Quick answer: We found seven upcoming Garba and Dandiya listings in New York: five in New York City (three in Manhattan, including a beginners' class, and two in Brooklyn) and two on Long Island (Uniondale and Hicksville). The main nights are Saturday 10 October and Saturday 17 to Sunday 18 October, with a Brooklyn afternoon Garba on Monday 12 October and a Manhattan fundraiser on Saturday 24 October. Navratri runs from Sunday 11 to Monday 19 October 2026 (Drik Panchang), with Dussehra on Tuesday 20 October. For many more nights within reach, see the New Jersey and Connecticut options below.

Garba in New York looks different from the large suburban community nights of New Jersey: you will find a rooftop Garba in Manhattan, an afternoon Garba at a Brooklyn roller-skating venue, a restaurant Dandiya night, fundraisers, and established Long Island community nights. This page lists what is publicly listed for 2026 and adds the practical and cultural context: the 2026 Navratri dates, why Garba is a devotional dance, what to wear, first-timer tips, and where to look across the tri-state area.

Last updated: 7 October 2026. Event status key: Confirmed means the organiser's or ticketing listing gives a date and venue; Announced means the organiser has named the night but some details are pending; Listed — confirm with organiser means we found it only on a news report or a third-party listing. Every New York and Connecticut night below is currently Confirmed.

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Sharad Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday 11 October and ends on Monday 19 October (Drik Panchang, India dates), with Dussehra (Vijayadashami) on Tuesday 20 October. Garba abroad mostly falls on the weekends of 10 to 11 and 16 to 18 October, and New York follows that pattern, with a beginners' class just before the season and a fundraiser after Dussehra. For Ghatasthapana timings in American cities, see Navratri 2026 in the USA, city by city.

New York City: Manhattan and Brooklyn

Manhattan's listings range from a beginners' Garba class at Ripley-Grier Studios on Thursday 8 October, a good way to learn the steps before the weekend, to a rooftop Garba and Bollywood night and a Garba fundraiser. Brooklyn has an afternoon Garba on Monday 12 October and a Dandiya night at an Indian restaurant on Saturday 17 October.

DateCityEventVenueOrganiserStatusSource
Thu 8 Oct 2026New York (Manhattan)Garba Season for Beginners (beginner garba dance class)Ripley-Grier StudiosWomen's Education ProjectConfirmedEvent page
Sat 10 Oct 2026New York (Manhattan)Garba x Bollywood @ 230 Fifth Rooftop (rooftop bar night)230 Fifth Rooftop BarIVibeConfirmedEvent page
Mon 12 Oct 2026Brooklyn5th Annual Garba in Brooklyn (3 to 8 PM)Xanadu Roller ArtsAlisha Desai DanceConfirmedEvent page
Sat 17 Oct 2026BrooklynDandiya Night at JALSAJALSA Indian RestaurantJALSA Indian RestaurantConfirmedEvent page
Sat 24 Oct 2026New York (Manhattan)Garba Night Fundraiser - Dance for a Cause (fundraiser)Om FactoryWomen's Education ProjectConfirmedEvent page

Long Island: Uniondale and Hicksville

Long Island's two listed nights are Dandiya-led community evenings: the Brahmin Society of New York's Dandiya Night in Uniondale on Saturday 10 October, and a Mumbai-style Garba and Dandiya night in Hicksville on Sunday 18 October, the last Sunday of Navratri.

DateCityEventVenueOrganiserStatusSource
Sat 10 Oct 2026Uniondale (Long Island)Dandiya Night (Brahmin Society of New York)Mitchel Athletic ComplexBrahmin Society of New YorkConfirmedEvent page
Sun 18 Oct 2026Hicksville (Long Island)Mumbai Style Garba ne Dandiya NightSapphire Banquet NYDESI FuzionConfirmedEvent page

Already held this season

DateCityEventVenueOrganiser
Sat 22 Aug 2026Long Island City (Queens)Garba & Bollywood Dance Party (pre-Navratri outdoor event; already held)Gantry Plaza State ParkWomen's Education Project

Nearby: New Jersey and Connecticut

For many New Yorkers, the nearest large Garba nights are across the Hudson. Our Garba 2026 New Jersey page lists 19 upcoming listings across 13 New Jersey towns, including North Jersey nights in Secaucus and Saddle Brook and a dense calendar in Edison, Woodbridge, Somerset, Monroe and Princeton. If you live in Westchester or are happy to drive north-east, two Connecticut nights are listed:

DateCityEventVenueOrganiserStatusSource
Sat 10 Oct 2026Norwalk, CTNorwalk Navratri - Garba NightBrien McMahon High SchoolBharatiya Culture Associates of ConnecticutConfirmedEvent page
Sat 17 Oct 2026Trumbull, CTNavratri Garba Night in ConnecticutMadison Middle SchoolIndia Cultural SocietyConfirmedEvent page

Details change — always confirm date, venue and tickets on the organiser's official page before you travel. Listings are for information; HinduTone is not affiliated with organisers.

