The Free List / LATE
NYC museums open late
Whitney, MoMA and the Met have verified regular Friday evening hours; the Met also opens late on Saturdays. Opening late does not mean admission is free. These are selected regular evening options, with event-only programs discussed separately.
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 | Regular evening hours | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Museum of Modern Art | free with eligibility | Friday 5:30pm–8:30pm | Friday 10:30am–8:30pm | required / recommended |
| Whitney Museum of American Art | free | Friday 5pm–10pm; second Sunday 10:30am–6pm | Friday 10:30am–10pm | required / recommended |
| The Metropolitan Museum of Art | pay what you wish | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday | Friday / Saturday 10am–9pm | required / recommended |
Plan your visit
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 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.
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
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
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.
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.