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Free Museums in NYC

Free museum days, free nights and always-free galleries

🎯 Filters 5 35 listings

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35listings
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Open / on now4Today4Tomorrow1This weekend4📅 Pick dates
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Whereall areas · up to 3

New York City70📍 ManhattanBrooklyn5Queens15Bronx3Staten Island21📍 Lower New YorkLong Island7Westchester & Rockland1📍 Lower ConnecticutNew Jersey6

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Whatpick as many as you like

🎨 Arts & culture23🎶 Music & nightlife1🧸 Family & kids5🚶 Tours & walks1🖌️ Painting & crafts2🤝 Volunteering1🧺 Markets & pop-ups2
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Who's goingpick one

🧸 Kids6👨‍👩‍👧 Family (all ages)29💞 Date25

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🌤️ Outdoor1
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Free museum days, pay-what-you-wish nights and always-free galleries in New York City, from the big Manhattan institutions to borough favorites. Every listing below is checked against the museum’s own page, and the list refreshes on its own as new free days are announced.

85 verified listings right now. Updated automatically.

Happening now
Every Sun, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat · 12 PM–6 PM
58°F · Sunny
✓ Verified Nov 1, 2026
Why this place: Free · pay what you wish · repeats, so you can go another time · at Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art, Manhattan · official listing on leslielohman.org · checked Nov 1
Arts & culture

Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art (Suggested Donation)

📍 Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art · Manhattan
Suggested donation; pay what you wish
Happening now
Every Sun, Tue · 4 PM–5:30 PM
58°F · Sunny
✓ Verified Oct 31, 2026
Why this place: Free · pay what you wish · repeats, so you can go another time · at Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Manhattan · official listing on guggenheim.org · checked Oct 31
Arts & culture

Guggenheim Pay What You Wish hours

📍 Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum · Manhattan
Suggested donation; pay what you wish; Pay what you wish Tuesdays and Sundays 4–5:30 pm
Happening now
Daily · 5 PM–6 PM
58°F · Sunny
✓ Verified Oct 27, 2026
Why this place: Free · pay what you wish · repeats, so you can go another time · at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, Manhattan · official listing on cooperhewitt.org · checked Oct 27
Arts & culture

Cooper Hewitt Pay What You Wish hour

📍 Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum · Upper East Side, Manhattan
Pay what you wish 5–6 PM daily; 18 & under free anytime
Starts in 2d 16h
Every Wed · 10 AM–9 PM
56°F · Sunny
✓ Verified Oct 31, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at Museum of the City of New York, Manhattan · official listing on mcny.org · checked Oct 31
Arts & culture

Free Wednesdays at the Museum of the City of New York

📍 Museum of the City of New York · East Harlem, Manhattan
Free at the listed days and hours · Free for everyone on Wednesdays (tickets at the counter only; not for groups of 10+).
Starts in 2d 17h
Every Wed · 11 AM–8 PM
58°F · Sunny
✓ Verified Nov 1, 2026
Why this place: Free · pay what you wish · repeats, so you can go another time · at Grey Art Museum, New York University, Manhattan · official listing on greyartmuseum.nyu.edu · checked Nov 1
Arts & culture

Grey Art Museum Late Wednesdays (NYU)

📍 Grey Art Museum, New York University · Manhattan
Suggested donation; pay what you wish; free for all visitors
Starts in 2d 18h
Every Wed, Thu, Fri · 12 PM–8 PM
60°F · Sunny
✓ Verified Nov 2, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at The Museum at FIT, Manhattan · official listing on fitnyc.edu · checked Nov 2
Arts & culture

The Museum at FIT (Always Free, Open Until 8 PM Wed–Fri)

📍 The Museum at FIT · Manhattan
Free
Starts in 2d 23h
WED, NOV 11 · 5 PM–9 PM
58°F · Mostly Sunny
✓ Verified Nov 5, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · at Museum of the City of New York, Manhattan · official listing on mcny.org · checked Nov 5
Arts & culture

Free Late-Night Wednesday at the Museum of the City of New York

📍 Museum of the City of New York · East Harlem, Manhattan
Free to enter · purchases optional · Free museum entry until 9 PM; pop-up bar drinks optional
Starts in 3d 16h
Daily · 10 AM–7:30 PM
55°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 8, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · repeats, so you can go another time · at New York Transit Museum Grand Central Gallery, Manhattan · official listing on nytransitmuseum.org · checked Nov 8
Family & kids

New York Transit Museum Holiday Train Show

📍 New York Transit Museum Grand Central Gallery · Midtown, Manhattan
Free
Starts in 3d 18h
Every Sun, Thu, Fri, Sat · 12 PM–5 PM
56°F · Mostly Cloudy
✓ Verified Nov 1, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · repeats, so you can go another time · at Hispanic Society Museum & Library, Manhattan · official listing on hispanicsociety.org · checked Nov 1
Arts & culture

