Newark

Downtown Newark packs arenas, arts spaces, and landmarks into a compact stretch, making it easy to turn one event into a full night out.

• Prudential Center: Prudential Center is an approximately 18,000-seat arena and entertainment complex in downtown Newark. It is home to the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, Seton Hall University men’s basketball, and major concerts.²
• New Jersey Performing Arts Center - Victoria Theater: Victoria Theater is a 511-seat NJPAC room for comedy, jazz, chamber music, dance, cabaret, experimental theater, and film or TV productions, giving Newark a dedicated downtown space for performances that work best in a smaller theater.³
• Newark Symphony Hall: Newark Symphony Hall features the 2,800-capacity Sarah Vaughan Concert Hall, a historic Newark performance space used for concerts, cultural programs, and stage productions. The building also includes the 350-capacity Terrace Ballroom and the 150-capacity Lincoln Park Gallery.⁴

Newark’s music scene carries jazz history, neighborhood identity, and the kind of outdoor festival energy that feels woven into the city.

• Lincoln Park Festival: The Lincoln Park Music Festival is a three-day music event that spotlights hip-hop, house, jazz, and gospel, and is one of Newark's major annual music events.⁵
• Sounds of the City: Sounds of the City is NJPAC’s outdoor concert series featuring free summer Thursday performances on the plaza.⁵
• Portugal Fest: Portugal Day Festival reflects Newark’s strong Portuguese presence, especially in the Ironbound, where music, food, art, and dance take over the streets.⁵

Between Devils hockey, Seton Hall basketball, and Red Bulls soccer just across the river, Newark hosts major professional and collegiate sporting events throughout the year.

• New Jersey Devils: The Devils compete in the NHL at Prudential Center and are one of Newark’s biggest sports draws.⁶
• Seton Hall Pirates Men’s Basketball: Seton Hall University men’s basketball plays its home games at Prudential Center, bringing Big East action into downtown Newark.⁷
• New York Red Bulls: Playing at 25,000-seat Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, the New York Red Bulls give Newark-area fans direct access to Major League Soccer just across the Passaic River.⁸

Newark’s arts scene moves from landmark venues to street festivals and intimate comedy spaces, where formal performance and neighborhood culture sit side by side.

• Newark First Fridays: Running monthly from May through September, Newark First Fridays showcases emerging local artists, makers, artisan food vendors, musicians, and street performers.⁵
• Afro Beat Festival: One of New Jersey's major celebrations of African culture and heritage, it brings together dancers, drummers, live performances, and more than 200 vendors.⁵