Where Brooklyn Meets the World: BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! 2025 Unites Global Sounds

June 2, 2025 by

This summer, Brooklyn’s cultural heartbeat returns with the 47th season of BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! — a free, open-air performing arts festival transforming the Lena Horne Bandshell in Prospect Park into a global stage. From June 7 through August 16, the 2025 season carries the theme “Where Brooklyn Meets… The World,” spotlighting the borough’s role as a vibrant crossroads of international music and culture.

Celebrate Brooklyn! Stage/ photo courtesy of B.L.Howard Productions

Celebrate Brooklyn! Stage/ photo courtesy of B.L.Howard Productions

The festival officially kicks off on June 9 with a powerhouse benefit concert featuring the legendary Grace Jones and genre-defying Janelle Monáe. This opening night will set the tone for a season rich in diversity and artistic discovery.

Free performances begin June 13 with a celebration of Haitian  musical heritage, headlined by Mélissa Laveaux, Nathalie “TALIE” Cerin, and Riva Nyri Précil. Other highlights include the 3rd annual Juneteenth celebration on June 19, the Habibi Festival on June 20, and two tributes to Quincy Jones on June 27 entitled “The Greatest Night in Pop” and “A Tribute to Quincy Jones: The Wiz” on July 27.

The lineup also features indie favorites like Buscabulla and punk legends Gogol Bordello. Benefit concerts include Still Woozy on July 12, Dinosaur Jr. with Snail Mail on July 17, and Men I Trust on July 18.

Saidah Blount/photo by Skye/courtesy of This Is Dope PR

Saidah Blount/photo by Skye/courtesy of This Is Dope PR

To close out the festival on August 16, Nick Hakim will bring his unique blend of R&B and soul with his music, leaving audiences feeling like they are in an intimate and this-world setting. Emmy-winning drummer, rapper, and producer Karriem Riggins will open with a DJ set you won’t want to miss.

The Crowd at Club Quarantine -Celebrate Brooklyn! / photo by Al Pereira

The Crowd at Celebrate Brooklyn! / photo by Al Pereira

Executive Director Saidah Blount has been previously quoted with the Prospect Park Alliance to emphasize the festival’s mission, saying, “The Lena Horne Bandshell transforms into a global gathering place—where rhythms, stories, and cultures from around the world meet to form Brooklyn’s creative heartbeat.”

With over a dozen free shows and four ticketed benefit concerts, BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! 2025 offers a summer of music, dance, and community.