The Free List / WEEKDAY
Free museums in NYC on Thursday
For Thursday, start with NMAI or MoMA PS1 for general free admission. New Museum has a 7–9pm pay-what-you-wish window requiring advance reservations. Compare that timed offer with the Met’s eligibility-based policy and Queens Museum; they are separate admission categories.
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.
Admission at a glance
National Museum of the American Indian
free — Always free (Smithsonian)
Offer hours: 10am-5pm daily
Advance booking not required. Official admission and tickets
Policy checked 2026-09-05.
MoMA PS1
free — Free for all visitors since January 2026
Offer hours: Mon, Thu, Fri, Sun 12-6pm; Sat 10am-6pm
Booking requirement: Still verifying. Official admission and tickets
Policy checked 2026-10-09.
Center for Brooklyn History
free — Free admission. Part of Brooklyn Public Library system.
Offer hours: Mon–Fri 10am–6pm; Sat 10am–4pm; closed Sun
Booking requirement: Still verifying. Official admission and tickets
Policy checked 2026-09-05.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
pay what you wish — Pay-what-you-wish for NY State residents and students from NY/NJ/CT
Offer hours: Sun-Tue, Thu 10am-5pm; Fri-Sat 10am-9pm; Closed Wed
Advance booking not required. Official admission and tickets
Policy checked 2026-09-05.
Queens Museum
pay what you wish — Pay-what-you-wish always
Offer hours: Wed-Fri 12-5pm; Sat-Sun 11am-5pm
Booking requirement: Still verifying. Official admission and tickets
Policy checked 2026-09-05.
New Museum
pay what you wish — Pay-what-you-wish Thursdays 7-9pm. Youth ages 18 and under enter free during regular hours.
Offer hours: Thu 7-9pm
Reservations required. Official admission and tickets
Policy checked 2026-10-09.
The Met Cloisters
pay what you wish — Pay-what-you-wish for New York State residents and NY/NJ/CT students. Tickets include same-day admission at both Met locations.
Offer hours: Sun-Tue, Thu-Sat 10am-5pm; closed Wednesday
Advance booking not required. Official admission and tickets
Policy checked 2026-10-09.
Bronx Museum of the Arts
free — Always free
Offer hours: Wed-Sun 11am-6pm
Booking requirement: Still verifying. Official admission and tickets
Policy checked 2026-09-21.
The detailed table scrolls horizontally on small screens.
| Museum | Admission | When | Hours | Booking conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Museum of the American Indian | free | every day | 10am-5pm daily | No tickets required. Closed December 25. |
| MoMA PS1 | free | Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday | Mon, Thu, Fri, Sun 12-6pm; Sat 10am-6pm | Still verifying |
| Center for Brooklyn History | free | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday | Mon–Fri 10am–6pm; Sat 10am–4pm; closed Sun | Still verifying |
| 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 | 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. |
| Queens Museum | pay what you wish | Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday | Wed-Fri 12-5pm; Sat-Sun 11am-5pm | 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. |
| New Museum | pay what you wish | Thursday 7pm–9pm | Thu 7-9pm | PWYW tickets must be reserved online in advance. Limited onsite PWYW tickets are not guaranteed. Regular hours Tue-Sun 11am-6pm; Thursday until 9pm; closed Monday. |
| The Met Cloisters | pay what you wish | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday | Sun-Tue, Thu-Sat 10am-5pm; closed Wednesday | NY State residence or NY/NJ/CT student proof required; minimum $0.01 per ticket. NJ/CT students buy in person. Advance tickets not required. Closed Thanksgiving, December 25 and January 1. |
| Bronx Museum of the Arts | free | Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday | Wed-Sun 11am-6pm | Still verifying |
Plan your visit
Financial District / free
National Museum of the American Indian
1 Bowling Green, New York, NY 10004
Known closure: 2026-12-25 through 2026-12-25. Christmas Day closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Always free (Smithsonian)
Admission hours: 10am-5pm daily
Tickets and restrictions: No tickets required. Closed December 25.