Hispanic Society Museum & Library (Free Admission)

📍 Hispanic Society Museum & Library · Manhattan
Free; registration required; Free with a reserved ticket
Starts in 3d 21h
THU, NOV 12 · 3 PM–7 PM
56°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Nov 7, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at National Museum of Mathematics, Manhattan · official listing on momath.org · checked Nov 7
Family & kids

MoMath Free Play (extended evening hours)

📍 National Museum of Mathematics · Flatiron, Manhattan
Free · registration required · Free general admission; register all attendees; first-come, first-served once capacity is reached
Starts in 4d 1h
Every Thu · 7 PM–9 PM
53°F · Light Rain Likely
✓ Verified Nov 3, 2026
Why this place: Free · pay what you wish · repeats, so you can go another time · at New Museum, Manhattan · official listing on newmuseum.org · checked Nov 3
Tours & walks

New Museum Pay-What-You-Wish Thursday Nights

📍 New Museum · Manhattan
Suggested donation · pay what you wish · Pay what you wish Thursdays 7–9 PM; advance online reservation required; limited onsite tickets not guaranteed.
Starts in 4d 17h
Every Fri · 11 AM–9 PM
46°F · Light Rain Likely
✓ Verified Oct 31, 2026
Why this place: Free · pay what you wish · repeats, so you can go another time · at The Studio Museum in Harlem, Manhattan · official listing on studiomuseum.org · checked Oct 31
Arts & culture

Friday late hours at the Studio Museum in Harlem

📍 The Studio Museum in Harlem · Harlem, Manhattan
Suggested donation; pay what you wish; Pay what you can
Starts in 4d 20h
FRI, NOV 13 · 2 PM–3:30 PM
47°F · Light Rain Likely
✓ Verified Oct 25, 2026
Why this place: Free · at The Long Island Museum Studio, Long Island · official listing on longislandmuseum.org · checked Oct 25
Arts & culture

Stitch & Chit-Ch(at) at the Long Island Museum

📍 The Long Island Museum Studio · Stony Brook, Long Island
Free program · no registration required · ages 12+
Starts in 4d 23h
Every Fri · 5 PM–10 PM
44°F · Light Rain Likely
✓ Verified Oct 27, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · repeats, so you can go another time · at Whitney Museum of American Art, Manhattan · official listing on whitney.org · checked Oct 27
Arts & culture

Whitney Free Friday Nights

📍 Whitney Museum of American Art · Meatpacking, Manhattan
Free; timed tickets required
Starts in 5d 0h
Every Fri · 5:30 PM–8:30 PM
44°F · Light Rain Likely
✓ Verified Nov 5, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · repeats, so you can go another time · at The Museum of Modern Art, Manhattan · official listing on visit.moma.org · checked Nov 5
Arts & culture

MoMA UNIQLO Friday Nights (free for NY State residents)

📍 The Museum of Modern Art · Midtown, Manhattan
Free · registration required · Free for New York State residents with advance reservation and proof of residency, Fri 5:30–8:30 PM; general admission for non-residents
Starts in 5d 1h
FRI, NOV 13 · 6:30 PM–10 PM
44°F · Light Rain Likely
✓ Verified Nov 5, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at Whitney Museum of American Art, Manhattan · official listing on whitney.org · checked Nov 5
Music & nightlife

Live Music by Emily A. Sprague and LEYA at Whitney Free Friday Night

📍 Whitney Museum of American Art · Meatpacking District, Manhattan
Free · registration required · Free with Free Friday Nights admission; advance free tickets recommended
Starts in 5d 17h
SAT, NOV 14 · 11 AM–5 PM
46°F · Slight Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Oct 26, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at The New York Historical, Smith Gallery, Manhattan · official listing on shop.nyhistory.org · checked Oct 26
Markets & pop-ups

Designing Women Market at The New York Historical

📍 The New York Historical, Smith Gallery · Upper West Side, Manhattan
Free market entry (galleries extra)
Starts in 5d 19h
SAT, NOV 14 · 12:30 PM–4 PM
46°F · Slight Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Oct 26, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at Fairfield University Art Museum, Lower Connecticut · official listing on events.fairfield.edu · checked Oct 26
Painting & crafts

Fairfield University Art Museum Family Day

📍 Fairfield University Art Museum · Fairfield, CT
Free
Starts in 6d 16h
SUN, NOV 15 · 10 AM–1 PM
✓ Verified Nov 7, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at National Museum of Mathematics, Manhattan · official listing on momath.org · checked Nov 7
Family & kids

