Published January 06, 2026
At NYU, Campus Traditions Abound
Because of its location in the heart of New York City, NYU is anything but a traditional university.
No, there isn’t a history of weekend football games and there isn’t a walled-off campus. The city is your campus. And NYU campus traditions are as unique, diverse, and special as the city itself. This University and its communities are beyond conventional. Are you ready to become one of the bold?
Check out some of the opportunities you have to do just that.
A World of Talent
Every year, NYU’s most talented performers compete for a $1,000 top prize at UltraViolet Live. Singers, poets, dancers, guitarists, drummers, and pianists grace the main stage of NYU’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts in New York City for the final round of the competition.
The competition begins with preliminary rounds held by NYU residence halls—including ones at NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Shanghai—the Commuter Student Council, and the Inter-Greek Council to determine which acts will move on to Skirball. Regardless of who wins, UltraViolet Live is a chance to share your amazing talents with the NYU community—and to experience just how exceptional this community is.
In addition to UltraViolet Live, NYU’s Inter-Residence Hall Council also hosts Flurry each year in Central Park. This free event brings together 2,000-plus NYU community members for an evening full of iceskating, music, sweet treats, and more!
Too Sweet to Miss
If the thought of one of the world’s longest strawberry shortcakes makes your mouth water, then this NYU campus tradition is for you. Students, faculty, and staff flock to the Strawberry Festival street fair each year to have a look at—and of course, a taste of—this marvel of pastry engineering.
Held on NYU’s Washington Square campus, the Strawberry Festival also includes live music, carnival games, giveaways, and interactive booths. Come for the shortcake. Stay for the community. It’s a campus tradition that’s too sweet to miss.
Welcome to NYU
Kick off your NYU experience by taking part in the excitement of Welcome Week. With hundreds of events, programs, and initiatives dedicated to helping you connect with and thrive within your new community, Welcome Week is your perfect introduction to life at NYU.
Each fall, Welcome Week begins with Welcome Weekend, the largest two move-in days in New York City. Students begin the weekend by arriving on campus, exploring their new neighborhoods, and settling into their dorms. Then, from searching the aisles of the NYU Swap Shop to laughing with new friends at NYU: Reality Show, there’s plenty to keep you busy. Additional Welcome Week events include NYU Portraits, themed giveaways, and marquee events including a cappella shows, silent discos, casino nights, and Drag Bingo.
Become Part of the Tradition
Check out even more NYU campus traditions that will help you understand, and become part of, the University’s amazing history.
NYU Reads
Each year, a committee of faculty, students, and staff choose the NYU Reads book of the year. This tradition brings people from across the University together and sparks intellectual conversations while building community across campus.
Club Fest
If you see a line outside of the NYU Paulson Center, it’s probably Club Fest! This annual event gives NYU students the opportunity to engage IRL with some of the more than 300 student run organizations on campus.
MLK Week
Every February, NYU commemorates Dr. Martin Luther King’s visit to the University Heights campus in 1961 by hosting a series of reflective, educational, and community-building events that amplify his legacy.
NYU In Dialogue Event Series
Fostering empathy through stories and dialogue is part of the fabric of NYU, and through the
NYU In Dialogue event series, the work of building connections and listening to one another is ongoing.
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