The Free List / WEEKDAY
Free museums in NYC on Friday
Friday offers the strongest evening choices in this selection: Whitney is free for everyone during its evening window; MoMA’s free evening tickets are for New York State residents. The Met stays open late but its pay-what-you-wish policy has eligibility rules.
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 |
| Queens Museum | pay what you wish | Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday | Wed-Fri 12-5pm; Sat-Sun 11am-5pm | not required |
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.
Next matching policy dates: 2026-09-25, 2026-10-02, 2026-10-09, 2026-10-16 These are calculated from the policy, not confirmed ticket availability.
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.
Next matching policy dates: 2026-09-25, 2026-10-02, 2026-10-09, 2026-10-16 These are calculated from the policy, not confirmed ticket availability.
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.
Next matching policy dates: 2026-09-25, 2026-10-02, 2026-10-09, 2026-10-16 These are calculated from the policy, not confirmed ticket availability.
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.
Next matching policy dates: 2026-09-25, 2026-10-02, 2026-10-09, 2026-10-16 These are calculated from the policy, not confirmed ticket availability.
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.
Next matching policy dates: 2026-09-25, 2026-10-02, 2026-10-09, 2026-10-16 These are calculated from the policy, not confirmed ticket availability.
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.
Next matching policy dates: 2026-09-25, 2026-10-02, 2026-10-09, 2026-10-16 These are calculated from the policy, not confirmed ticket availability.
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.
Next matching policy dates: 2026-09-25, 2026-10-02, 2026-10-09, 2026-10-16 These are calculated from the policy, not confirmed ticket availability.
Official admission source · 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.