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Why Garba is devotional, not only a party

Even when it takes place on a rooftop or in a club, Garba is rooted in worship. The dance traditionally circles a garbo, a clay pot with a lamp inside, or an image of the Goddess, Mataji or Ma Amba. The lamp is understood as the light of the Divine Mother present in every life, and dancing around it is a moving form of the circumambulation devotees perform at a shrine. Many Garba nights pause for an aarti to Ma Amba, and the songs are largely devotional.

Read the spiritual significance of Garba for the meaning behind the circle, Navratri mantras before Garba for short prayers to say before you dance, and the history of Garba for how it travelled from Gujarat to cities like New York. Several New York listings say 'Dandiya' rather than 'Garba'; our guide to Garba vs Dandiya Raas explains the difference.

What to wear

Traditional wear is the chaniya choli for women and the kediyu or kurta for men, but smart Indian or casual clothing is welcome at most nights. In New York, think practically: you may be travelling by subway or train, so a comfortable outfit you can dance in, flat shoes, and a light layer for the October evening are sensible. Our Garba dress guide covers outfits, jewellery and footwear. If you want to shop for a chaniya choli, New Jersey's Oak Tree Road in Edison and Iselin is the region's well-known Indian shopping street.

First-timer tips for New York Garba nights

  • Book the beginners' class on 8 October if you have never danced Garba, or read our beginners' guide before your first night.
  • Join the outer circle, which is usually slower, and move in the same direction as everyone else. Never cut across the centre.
  • Plan your journey: most city venues are reached by subway or train, and Long Island and Connecticut venues are easier by car. Check the venue's page for transport and parking information.
  • For children, the Brooklyn afternoon Garba (3 to 8 PM) and community nights are easier than late rooftop or bar nights. Check each listing for age rules.
  • Carry water, take breaks, and keep your ticket and ID ready, as these New York nights are ticketed.

Our Garba for beginners guide explains the two-clap and three-clap steps, circle etiquette and tips for kids and elders.

Garba near you if your neighbourhood is not listed

No Garba nights are listed yet for the Bronx, Staten Island or most of Queens, and only two for Long Island. That does not mean there is no Garba: many temples and Gujarati Samaj and community associations in New York hold Garba, sometimes on several Navratri nights, and announce it only on their own websites, newsletters or social media pages. Check your nearest Hindu temple, your local Indian or Gujarati community association, and college Indian student groups, which often host open Garba nights.

For how New York's many Indian communities mark Navratri, from Gujarati Garba to South Indian Golu and Bengali Durga Puja, read Navratri in the USA: how Gujaratis and South Indians celebrate abroad. Further north, our Garba 2026 Boston and Massachusetts page lists nights in Greater Boston, Lowell, Worcester and Foxboro.

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Also read: Garba 2026 USA (all states).

Also read: Garba 2026 worldwide: all countries.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Garba near me in New York City in 2026?

This page lists seven upcoming New York listings: a beginners' Garba class and two Garba nights in Manhattan, two nights in Brooklyn, and two Dandiya nights on Long Island (Uniondale and Hicksville). Queens and the Bronx have no listed nights so far this season, so check local temples and community associations. New Jersey, a short trip away, has many more listed nights.

When is Garba in New York in 2026?

Navratri 2026 runs from Sunday 11 October to Monday 19 October (Drik Panchang, India dates), and Dussehra is Tuesday 20 October. New York's listed nights are on Thursday 8, Saturday 10, Monday 12, Saturday 17, Sunday 18 and Saturday 24 October.

Is Garba free in New York?

The New York nights listed here are ticketed through event listings, and two of them are fundraisers or charity-linked. Temple and community Garba can be free or low-cost, but this varies, so check the organiser's page for entry details.

What should I wear to Garba in New York?

Chaniya choli for women and kediyu or kurta for men are traditional, but neat Indian or smart casual clothing is welcome at most nights. Wear flat, comfortable shoes and bring a layer for the journey, since mid-October evenings in New York can be cool.

Can non-Gujaratis join Garba in NYC?

Yes. New York's Garba nights are generally open to everyone, and there is even a beginners' class in Manhattan on 8 October. Join the outer circle, follow the dancers' direction, stand respectfully for the aarti and keep it alcohol-free where the night is devotional.

Are there Garba events near New York in New Jersey and Connecticut?

Yes. New Jersey has 19 upcoming listings across 13 towns on our New Jersey page, and in Connecticut there are Garba nights in Norwalk on Saturday 10 October and in Trumbull on Saturday 17 October.

Editor's note (7 October 2026)

This page was compiled on 7 October 2026 from publicly available organiser and ticketing listings for Garba and Dandiya nights in New York State, with nearby Connecticut nights added for tri-state readers. We list only nights with a published date and venue and do not add prices or line-ups. Dates, venues and availability can change, so please confirm on each organiser's page. We will update this page as more nights are announced during Navratri 2026. If you organise a New York Garba night that is missing, contact HinduTone with a link to your official event page.