The Free List / OVERVIEW
Free museums in NYC
Start with the National Museum of the American Indian for free admission every day it is open, or MoMA PS1 for free contemporary art in Queens. Other museums offer limited free windows or pay-what-you-wish tickets. The distinction matters: a resident offer may not apply to a visitor.
Quick answer
Free means no admission charge for the stated offer. Free with eligibility requires qualifying proof. Pay what you wish is shown separately and can require a payment. Special programs may have their own tickets.
| Museum | Admission | When | Hours | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Museum of the American Indian | free | every day | 10am-5pm daily | not required |
| MoMA PS1 | free | Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday | Mon, Thu, Fri, Sun 12-6pm; Sat 10am-6pm | not required |
| Center for Brooklyn History | free | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday | Mon–Fri 10am–6pm; Sat 10am–4pm; closed Sun | not required |
| Museum of Modern Art | free with eligibility | Friday 5:30pm–8:30pm | 5:30pm-8:30pm | required / recommended |
| Whitney Museum of American Art | free | Friday 5pm–10pm; second Sunday 10:30am–6pm | Fri 5-10pm; 2nd Sun 10:30am-6pm | required / recommended |
| The Metropolitan Museum of Art | pay what you wish | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday | Sun-Tue, Thu 10am-5pm; Fri-Sat 10am-9pm; Closed Wed | required / recommended |
| Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum | pay what you wish | Tuesday and Sunday 4pm–5:30pm | Tue and Sun 4–5:30pm | required / recommended |
| Queens Museum | pay what you wish | Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday | Wed-Fri 12-5pm; Sat-Sun 11am-5pm | not required |
| Brooklyn Museum | free | no dates currently announced | Past 2026 events: 5–10pm. Next event hours not announced. | required / recommended |
Plan your visit
Financial District / free
National Museum of the American Indian
1 Bowling Green, New York, NY 10004
Always free (Smithsonian)
Admission hours: 10am-5pm daily
Tickets and restrictions: No tickets required. Closed December 25.
Official admission source · Policy source checked 2026-09-05 · Full venue page
Long Island City / free
MoMA PS1
22-25 Jackson Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101
Free for all visitors since January 2026
Admission hours: Mon, Thu, Fri, Sun 12-6pm; Sat 10am-6pm
Tickets and restrictions: None. Closed Tue-Wed.
Official admission source · Policy source checked 2026-09-05 · Full venue page
Brooklyn Heights / free
Center for Brooklyn History
128 Pierrepont St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Free admission. Part of Brooklyn Public Library system.
Admission hours: Mon–Fri 10am–6pm; Sat 10am–4pm; closed Sun
Tickets and restrictions: Othmer Library has separate hours. Check library holiday closures.
Official admission source · Policy source checked 2026-09-05 · Full venue page
Midtown / free with eligibility
Museum of Modern Art
11 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019
Uniqlo Free Fridays -- free for NY State residents 5:30-8:30pm
Admission hours: 5:30pm-8:30pm
Tickets and restrictions: NY State ID required. Advance reservation required. Enter through 53rd St entrance.
Official admission source · Tickets / registration · Policy source checked 2026-09-05 · Full venue page
Meatpacking District / free
Whitney Museum of American Art
99 Gansevoort St, New York, NY 10014
Free Friday evenings 5-10pm for all visitors. Free 2nd Sunday of every month. Visitors 25 and under always free.
Admission hours: Fri 5-10pm; 2nd Sun 10:30am-6pm
Tickets and restrictions: Tickets required; capacity is limited. Advance reservations recommended. Friday free admission is for everyone.
Official admission source · Tickets / registration · Policy source checked 2026-09-05 · Full venue page
Upper East Side / pay what you wish
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028
Pay-what-you-wish for NY State residents and students from NY/NJ/CT
Admission hours: Sun-Tue, Thu 10am-5pm; Fri-Sat 10am-9pm; Closed Wed
Tickets and restrictions: NY State residents and NY/NJ/CT students only; minimum $0.01 per ticket. NY billing address required online; NJ/CT students buy in person with student ID. Advance tickets not required.
Official admission source · Tickets / registration · Policy source checked 2026-09-05 · Full venue page
Upper East Side / pay what you wish
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
1071 5th Ave, New York, NY 10128
Pay what you wish every Tuesday and Sunday, 4–5:30pm.
Admission hours: Tue and Sun 4–5:30pm
Tickets and restrictions: Use the official pay-what-you-wish ticket option. Check ticket availability before traveling.
Official admission source · Tickets / registration · Policy source checked 2026-09-05 · Full venue page
Flushing Meadows / pay what you wish
Queens Museum
NYC Building, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, NY 11368
Pay-what-you-wish always
Admission hours: Wed-Fri 12-5pm; Sat-Sun 11am-5pm
Tickets and restrictions: Reserve a timed ticket before visiting. Last gallery entry 4:30pm. Closed Mon–Tue. Children 12 and under and IDNYC cardholders qualify for free admission; bring applicable ID.
Official admission source · Policy source checked 2026-09-05 · Full venue page
Prospect Heights / free
Brooklyn Museum
200 Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11238
First Saturdays offer free admission on announced event dates. The official series page lists past 2026 events and says to await the 2027 season; no next date is announced.
Admission hours: Past 2026 events: 5–10pm. Next event hours not announced.
Tickets and restrictions: Advance registration required; admission subject to capacity. Doors close 30 minutes before the event ends. This is not a weekly free-admission offer.
Official admission source · Tickets / registration · Policy source checked 2026-09-05 · Full venue page
Check the date before you go
Calendar calculated for 2026-09-23. Newest policy check among these museums: 2026-09-05. Policy verification dates appear with each museum and do not change merely because the calendar rebuilds. Holidays, ticket capacity and special closures can override regular hours. This is a curated selection, not a complete list of every NYC museum; see all venues.