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NY opens immigrant heritage week with Indian classical night
New York marks Immigrant Heritage Week with Indian classical performance at public library April 15.
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Pranavi Sharma - Tue, 14, Apr 2026
- 03:15 EDT
- 30
Poster of Indian classical music and dance event. / Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs
Immigrant Heritage Week 2026 and an Indian classical music and dance event on April 15 mark the start of a three-month celebration of immigrant contributions in New York City, led by the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs.
The annual week began April 13, and runs through a broader slate of programming into June, designated as National Immigrant Heritage Month. Officials said the 2026 theme, “Immigrants Power New York,” highlights the role immigrants play in the city’s workforce and economy.
More than 3 million immigrants live in New York City, with communities spread across all five boroughs. The week traces its origins to April 17, 1907, when Ellis Island processed 11,000 arrivals, the highest single-day total. The city established Immigrant Heritage Week in 2004 to commemorate that milestone and recognize immigrant contributions.
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“Immigrants Power New York" illustration / Mayor's Office of Immigrant AffairsAs part of the observance, the New York Public Library will host “Living Library: An Evening of Indian Classical Music & Dance” on April 15 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library in Manhattan. Admission is free with registration.
The program is designed to bring literary works to life through performance, presenting Indian classical traditions in a staged interpretation of stories and verse. Organizers said the event will open the 2026 World Literature and Arts Festival and feature a dialogue between two classical dance forms from India.
City officials described the broader campaign as an effort to connect cultural programming with public awareness. A social media toolkit released alongside the week includes campaign materials such as posters, health awareness messaging developed with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and an “Immigrant Enclave Series” featuring 23 illustrations.
The campaign’s central message, “Immigrants Power New York,” is reflected in its visual design, which uses a power grid motif to represent interconnected communities and the role of immigrant workers in sustaining the city.
Programming tied to Immigrant Heritage Week will continue through June, with events aimed at highlighting culture, history and public engagement across neighborhoods. Organizers encouraged residents to participate both in person and online to expand awareness of immigrant contributions to the city.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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