City Hall Plaza Events And Programs
As the epicenter of the City of Boston, City Hall Plaza is a place where Boston residents and visitors can experience arts and cultural events.
The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture funds free festivals, performances, and more on City Hall Plaza for all to enjoy.
City Hall Plaza is easily accessible by the Green, Blue, Red, Orange, and Silver lines of the MBTA, and just a short walk from North and South Stations.
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Still have questions? Contact:
Arts and Culture
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26 Court Street
Floor 2Boston, MA 02108
City Hall Plaza Engagement Grant
Since the Plaza’s renovation in 2022, the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture has provided funding and programmatic support for events through the City Hall Plaza Engagement Grant.
Check out this video highlighting our 2024 season!
Spaces on City Hall Plaza
Speaker's Corner
This area is ideal for speeches, remarks, poetry readings, protests, and other public gatherings.
Civic Pavilion
This is a flexible, rentable facility facing Congress Street that is equipped with a restroom and other facilities. It can host gallery exhibits, workshops, panel discussions, and more. It includes a 40x60’ covered stage and has vehicular service access.
Main Plaza
The main event space on the plaza is a large, paved area that accommodates up to 12,000 visitors. It can be used for large-scale programs like festivals, ice skating, markets, and more.
Plaza Circle
The Plaza Circle is a "plug and play" location suitable for smaller events. It is located near the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Federal Building.
North Terrace
The North Terrace is another "plug and play" location suitable for smaller events. It is situated on the roof of the Civic Pavilion and features a view of Hanover St. and Congress St. from above.
Hanover Steps
The Hanover Steps offer a "plug and play" location for small performances and events with amphitheater-style seating.
Past Seasons
Past Seasons| Event title | Date(s) | Description |
| if you can Feel It, you can Speak It | Monthly on second Sundays | An open mic series dedicated to the voices and experiences of LGBTQIA2+ communities of color and allies. |
| One Boston, Many Stories Festival | July 20, 2025 | This dynamic festival brought together four unique cultural districts: the Latin Quarter, Fenway Cultural District, Roxbury Cultural District, and Boston Little Saigon. Attendees immersed themselves in the vibrant cultural mosaic of Boston through food, performances, and more. |
| Slam Theatre | July 24, 2025 | Slam Theatre, created by Jamaal Eversley, celebrated Boston’s vibrant and eclectic theater arts scene. The event featured performances by some of the City’s best actors, poets, musicians, and storytellers. The show consisted of four 10-minute plays by local playwrights, including known and up-and-coming writers. |
| Bridgeside Cypher | August 2, 2025 | A one-day hip hop event focusing on a freestyle rap circle in the heart of City Hall Plaza. |
| 3 Days of Chess |
August 3, 10, and 17, 2025 |
An all-ages series from Jamaica Plain Chess offering workshops led by Boston-based chess masters, and an unrated chess tournament open to the public. |
| FreeVerse |
Monthly on fourth Thursdays |
A monthly series of open mic events including youth showcases, spoken word, poetry, DJ sets, musical performances, and standup comedy. |
| Fiesta en la Plaza | September 28, 2025 and October 12, 2025 | A two-day festival celebrating Latinx heritage organized by Ágora Cultural Architects, with musical, film, dance, and more. |
| Spicetober Fest | October 18, 2025 | An all ages, one-day festival celebrating Boston's culinary and cultural heritage with local food vendors. |
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RESET: Rhythms of the City |
October 19, 2025 | An event uniting art forms from across Boston. Through music, dance, and interactive drumming, RESET reclaimed public space through collective expression that invited participants to reconnect with ancestral roots. |
| Rock the Plaza | October 26, 2025 | An afternoon of music, empowerment, and fun celebrating women who rock and featuring two live bands. |
| The Blair Project | October 31, 2025 | A Halloween party and concert that highlighted creative women in the Greater Boston Area through Halloween festivities that featured an all-women line-up of DJs, artists and entertainers. |
| Visual Language | November 13, 2025 | An evening of projections and poetry highlighting artwork by AFH artists that reimagines historical Boston heroes and unsung heroes in a fresh, unexpected, and powerful way. |
| Boots with the Fur | November 15, 2025 | An all day soul and country line dance festival on City Hall Plaza. There were soul & country dance workshops from the best of the best, followed by a one-of-a-kind social dance bringing together dancers from every corner of our city. |
| Event title | Date(s) | Description |
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Open Your Heart: Immigrant Stories from Boston and Beyond |
March 16, 2024 | A documentary screening and live music event following the story of ZUMIX youth who embarked on a creative, year-long research and performance project about immigrant stories. |
| if you can Feel It, you can Speak it Open Mic | Monthly on second Sundays | An open mic series dedicated to the voices and experiences of LGBTQIA2+ communities of color and allies. |
| 617 Day | June 17, 2024 | A celebration of Boston’s diverse ecosystem of local music, artistry, and identity featuring music performances highlighting local artists in folk, rock, and R&B. |
| 5 Days of Chess | July 7, 14, and 28, August 4 and 11, 2024 | A series of four all-ages chess workshops taught by Boston-based chess masters, followed by an unrated chess tournament. |
| Slam Theatre | July 11, 2024 | An evening of 10-minute plays by local playwrights exploring themes of American culture and Afrocentricity. |
| FUTURE FEST | August 3, 2024 | An immersive journey into the future that transformed the Plaza through multi-sensory live performances, participatory light art, and DJ sets. |
| GLD FSTVL ‘24 | August 10, 2024 | A music festival that amplifies hip-hop culture by showcasing live music performances, DJs, dancers, and food and retail vendors. |
| Fiesta en la Plaza | September 15, 19, and 27, 2024 | A three-day series of events to celebrate Latinx Heritage Month featuring Latin music, vendors, film screenings, dance lessons, and more. |
| Commonwealth Fest | October 12, 2024 | A hip-hop festival celebrating artists from Boston and beyond. |
Latest News
Latest News
Relevant Links
Relevant LinksWho's Involved
Who's InvolvedThe Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture collaborates with other City departments and agencies such as the Mayor's Office of Tourism, Sports, and Entertainment to program the Plaza. The Property Management Department acts as the custodian of the Plaza.
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Still have questions? Contact:
Arts and Culture
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26 Court Street
Floor 2Boston, MA 02108
