYC in February 2026, you’re in for a real treat with the amount of events on offer throughout the month!

NYC Restaurant Week – 20th January to 12th February 2026

Unfortunately, if you’re visiting New York after the 12th of February, you won’t be able to take advantage of the incredible deals and discounts during NYC Restaurant Week, but if your trip is planned for the beginning of the month, you may just be able to score a few delicious deals!

From the 20th January to 12th February 2026, you can enjoy delightful discounts and various offers such as 2-course lunches and 3-course dinners that range from $30 to $60 at hundreds of New York restaurants.

Some classic NY establishments such as Sarabeth’s, Carmine’s, STK, Gramercy Tavern and Gallaghers Steakhouse are participating in Restaurant Week in 2026, so if you have any of these places on your NYC food bucket list, now is the best time to visit!

Check the NYC Tourism website to find over 600+ participating restaurants in New York City!

NYC Broadway Week – 20th January to 12th February 2026

As well as Restaurant Week running from the 21st January to 9th February, you can also take advantage of the exciting offers occurring during NYC Broadway Week which runs across the same dates. During Broadway Week, you can get 2-for-1 tickets!

Some of the Broadway shows that are participating in Broadway Week include:

Check the full list of shows participating in Broadway Week via the NYC Tourism website and get tickets online here!

National Pizza Day – 9th February 2026

National Pizza Day is, of course, not a day/event that exclusively belongs to New York City, but you might just be in one of the best places to celebrate this wonderful, cheesy day!

There are thousands of pizzerias to discover in NYC and while you’d be hard-pressed to eat at every single pizza place in just one day, you could definitely spend National Pizza Day on the 9th of February trying as many pizza slices as possible!

Check out my self-guided pizza walking tour of Manhattan below to find my personal favourite NY slices!

Super Bowl – 8th February 2026

While the Super Bowl will be held in Las Vegas this year and not in New York City, the Super Bowl is by far the biggest annual sporting event in the United States, so you can expect almost every single sports bar in the city to be playing the Super Bowl on Sunday 8th February 2026.

The teams playing in this year’s Super Bowl haven’t been announced yet as the season is still in the play-off stages, but you’ll be able to find out which two teams will be in the final in just a few weeks.

New York Fashion Week 2026 – 11th to 16th February 2026

For those looking to delve into the depths of New York City’s high society and elite trendsetters, you’ll be thrilled to learn that New York Fashion Week will be held from the 6th to 11th of February.

You can find all the details of the events happening throughout New York Fashion Week February 2026 on the NYFW website.

Valentine’s Day – 14th February 2026

Of course, Valentine’s Day is another event that’s not exclusive to New York City, but if you do happen to be in the city during the most romantic day of the year, you’ll be pleased to know that there are tonnes of awesome and romantic things to do in NYC on Valentine’s Day!

I personally think that New York is one of the most romantic cities in the world, so much so that I actually wrote an entire book all about it which includes 50 best date ideas in New York City that was published by Harper Collins in November 2023!

Valentine’s Day date ideas in New York City:

Lunar New York Festival – 17th February to 3rd March 2026

The Lunar New Year falls on the 17th February in 2026, and from then until the 3rd March, you can expect a wide range of different Lunar New Year-themed events throughout the city.

The Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade will be held throughout the colourful streets of NYC’s Chinatown on Sunday 1st March 2026. The parade route begins at approximately 1 PM and starts from Mott & Canal Streets in (commonly referred to as Chinatown’s unofficial “Main Street”) and ends at Grand Street near the Sara D. Roosevelt Park.

If you want to witness the parade for yourself, it’s a good idea to get there early as thousands of people descend on the streets of Chinatown to watch this annual celebration.

You can find more information about the parade and this year’s Lunar New Year celebrations on the Better Chinatown website.

New York Knicks games at MSG – 5 home games in February 2026

Fans of the NBA will rejoice in a visit to NYC in February as the New York Knicks basketball team have nine games at their home venue of Madison Square Garden throughout the month of February!

