The Free List / LATE
Friday-night museums in NYC
Choose Whitney for an all-visitor free Friday evening, or Morgan’s free 5–8pm window if you can reserve ahead. MoMA requires New York State residency and advance booking. Compare New York Historical’s 5–8pm pay what you wish with the Met’s eligibility-limited offer; later closing does not make either free.
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
Museum of Modern Art
free with eligibility — Uniqlo Free Fridays -- free for NY State residents 5:30-8:30pm
Offer hours: 5:30pm-8:30pm
Reservations required. Official admission and tickets
Policy checked 2026-09-05.
Whitney Museum of American Art
free — Free Friday evenings 5-10pm for all visitors. Free 2nd Sunday of every month. Visitors 25 and under always free.
Offer hours: Fri 5-10pm; 2nd Sun 10:30am-6pm
Advance booking recommended. 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.
The Morgan Library & Museum
free — Free Fridays 5-8pm for everyone. Separate free historic-library-only access Tuesdays and Sundays 3-5pm excludes special exhibitions.
Offer hours: Fri 5-8pm
Reservations required. Official admission and tickets
Policy checked 2026-10-09.
New-York Historical Society
pay what you wish — Pay as you wish Friday evenings 5-8pm.
Offer hours: Fri 5-8pm
Booking requirement: Still verifying. Official admission and tickets
Policy checked 2026-10-09.
The detailed table scrolls horizontally on small screens.
| Museum | Admission | When | Regular evening hours | Free / PWYW offer hours | Booking conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Museum of Modern Art | free with eligibility | Friday 5:30pm–8:30pm | Friday 10:30am–8:30pm | 5:30pm-8:30pm | NY State ID required. Advance reservation required. Enter through 53rd St entrance. |
| Whitney Museum of American Art | free | Friday 5pm–10pm; second Sunday 10:30am–6pm | Friday 10:30am–10pm | Fri 5-10pm; 2nd Sun 10:30am-6pm | Tickets required; capacity is limited. Advance reservations recommended. Friday free admission is for everyone. |
| The Metropolitan Museum of Art | pay what you wish | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday | Friday / Saturday 10am–9pm | 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. |
| The Morgan Library & Museum | free | Friday 5pm–8pm | Friday 10:30am–8pm | Fri 5-8pm | Friday reservations required; tickets released one week ahead. Ordinary hours Tue-Sun 10:30am-5pm, Friday until 8pm; closed Monday, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. |
| New-York Historical Society | pay what you wish | Friday 5pm–8pm | Friday 11am–8pm | Fri 5-8pm | Ordinary hours Tue-Thu and Sat-Sun 11am-5pm; Friday 11am-8pm; closed Monday. Advance booking requirement: Still verifying. |
Plan your visit
Midtown / free with eligibility
Museum of Modern Art
11 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019
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
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 ordinary opening hours · source checked 2026-09-05. Admission windows above may cover only part of the evening.
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.
Separate offer: Free with age eligibility. Ages 25 and under. During ordinary museum opening hours; not limited to Friday or second Sunday. Tickets required. Official eligibility details · checked 2026-09-05
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 ordinary opening hours · source checked 2026-09-05. Admission windows above may cover only part of the evening.
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
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.
Official ordinary opening hours · source checked 2026-09-05. Admission windows above may cover only part of the evening.
Official admission source · Tickets / registration · Policy source checked 2026-09-05 · Full venue page
Murray Hill / free
The Morgan Library & Museum
225 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016
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 Fridays 5-8pm for everyone. Separate free historic-library-only access Tuesdays and Sundays 3-5pm excludes special exhibitions.
Admission hours: Fri 5-8pm
Tickets and restrictions: Friday reservations required; tickets released one week ahead. Ordinary hours Tue-Sun 10:30am-5pm, Friday until 8pm; closed Monday, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Official ordinary opening hours · source checked 2026-10-09. Admission windows above may cover only part of the evening.
Official admission source · Tickets / registration · Policy source checked 2026-10-09 · Full venue page
Upper West Side / pay what you wish
New-York Historical Society
170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024
Pay as you wish Friday evenings 5-8pm.
Admission hours: Fri 5-8pm
Tickets and restrictions: Ordinary hours Tue-Thu and Sat-Sun 11am-5pm; Friday 11am-8pm; closed Monday. Advance booking requirement: Still verifying.
Official ordinary opening hours · source checked 2026-10-09. Admission windows above may cover only part of the evening.
Official admission source · Tickets / registration · Policy source checked 2026-10-09 · Full venue page
Check the date before you go
Calendar calculated for 2026-11-07. 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.
Brooklyn Museum First Saturday is an event program with no next date currently announced. Guggenheim closes at 5:30pm under its published ordinary schedule and is not included as a late-opening museum.
Choose the next step
- MoMA vs Whitney on Friday — Residency is the condition that changes which free evening fits your group.
- Friday evening admission comparison — Compare the Met’s late opening with MoMA and Whitney’s different admission offers.
- Verified evening hours and admission compared — Ordinary closing times and free or pay-what-you-wish windows are separate.
- Christmas Day museum openings — Check confirmed openings, closures and unannounced schedules for 2026-12-25; ordinary weekdays do not confirm holiday opening.
- New Year’s Day museum openings — Check confirmed openings, closures and unannounced schedules for 2027-01-01; ordinary weekdays do not confirm holiday opening.