FREE SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK FAQ
A beloved New York City tradition for more than 60 years, Free Shakespeare in the Park has provided free performances of world class theater to more than five million people. Whether this is your first time in New York or your fifteenth time waiting in line, we welcome you to The Delacorte. We hope this page will answer any questions you may have about attending Free Shakespeare in the Park.
Still have questions? Contact info@publictheater.org.
How To Get Tickets
IN CENTRAL PARK
Free tickets are distributed on each performance day via the free lines at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. We recognize that ticket lines can sometimes be long, and we appreciate your time and dedication. People waiting for free tickets must line up along the path designated by The Public Theater staff and The Parks Department.
A Public Theater Patron ID is required to receive a free ticket and you can follow this link to create or look up a Patron ID in advance of arriving for distribution.
- Free tickets are distributed at 12PM (noon) every day that there is a public performance.
- Performance days will vary from week to week, so be sure to check the performance calendar.
- Please remember that Central Park does not officially open until 6AM and any patron who attempts to form a line before this will be sent to the end of any line that has formed outside of the park.
- Seat locations are distributed randomly, not based on a person's position in the line.
- Each person (age 5+) may receive up to two (2) tickets, while supplies last.
- There are separate lines for Senior Accessibility for senior citizens (65+) who require accessible seating and ADA Accessibility for patrons with disabilities (attestation to the need for accessible seating will be required).
- Seating is limited for our Open Caption, Audio Described, and American Sign Language Interpreted performances so please join the ADA line for assistance in acquiring tickets for these special performances.
- In caring for our patrons with disabilities, the ADA Accessibility ticket distribution is handled on a rolling basis starting at 10am until all available accessible tickets have been distributed.
THROUGH OUR MOBILE LOTTERY
On each performance date, a limited number of free tickets are distributed via mobile lottery on the TodayTix app or through their desktop website.
Step 1: Download the TodayTix app in the App Store or Google Play Store.
Open the app and scroll down to find Free Shakespeare in the Park. Don't have a Smart Phone? The TodayTix lottery can now be entered on your desktop or tablet device here.
Step 2: Enter the lottery for two free tickets.
On the confirmation screen, you may double or triple your odds by sharing your entry via Facebook and Twitter.
Step 3: See If You Won!
Make sure your name and e-mail address are correct and that TodayTix push notifications are turned on, so you can receive confirmation of lottery status. You will be notified if you've won between noon and 2:30pm on the day of the show. You must confirm your winning tickets in the TodayTix app within 30 minutes of being notified. Winners may begin to pick up their tickets at 5:00 pm at the Delacorte Theater Box Office, but tickets that are not claimed by 7:30pm will be redistributed to the standby line.
You can enter the lottery between 12:00AM and 12:00PM (noon) on the day of each public performance. Each winner will get two (2) tickets to that night’s performance.
Senior Accessible and ADA Accessible digital lotteries can also be entered through the TodayTix app and website. Duplicate entries and entries made via both TodayTix app and website will be voided.
IN THE BOROUGHS
To make it easier for all New Yorkers to enjoy Free Shakespeare in the Park, a limited number of vouchers for specific performances will be distributed at locations in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx. A Public Theater Patron ID is required to receive a voucher for a free ticket and you can follow this link to create or look up a Patron ID in advance of arriving for distribution.
Check back for Summer 2025 dates coming soon.
- Ticket vouchers are redeemable only for same-day performances.
- They will be distributed beginning at 12pm (noon) and ending at 2pm, or when all vouchers have been distributed, whichever occurs first.
- Borough distribution dates vary, so be sure to check the borough distribution calendar link above.
- Seat locations are distributed randomly upon redemption; not based on a person’s redemption time at the Delacorte Box Office.
- All vouchers must be exchanged for tickets at the Delacorte Theater Box Office in Central Park between 5:30pm and 7:30pm.
- Vouchers are only valid until 7:30pm for performances on the day they are issued.
