Anti-Prom at NYPL

You're Invited: Manhattan Anti-Prom 2023

Fri, Jun 23 | 6:30–9 PM | Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

Feel like New York royalty in the grand marble halls of NYPL’s flagship location at 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue. Join us at Manhattan Anti-Prom for a night of dancing, crafting, snacking, and hanging out—plus, a special fashion show featuring student designers from the High School of Fashion Industries!

Free! For ages 12–18 only. Proof of age required. All bags must be checked.

'Promspired' Reads

Bad Girls of Fashion: Style Rebels from Cleopatra to Lady Gaga by Jennifer Croll (Book)
A Prom to Remember by Sandy Hall (Book | E-Book)
Deacon Locke Went to Prom by Brian Katcher (Book | E-Book)
Rebels Like Us by Liz Reinhardt (Book | E-Book)
Half Yard Vintage by Debbie Shore (Book)
The Vintage Fashion Illustration Manual by Edith Young (Book)
Prom: The Big Night Out by Jill S. Zimmerman Rutledge (Book)

Explore Past Anti-Proms

Group photo of Anti-Prom 2022 designers at the Stephen A. Schwarzman building.

Photo from NYPL's Anti-Prom featuring teens smiling and posing for camera

Photo from NYPL's Anti-Prom featuring teens dancing together

Photo from NYPL's Anti-Prom featuring teens posing for camera

Photo from NYPL's Anti-Prom featuring two teens smiling at a puppy

Photo from NYPL's Anti-Prom featuring teens posing for camera with rainbow flag

Photo from NYPL's Anti-Prom featuring crowd shot of teens

Photo from NYPL's Anti-Prom featuring a group of teens posing with rainbow flags

Photo from NYPL's Anti-Prom featuring a crowd of teens behind a red velvet rope

Photo from NYPL's Anti-Prom featuring a dance circle

Photo from NYPL's Anti-Prom featuring a smiling teen wearing a rainbow flag

Photo from NYPL's Anti-Prom featuring teens in a dance circle

Photo from NYPL's Anti-Prom featuring teens laughing together

Photo from NYPL's Anti-Prom featuring two teens, one with a crown and rainbow flag, the other with flowers in their hair

Photo from NYPL's Anti-Prom featuring teens dancing

Photo from NYPL's Anti-Prom featuring teens looking at bookshelves

Photo from NYPL's Anti-Prom featuring teens taking photos with cellphones

Photo from NYPL's Anti-Prom featuring teens dancing in Astor Hall

Photo from NYPL's Anti-Prom featuring teens in Astor Hall

Photo from NYPL's Anti-Prom featuring teens waiting outside 42nd Street library

More Anti-Prom Photos

Get Inspired by Past Anti-Prom Videos

For more than 15 years, Anti-Prom has been a celebration of pride and joy—a space where everyone is welcome. In 2020 and 2021, celebrating looked a little different. Check out these digital projects by students at the High School of Fashion Industries:

1990s-style graphic with neon inverted triangle and text that reads: Fashion Show

Stuff for the Teen Age

Want more to read? Check out Stuff for the Teen Age where you'll find teen-tested lists of the best books, movies, and more.

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More for Teens at NYPL

Discover all that the Library has to offer, including free one-on-one homework help, events and programs, volunteer and paid opportunities, book recommendations, free resources, and more just for teens.

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Summer at the Library

Get creative and express yourself all summer long at The New York Public Library. Come to free events, explore our newly expanded Teen Centers, get all the latest reading recommendations, and much more! It all kicks off on June 5 at branches across the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island.

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Major support for children's and young adult programming is provided by the Andreas C. Dracopoulos Family Endowment for Young Audiences.

These programs and initiatives are part of the Library's overall commitment to our branch patrons and education programs, led by the Merryl and James Tisch Director of Branch Libraries and Education. Major support for educational programming is provided by Merryl H. and James S. Tisch.