2025 RYDER CUP

Bethpage State Park’s world-renowned Black Course will host one of golf’s most prestigious events in September 2025 when the Ryder Cup returns to New York State. The 45th installment of the biennial tournament will feature three-days of competition between two 12-member teams representing the United States and Europe. This will be the second time New York State has hosted the Ryder Cup, the first being at Rochester’s Oak Hill Country Club in 1995.

ERIE CANAL BICENTENNIAL

Known as one of America’s greatest engineering marvels, the Erie Canal, which was built between 1817 and 1825, is a 363-mile waterway linking the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean via the Hudson River. The canal spurred massive commercial, agricultural and population growth, and helped to transform New York State into the Empire State.

Today, visitors are welcome to experience the beauty and engineering innovation that the Canal offers. There are numerous places along the canal route that are accessible to people of all abilities thanks to several outfitters who provide adaptive equipment rentals.

The Erie Canal bicentennial in 2025 will be celebrated with major events, ribbon cuttings and special programs and tours from Albany to Buffalo, legacy projects that will help preserve, sustain and enhance the canal for the next century will also be featured prominently.

The bicentennial will culminate with the 2025 World Canals Conference in Buffalo, bringing together delegates from around the world.

UNIVERSAL HIP HOP MUSEUM

The musical genre hip hop was created in the New York City borough of the Bronx in 1973 and has since evolved into a worldwide cultural phenomenon that has influenced an entire generation. This past summer marked the 50th anniversary of hip hop and in 2025, a museum dedicated to preserving the history and culture of hip hop music and its impact on society is scheduled to open in the Bronx. The museum aims to showcase the four pillars of hip hop culture (DJing, MCing, graffiti art and breakdancing), as well as highlight the contributions of hip hop pioneers, artists, and entrepreneurs. The museum also plans to host events, educational programs and exhibitions to engage and educate audiences about the history and influence of hip hop culture.

While under construction, visitors can get a taste of the museum’s offerings during pop up exhibits at the nearby Bronx Terminal Market. 

BORSCHT BELT MUSEUM

The Borscht Belt Museum will celebrate the golden age of Catskills resorts, a time when countless citydwellers sought solace in Upstate New York’s mountains. This made a lasting impact on mainstream American culture, from the evolution of stand-up comedy and beloved comfort food, to the influence of mid-century modern design and the shaping of popular notions of leisure.

Slated to open in 2025, the museum is set to make its home in downtown Ellenville (Ulster County), inhabiting the historic former Ellenville National Bank built in 1928. Visitors will experience a treasure trove of archival materials, including film and audio, that will vividly resurrect the memories of the celebrities and comedians whose appearances played a pivotal role in transforming the Catskills into a prominent stop on the American pop culture journey in the decades following World War II.

While the restoration of the bank building is underway, the museum is offering temporary pop-up exhibitions.

COLORED MUSICIANS CLUB AND JAZZ MUSEUM RENOVATION

The Colored Musicians Club and Jazz Museum in Buffalo is committed to researching, preserving and promoting the history of African American music, both locally and globally.

The museum is undergoing a nearly $3 million renovation and expansion that will see a number of infrastructure improvements including a new handicapped-accessible main entrance equipped with a reception and lobby area, and an elevator.

The second floor will have a prominent glass-walled rehearsal and event space with two practice rooms and a lobby that connects to the existing building via an enclosed bridge.

AMERICA 250

On July 4, 2026, the United States will celebrate its 250th birthday. New York State played a pivotal role in the creation of this country as the location for key battles during the Revolutionary War and serving as the nation’s first Capitol. Many other facets of America’s rich history took place here and are showcased through the I LOVE NY Path Through History initiative. Visitors can experience Washington’s Headquarters in Newburgh, where America’s first President crafted key principles that still exist today.. Hyde Park is home to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, the nation’s first presidential library. There are more than 700 Path Through History locations which include arts, culture, immigration, innovation, Native Americans, natural history, women’s rights, sports and equality.

For more information on new developments and other happenings in New York State, visit iloveny.com.