AI
Jun 18, 2026 Major2
83%
Alicia Keys to Perform at New York Knicks Championship Parade at City Hall
Alicia Keys will headline the New York Knicks' championship parade on Thursday, performing "Empire State of Mind" at City Hall. The parade celebrates the team's NBA Finals victory over the San Antonio Spurs, their first title in 53 years.





Quick Facts
Who
Alicia Keys
What
NBA Finals victory parade
When
Thursday
Where
Lower Manhattan
- NBA Finals victory parade
- performance of 'Empire State of Mind'
- presentation of keys to the city
- post-parade ceremony
- Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys is set to close the New York Knicks' NBA Finals victory parade on Thursday, performing her iconic anthem "Empire State of Mind" at City Hall. The event celebrates the Knicks' championship win over the San Antonio Spurs in five games.
The parade will begin at 10 a.m. ET near Bowling Green and Battery Park, traveling north along Broadway through the historic Canyon of Heroes before concluding at City Hall, where a ceremony is scheduled for noon. In addition to Keys' performance, the ceremony will feature speeches and the presentation of keys to the city to the team.
Keys, a Grammy Award-winning singer and lifelong Knicks fan, missed the final game in San Antonio due to the premiere of her documentary "Girl From Hell's Kitchen" at the Tribeca Festival. She celebrated the victory at an after-party at Capitale, where she wore a Knicks jacket and performed "Empire State of Mind" alongside rapper Nas, with a star-studded crowd that included Natasha Lyonne, Angela Simmons, Lena Waithe, and Jane Rosenthal.
New York Knicks owner James Dolan confirmed that Keys will perform the hit song she originally recorded with Jay-Z in 2009. There has been no indication as to whether Jay-Z will join her for the performance. The Knicks' championship marks the team's first NBA title in 53 years, sparking widespread celebrations across the city.
Topics
Why This Matters
This event signals the peak of New York City's sports celebration, offering a unique cultural moment where music and sports converge. For readers, it underscores the city's iconic landmarks and figures, and highlights how a single performance can amplify a historic victory, potentially influencing tourism, local business, and community pride.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 18, 2026
WireParade begins near Bowling Green and Battery Park
Jun 18, 2026
WireCeremony at City Hall with speeches and performance by Alicia Keys