
The crowd gets moving at last year’s Tito Puente Latin Music Series on Boston Common. Boston comes alive in the summertime. With warm temperatures and long days, Bostonians flock outside for picnics on the Esplanade, strolls along the Neponset River and celebrations under the stars. Outdoor concerts are a hallmark of the season and these are free and open to the public.
Tito Puente Latin Music Series
When: July 9, 16, 23, 30, Aug. 6, 13
Where: Parks around Boston
Info: Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción presents this series in collaboration with Berklee College of Music and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department. Every Thursday, bands bring the stirring sounds of salsa, merengue, bachata and cumbia to parks around Boston and attendees can dance the night away. ibaboston.org/events/tito-puente-latin-music-series
Landmarks Orchestra Hatch Shell Concerts
When: July 22, 29, Aug. 5, 12
Where: Hatch Memorial Shell on the Esplanade
Info: Catch Landmarks Orchestra at the Hatch Shell on Wednesday evenings performing a
spectrum of works from pieces by Boston composers and a reimagining of
Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” to Beethoven’s “Leonore Overture No. 3” and
other classical hits. landmarksorchestra.org/events/2026-season
Harborwalk Sounds at the ICA
When: July 9, 16, 23, 30, Aug. 6, 13, 20, 27
Where: ICA Boston
Info: Every
Thursday the ICA hosts a free concert overlooking the harbor. All kinds
of music are represented, from Lady Satch, a trumpeter and flugelhorn
player, to Jazz Cuti, a French pianist, singer-songwriter from
Martinique. The event coincides with free ICA admission after 5 p.m. on
Thursdays so guests can tour the museum and polish the night off with
the concert. icaboston.org/events/harborwalk-sounds
Concerts in the Courtyard at Boston Public Library
When: July 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, 31, Aug. 5, 12, 19, 26
Where: Boston Public Library Central Branch
Info: The Boston Public Library Concerts in the Courtyard take place both in the evening
and midday in the scenic, Italian-style outdoor area of the library. The
midday concerts make for a magical lunch break and the 6 p.m. sets are a perfect way to wind down after the workday. Expect to hear jazz, indie, pop and more. bpl.org/concerts-in-the-courtyard

NEMPAC’s Jazz in the Park
When: July 9, 16, 23, 30, Aug. 6
Where: Rose Kennedy Greenway North End Park
Info: Every
Thursday join the North End Music & Performing Arts Center for free
concerts on the Rose Kennedy Greenway. Soulful jazz musicians will sing
their hearts out as the sun sets over one of Boston’s most utilized
greenspaces. nempacboston.org/jazz-in-the-park