Looking to share your love of the city?
Volunteer with Open House New York!
Volunteers are the hands and heart of Open House New York. By helping provide access to buildings and experiences across the city, our volunteers celebrate curiosity, encourage a deeper understanding of how the city works, and get to explore new neighborhoods, projects, and ideas.
Volunteers are crucial to the success of all of our programs, including the annual OHNY Weekend festival in October and our year-round tours, talks, and other events.
Join our team of more than 1,000 volunteers today.
Open House New York Weekend
Volunteer during OHNY Weekend
October 2026
Open House New York Weekend is a five-borough festival that celebrates design, culture, and civic investment. It features 300 destinations, is attended by more than 50,000 people, and is made possible with the help of more than 1,000 volunteers.
Join our volunteer team and help provide access to buildings and experiences across the city.
Volunteer registration for the 2026 OHNY Weekend (October 18-20) will be announced in summer 2026.
OHNY Weekend volunteers are the first point of contact for festival attendees and partners. They greet guests, assist with check-in, manage lines, provide information, ensure participants stay with tour groups, and ensure activities run smoothly.
Volunteers are assigned to help support one place that opens their doors for the festival. Shifts are four hours on average. Volunteers are matched to places based on their availability and geographic preference. We can also assign friends and family members who volunteer together to the same location.
As a thank you for their commitment, OHNY Weekend volunteers receive expedited access to festival destinations with long lines, volunteer gratitude events during the year, and a limited-edition OHNY Weekend t-shirt.
Volunteering during OHNY Weekend is a great opportunity to explore and learn about a new neighborhood or place in your city—and to meet other curious New Yorkers. Join us!
Questions? Contact Alba Cruz, Volunteer Manager, at volunteer@ohny.org.
Year-Round Volunteer Opportunities
Tours, talks, scavenger hunts, and more
Throughout the year, Open House New York hosts tours, talks, open studios, and social gatherings across the city—giving unparalleled access to the places, people, projects, systems, and ideas that define New York and its future.
Similar to volunteering during OHNY Weekend, volunteers help greet guests, manage check-in, and direct visitors to and inside venues.
Occasionally, OHNY also seeks assistance with photography, digital marketing, editorial work, data entry, data analysis, and more. We welcome volunteers with diverse experiences and skills.
If you cannot volunteer during OHNY Weekend in October, sign up to receive notices about volunteer opportunities at other times of the year.
Volunteers are the heart of Open House New York
What does volunteering mean to you?
“As an OHNY volunteer, I am helping an organization whose mission resonates with my values. I am connecting with my community while we are working toward a common goal of making New York City’s amazing architecture open to all New Yorkers.”
– Jennifer Rivers, Volunteer
Any tips for prospective volunteers?
“To anyone out there volunteering, I would remind you that wherever you are, no matter how beautiful or grand the space you’re in, it always feels better if you can share that moment of awe with someone else.”
– Ben Helmer, Volunteer
I’m an Open House New Yorker because…
“I’m an Open House New Yorker because our city needs more friendly faces to reveal what amazing places and spaces New York has to offer.”
– Justin Dinkins, Volunteer
What’s a hidden gem you’ve found with us?
“The Firehouse on Jay Street, Brooklyn.”
– Fiona Torres, Volunteer
How would you describe OHNY Weekend?
“The ultimate opportunity to learn and experience what you mistakenly thought you already knew about NYC.”
– Eric Aglow, Volunteer
What’s your favorite part of volunteering?
“The incredibly diverse group of people you meet.”
– Alba Cruz, Volunteer Manager