Asia Society 70 After Dark: Festival of Light 2026

Asia Society New York is closing its 70th anniversary with 70 After Dark: Festival of Light on Thursday, November 19, 2026, from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. at 725 Park Avenue. The evening is inspired by Diwali and other Asian light traditions. It is open to ages 21 and older. Press and partner listings put member tickets at $70 and general admission at $100. Buy through Asia Society before you treat either number as final at the door.

The ticket is a full-building night, not a seated lecture. Organizers list DJs JUNGIN and Tauba, food from Yumbro and Terri & Yaki, desserts from TAGMO and Lady M, henna, calligraphy, fortune readers, after-hours museum access, an open bar, Bollywood on a big screen, and partner gift bags. Dress code is festive cocktail or cultural elegance. Special guest Anirudh Pisharody, known for Never Have I Ever and 9-1-1, is on the card. Exhibitions still on view include the Rockefeller anniversary shows and Busy, Busy Towns.

This is a different Asia Society night from the family Diwali afternoon on November 7. That earlier card was crafts, Ramleela, and kids in the galleries. Festival of Light is the adult anniversary close: tickets, a bar, and four hours after dark. Sunnyside's free Diwali on November 13 is the short Queens BID version if you want neighborhood scale instead of Park Avenue production.

Who this is for: New Yorkers who want a dress-up Asian culture night with museum access built in, and anyone who missed the family Diwali and still wants a light-themed date on the calendar. Skip it if you need a free outdoor festival or a kids craft table. The door is 21+, and the price is real.

Park Avenue at 70th Street is the 6 train to 68th Street–Hunter College, then a short walk. Give yourself time for coat check and the first food truck line. Open bar and gift bags are part of the printed ticket promise; food trucks and desserts can still mean a wait once the room fills. Confirm ticket tiers and any sold-out notice on the Asia Society page the day you buy. If you are stacking film the same month, Lee Chang-dong's Possible Love lands December 1 in the same building with Jeon Do-yeon introducing. Do not treat After Dark and the film night as one continuous ticket. They are separate purchases on separate nights.

When: November 19, 2026, 7:00–11:00 p.m. (21+; members $70 / GA $100 on current listings)
Where: Asia Society, 725 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10021
Last checked: November 10, 2026

Tickets and updates at Asia Society.