- For the first time in its 87 years, the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes is canceled.
- Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and Carnegie Hall, two of New York City's most important cultural venues, both announce performances will cease for the rest of 2020.
- The 50th annual Gay Pride parade, scheduled for the last weekend of June in Manhattan, is canceled. Smaller events continue, while others go online.
- The New York City subway system, the only 24/7 public transit system in the country, announces it will shut down from 1 to 5 a.m. for cleaning as of May 6, the first time such a service disruption has occurred.
- Banging on pots and pans, clapping, whooping, shouting, whistling, and any other means of making a joyful noise becomes a nightly 7 p.m. ritual in New York City — and many other cities and towns — as an expression of thanks to the city's emergency and essential personnel.
- All theaters on Broadway close indefinitely on March 12.
Related: A Virtual Weekend Vacation in New York