MoMath Free Play Sunday morning

📍 National Museum of Mathematics · Flatiron, Manhattan
Free · registration required · Free general admission; register all attendees; first-come, first-served once capacity is reached
Starts in 1w 3d
WED, NOV 18 · 6 PM–8 PM
✓ Verified Oct 30, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Dyckman Farmhouse Museum, Manhattan · official listing on dyckmanfarmhouse.org · checked Oct 30
Arts & culture

Comfy Classical at Dyckman Farmhouse

📍 Dyckman Farmhouse Museum · Inwood, Manhattan
Free; advance registration required because space is limited
Starts in 1w 3d
THU, NOV 19 · 5 PM–8 PM
✓ Verified Oct 31, 2026
Why this place: Free · at The Jewish Museum, Manhattan · official listing on thejewishmuseum.org · checked Oct 31
Arts & culture

Free Third Thursday Evening at the Jewish Museum

📍 The Jewish Museum · Manhattan
Free at the listed days and hours; Free on Third Thursdays 5-8 PM
Starts in 2w 2d
WED, NOV 25 · FROM 12 PM
✓ Verified Nov 8, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · at Streets around the American Museum of Natural History, Manhattan · official listing on macys.com · checked Nov 8
Family & kids

Macy's Balloon Inflation

📍 Streets around the American Museum of Natural History · Upper West Side, Manhattan
Free
Starts in 3w 2d
WED, DEC 2 · 11 AM–12:30 PM
✓ Verified Nov 8, 2026
Why this place: Free · at The Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Long Island · official listing on longislandmuseum.org · checked Nov 8
Arts & culture

Memory Disco: Home for the Holidays at the Long Island Museum

📍 The Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A · Stony Brook, Long Island
Free; registration required; for people living with dementia and their care partners
Starts in 3w 2d
WED, DEC 2 · 5 PM–8 PM
✓ Verified Nov 5, 2026
Why this place: Free · pay what you wish · at Museum of Arts and Design, Manhattan · official listing on madmuseum.org · checked Nov 5
Arts & culture

Pay What You Wish evening at the Museum of Arts and Design

📍 Museum of Arts and Design · Columbus Circle, Manhattan
Suggested donation · pay what you wish · Pay what you wish 5–8 PM on the first Wednesday of each month; in-person tickets only.
Starts in 3w 4d
FRI, DEC 4 · 9 AM–12 PM
✓ Verified Nov 7, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum in Pelham Bay Park, Westchester · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Nov 7
Volunteering

Tree and Shrub Planting in Pelham Bay Park (Dec 4)

📍 Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum in Pelham Bay Park · Pelham Bay, Bronx, Westchester
Free · registration required
Starts in 3w 5d
SAT, DEC 5 · 11 AM–5 PM
✓ Verified Nov 7, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Parrish Art Museum, Long Island · official listing on parrishart.org · checked Nov 7
Arts & culture

Winter Welcome Day - Free Admission

📍 Parrish Art Museum · Water Mill, Long Island
Free
Starts in 3w 6d
SUN, DEC 6 · 12 PM–5 PM
✓ Verified Nov 4, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Long Island · official listing on longislandmuseum.org · checked Nov 4
Arts & culture

Long Island Museum Winter Open House

📍 Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A · Stony Brook, Long Island
Free for everyone; no registration required.
Starts in 3w 6d
SUN, DEC 6 · 12 PM–3 PM
✓ Verified Nov 7, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Hallockville Museum Farm, Long Island · official listing on hallockville.org · checked Nov 7
Markets & pop-ups

Holidays at Hallockville

📍 Hallockville Museum Farm · Riverhead, Long Island
Free
Starts in 4w 4d
THU, DEC 10 · 7 PM–9 PM
✓ Verified Nov 7, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Long Island Museum, Carriage Museum Gillespie Room, 1200 Rou, Long Island · official listing on longislandmuseum.org · checked Nov 7
Family & kids

Free Screening: The Muppet Christmas Carol

📍 Long Island Museum, Carriage Museum Gillespie Room, 1200 Route 25A · Stony Brook, Long Island
Free screening; advance registration requested; space limited
Starts in 5w 4d
FRI, DEC 18 · 2 PM–3:30 PM
✓ Verified Nov 7, 2026
Why this place: Free · at The Long Island Museum Studio, 1200 Route 25A, Long Island · official listing on longislandmuseum.org · checked Nov 7
Arts & culture

Stitch & Chit-Ch(at) at the Long Island Museum

📍 The Long Island Museum Studio, 1200 Route 25A · Stony Brook, Long Island
Free program; no registration required; ages 12 and up

Questions

How many listings are in this guide?

85 verified listings right now. Updated automatically.

How are these listings checked?

Every listing links to the organizer's own page: the venue, the city agency or park, or the official ticket or RSVP page. We don't copy listings from other event sites.

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