Next matching policy dates: 2026-11-12, 2026-11-19, 2026-11-26, 2026-12-03 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
Known closure: 2026-11-26 through 2026-11-26. Thanksgiving closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Known closure: 2026-12-25 through 2026-12-25. Christmas Day closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Known closure: 2027-01-01 through 2027-01-01. New Year’s Day closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Free for all visitors since January 2026
Admission hours: Mon, Thu, Fri, Sun 12-6pm; Sat 10am-6pm
Tickets and restrictions: Closed Tuesday and Wednesday, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Booking requirement: Still verifying.
Next matching policy dates: 2026-11-12, 2026-11-19, 2026-12-03, 2026-12-10 These are calculated from the policy, not confirmed ticket availability.
Official admission source · Policy source checked 2026-10-09 · Full venue page
Brooklyn Heights / free
Center for Brooklyn History
128 Pierrepont St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Known closure: 2026-11-26 through 2026-11-26. Thanksgiving closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Known closure: 2026-12-25 through 2026-12-25. Christmas Day closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Known closure: 2027-01-01 through 2027-01-01. New Year’s Day closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Known closure: 2027-01-18 through 2027-01-18. Martin Luther King Jr. Day closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
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: 2026-11-12, 2026-11-19, 2026-12-03, 2026-12-10 These are calculated from the policy, not confirmed ticket availability.
Official admission source · 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
Known closure: 2026-11-26 through 2026-11-26. Thanksgiving closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Known closure: 2026-12-25 through 2026-12-25. Christmas Day closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Known closure: 2027-01-01 through 2027-01-01. New Year’s Day closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
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: 2026-11-12, 2026-11-19, 2026-12-03, 2026-12-10 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: 2026-11-12, 2026-11-19, 2026-11-26, 2026-12-03 These are calculated from the policy, not confirmed ticket availability.
Official admission source · Policy source checked 2026-09-05 · Full venue page
Lower East Side / pay what you wish
New Museum
235 Bowery, New York, NY 10002
Pay-what-you-wish Thursdays 7-9pm. Youth ages 18 and under enter free during regular hours.
Admission hours: Thu 7-9pm
Tickets and restrictions: PWYW tickets must be reserved online in advance. Limited onsite PWYW tickets are not guaranteed. Regular hours Tue-Sun 11am-6pm; Thursday until 9pm; closed Monday.
Next matching policy dates: 2026-11-12, 2026-11-19, 2026-11-26, 2026-12-03 These are calculated from the policy, not confirmed ticket availability.
Official admission source · Tickets / registration · Policy source checked 2026-10-09 · Full venue page
Fort Tryon Park / pay what you wish
The Met Cloisters
99 Margaret Corbin Dr, New York, NY 10040
Known closure: 2026-11-26 through 2026-11-26. Thanksgiving closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Known closure: 2026-12-25 through 2026-12-25. Christmas Day closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Known closure: 2027-01-01 through 2027-01-01. New Year’s Day closure. Official closure notice · checked 2026-10-09
Pay-what-you-wish for New York State residents and NY/NJ/CT students. Tickets include same-day admission at both Met locations.
Admission hours: Sun-Tue, Thu-Sat 10am-5pm; closed Wednesday
Tickets and restrictions: NY State residence or NY/NJ/CT student proof required; minimum $0.01 per ticket. NJ/CT students buy in person. Advance tickets not required. Closed Thanksgiving, December 25 and January 1.
Next matching policy dates: 2026-11-12, 2026-11-19, 2026-12-03, 2026-12-10 These are calculated from the policy, not confirmed ticket availability.
Official admission source · Tickets / registration · Policy source checked 2026-10-09 · Full venue page
Grand Concourse / free
Bronx Museum of the Arts
1040 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10456
Always free
Admission hours: Wed-Sun 11am-6pm
Tickets and restrictions: Closed Mon-Tue. Temporarily closed for exhibition installation Sep 7 - Oct 8, 2026; reopens Fri Oct 9 at 6pm.
Next matching policy dates: 2026-11-12, 2026-11-19, 2026-11-26, 2026-12-03 These are calculated from the policy, not confirmed ticket availability.
Official admission source · Policy source checked 2026-09-21 · Full venue page
Check the date before you go
Calendar calculated for 2026-11-10. Newest policy check among these museums: 2026-10-09. 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.
Choose the next step
- Thanksgiving museum openings — Check confirmed openings, closures and unannounced schedules for 2026-11-26; ordinary weekdays do not confirm holiday opening.