February 2026 marks 100 years since the first commemoration of Black history began by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, historian and founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). Starting out as “Negro History Week,” it became Black History Month in 1976 and has been an educational staple in schools and institutions nationwide.
This year’s Black History Month theme will be “A Century of Black History Commemorations,” celebrating and honoring Woodson and other influential leaders like George Cleveland Hall, William B. Hartgrove Jr., Jesse E. Moorland, Alexander L. Jackson, and James E. Stamps, according to the ASALH.
New York is filled with Black cultural and historical stories you can learn about through a series of Black History Month events taking place throughout February. The Amsterdam News will be keeping you informed of them as the month progresses.
To kick off February, here is a list of 10 Black History Month events happening in New York.
- Sunday, Feb. 1
2:00 p.m.
The Islamic Center of Long Island
Lower-Level Conference Rooms
835 Brush Hollow Rd
Westbury, NY 11590
The Islamic Center of Long Island is having its 22nd Annual Black History Month Celebration. Join distinguished guest speakers Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado of New York State; Dr. Reginald J. Alston, Dean of Health Sciences at Hofstra University; Dr. Mufti Mohammad Farhan, Executive Director of the Islamic Center of Long Island; and other distinguished guests as they honor the past and inspire the future.
4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Queens Public Library at Long Island City
37-44 21st St
Long Island City, NY 11101
The Queens Public Library at Long Island City is hosting a Black History Month: Black History And Weaving Bowls children’s program, where children will be weaving homemade bowls. The program is geared towards children ages six to eleven. Children ages five and younger must be accompanied by a caregiver.
5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
The New York Public Library
515 Malcolm X Blvd
New York, NY 10037
Join Jannah Handy and Kiyanna Stewart, the founders of BLK MKT Vintage, and Renata Cherlise, founder of BlackArchives.co, in “Unboxing Legacies: Our Stuff, Our Stories,” a two-part showcase and discussion event about the preservation and sharing of Black history through everyday objects and how it intersects with memory, archiving, and community storytelling. The event will start with a Community Heirlooms & Histories Showcase, an interactive experience of various heirlooms, displayed and viewed by guests that honors the material culture within the African Diaspora. Guests who are interested in bringing an heirloom for viewing can fill out a form. Part two will be the discussion portion of the event, moderated by Kei Williams from Black Gotham Experience. The event is free to the public, but it’s first-come, first-served, and you can get tickets on Eventbrite.
7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Aaron Davis Hall
The City College of New York
129 Convent Avenue
New York, NY 10027
In collaboration with The Leonard Davis Center for the Performing Arts at City College and in association with The Harlem School of the Arts, The Harlem Chamber Players is hosting a classical music concert, “American Landscapes,” as part of the 18th Annual Black History Month Celebration. It features living American composers to celebrate their contributions to American classical music. The event is free to attend. RSVP is required on Eventbrite.
5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
200 Eastern Parkway
Brooklyn, NY 11238
For the first of six “First Saturdays” program events of 2026, the Brooklyn Museum is hosting a “First Saturday: Imitate No One” in honor of Black History Month. Named after the late Jayne Cortez’s “I imitate no one,” from her poem “I Am New York City,” this program sheds light on the fearless innovators and artists who put tradition and building community to the forefront of their artwork. The exhibition, “Seydou Keïta: A Tactile Lens,” is the inspiration of the program, honoring the late Malian photographer. The next ticket drop is on Feb. 2, and free registration, available on the Brooklyn Museum website, is required, including the Brooklyn Museum general admission fee.
Compiled by Tyra Watts