The current home games fixtures at MSG can be found below:

Knicks vs Los Angeles Lakers – 1st February 2026
Knicks vs Denver Nuggets – 4th February 2026
Knicks vs Indiana Pacers – 10th February 2026
Knicks vs Detroit Pistons – 19th February 2026
Knicks vs Houston Rockets – 21st February 2026

You can find the full schedule and purchase tickets to the New York Knicks games via Ticketmaster.

New York Rangers ice hockey at MSG – 4 home games in February 2026

As well as the many New York Knicks fixtures in the month of February, fans of ice hockey can also watch many New York Rangers games which are also held at their home stadium of Madison Square Garden.

The current NY Rangers fixtures for February 2026 are as follows:

New York Rangers vs Carolina Hurricanes – 5th February 2026
New York Rangers vs Philadelphia Flyers – 26th February 2026
New York Rangers vs Pittsburgh Pensguins – 28th February 2026

You can see the full NHL schedule and purchase tickets to New York Rangers games via Ticketmaster.

Kids Week at the Intrepid Museum – 14th to 21st February 2026

The Intrepid Museum is one of the best places to visit with kids in NYC and Kids Week is a great time to visit the museum as there are tonnes of extra exciting exhibits and events included within the price of your admission ticket!

During Kids Week, children can learn all about STEAM through various activities, fun NASA displays & exhibits, hands-on workshops and performances, interactive demonstrations and even live animal shows that are all intended to educate and inspire the younger generations.

Find out more about the programs, exhibits and events during Kids Week on the Intrepid Museum website.

New York City Ballet – 20th January to 1st March 2026

The New York City Ballet winter season runs from the 20th of January to the 1st of March 2026, so if you’re visiting NYC in February, you’ll have many options throughout the month to watch an incredible live performance at the coveted New York Ballet.

There are dozens of performances to enjoy during the Winter Ballet season, including ‘Tribute to Robbins’, ‘All Balanchine’, ‘Classic NYCB’ and many more!

You can find the full New York City Ballet schedule on the NYC Ballet website.

Pink Pier at Watermark Pier 15 – 9th January to 1st March 2026

If you happen to be in New York City around Valentine’s Day, a visit to the Pink Pier pop-up at Watermark on Pier 15 is a must-do. This pink-themed wonderland welcomes guests with striking fuchsia decor and even pink-themed food and drink!

Even if you’re not in NYC over Valentine’s Day, you can still pay a visit to the Pink Pier as it runs from the 9th January to 1st March 2026, so there’s plenty of opportunities to check it out!

Find out more about the Pink Pier on the Watermark NY website.

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

Hosted at the New York Botanical Garden, The Orchid Show boasts thousands of different species of beautiful blossoming orchids in many spectacular exhibits.

Tickets to The Orchid Show start at $35 per person and as well as granting you access to the daytime show, you can also experience the rest of the New York Botanical Garden’s outdoor collections.

You can also experience ‘Orchid Nights’ on several dates throughout the season where you can appreciate the flowers under the twinkling lights of the garden’s conservatory, complete with charming music and a signature cocktail inspired by the exhibits.

Find out more about The Orchid Show via the NYBG website.

What to wear in New York in February – packing list

As it will still be very cold in New York in February, you can expect your packing list to be very similar to that of January.

You’ll need to ensure that you’re equipped with a warm, winter coat, as well as a hat, scarf and gloves set.

I would also advise bringing warm and sturdy winter boots in the event that it does snow (even if it doesn’t snow during your trip, the weather is still likely to be very cold, so you’ll want to ensure that you’ve got a good pair of winter boots with you).

Thermals are also a good idea for a trip to NYC in February, as well as several pairs of thick, fluffy socks to keep your feet warm during the icy cold weather.

New York in February things to do – conclusion

I hope you found this post about New York in February 2026 weather, events and things to do useful! Planning a trip to NYC in any month is super exciting, and I hope this guide has inspired your own New York adventure!

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Pin for later – New York February guide

New York In February - Things To Do, Weather & What To Wear

Are you visiting NYC in February this year or next year? Do you have anything else to add to this NYC February guide? Let me know in the comments or on my New York Facebook Group!

New York In February – Things To Do, Weather & What To Wear