- Each person (age 5+) may receive up to two (2) tickets, while supplies last.
- ADA and Senior (65+) Accessibility seating is limited. For assistance in acquiring accessible seating during our borough distributions please speak to a member of The Public Theater staff upon their arrival at the distribution point.
AT THE PUBLIC THEATER
On each performance date, a limited number of vouchers for that night’s performance are distributed via an in-person lottery at The Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street at Astor Place. A Public Theater Patron ID is required to receive a voucher for a free ticket and you can follow this link to create or look up a Patron ID in advance of arriving for distribution.
- We will begin taking entries for the lottery in The Ford Foundation Lobby of The Public at 11AM. The lottery will be drawn at 12PM (noon).
- Ticket vouchers are redeemable only for same-day performances.
- Seat locations are distributed randomly upon redemption; not based on a person’s redemption time at the Delacorte Theater Box Office.
- All vouchers must be exchanged for tickets at the Delacorte Theater Box Office in Central Park between 5:30pm and 7:30pm.
- Vouchers are only valid until 7:30pm for the performance on the day they are issued.
- Each person (age 5+) may receive up to two (2) tickets upon winning, while supplies last.
- ADA and Senior (65+) Accessibility seating is limited. For assistance in acquiring accessible seating during our lottery distributions please speak to a member of The Public Theater staff upon your arrival for the lottery.
WEATHER POLICY
We will never cancel a performance before it is scheduled to begin. Rain at 7:30pm may clear by 8:00pm, so it is best to always assume the show will perform as scheduled.
In the event of rain or severe weather, the start of the performance may be delayed; however, the performance will begin as soon as it is possible to do so. Performances may also pause for sudden changes in weather, but will resume as soon as weather permits.
If a performance is canceled due to rain, or for any other reason, free tickets are not valid for re-issue or exchange. Umbrellas may not be opened in the theater.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
HOW MANY TICKETS CAN I GET BY WAITING IN LINE
Each person waiting in line can receive up to two tickets to that night’s performance, subject to availability. To allow as many different people as possible to attend performances throughout the summer, each person will be limited to receiving free tickets to two total performances of each production. Click here for more information.
ARE THERE ANY SEPARATE TICKET POLICIES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS OR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES?
There is a separate in-person line for accessible tickets for senior citizens (65+) and for patrons with disabilities. However, to allow as many different people as possible to attend performances throughout the summer, the policies are the same as the regular line as indicated in the previous question. Click here for more information on all of our accessible programs.
Entries for the online lottery for Senior Citizens can also be received via email for the Free Mobile Ticket Lottery by emailing shakespeareinthepark2016@todaytix.com. Entrants must include name, email, phone, and zip code (for 2 tickets per winner). Emails can only be received during the lottery entry period between 12:00am and 12:00pm for that evening’s performance. Duplicate entries and entries made via both TodayTix app and email will be voided.
CAN I RESERVE SEATS TO SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK IN ADVANCE?
Yes - as a thank you for helping to keep Shakespeare in the Park free for all, we are able to offer reserved seats to our Summer Supporters and Partners who support our work through their generous donations. Click here for more information or to donate today.
HOW EARLY CAN I GET IN LINE?
Central Park is closed between the hours of 1:00AM and 6:00AM. NYPD will patrol the Delacorte area and issue summons to anyone in the Park before its official open time. If you choose to line up before 6:00AM, please do so along the east side of Central Park West starting at 81st Street. A Public Theater line monitor will escort the line in at 6:00AM. The Public Theater neither suggests nor condones lining up before the park opens at 6:00AM.
ARE GROUP TICKETS AVAILABLE?
Tickets are not available for group reservations. If you would like to attend a performance as a group, the group can wait in the line at the Delacorte Theater, or you can consider the Corporate Partners program.
CAN I BRING FOOD OR DRINKS
Yes - Ticket holders are allowed to bring food/beverages into the theater as long as everything fits under the seat. However, no glass containers are allowed inside the theater.