New York City welcomed 2025 and also celebrated its 400th anniversary of its founding. On December 31, Mayor Adams announced the launch of the “Founded By NYC” initiative, which will kick off a series of year-long celebration events encompassing art, film, music, and more to commemorate the achievements of all New Yorkers, past, present, and future.
Through the “Founded By NYC” initiative, Mayor Adams expressed gratitude for all the vibrant cultures, innovations, and talents that have contributed to making New York City a globally renowned metropolis over the past 400 years. He acknowledged that the city’s history was not without challenges and emphasized the need to recognize its origins, including the significant contributions of the Lenape people who inhabited the land before the arrival of the Dutch.
The “Founded By NYC” initiative will bring together various organizations across the city, such as the Lenape Center, Broadway Alliance, NYC Museum, Times Square Alliance, multiple Business Improvement Districts, and all city agencies. The 400th-anniversary celebrations will feature major events in the realms of art, film, music, including art installations at Gracie Mansion, free summer movie screenings in NYC parks featuring iconic films set in the city, the 47th Museum Mile Festival, free concerts by the New York Philharmonic performing songs by NYC composers, Broadway star performances, and a massive city-wide free event across 400 blocks with the Department of Transportation’s “Summer Streets.” Dates and times for the events will be announced in the coming months.
The initiative has received sponsorship from the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical “Hamilton”, which will provide the song “The Schuyler Sisters” as the soundtrack for the “Founded By NYC” teaser. Additionally, the 400th-anniversary theme of New York City will be integrated into various other city-wide events, parades, festivals, institutions, and celebrations.
“Founded By NYC” has launched a dedicated website, serving as the main hub for the 400th-anniversary celebrations and also as the primary website for the 2026 celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. Mayor Adams encourages organizations to visit the “Founded By NYC” website and join in the celebratory events. The website can be found at: [https://www.nyctourism.com/things-to-do/history-in-nyc/](https://www.nyctourism.com/things-to-do/history-in-nyc/).