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Free Museums in NYC

Free museum days, free nights and always-free galleries

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Open / on now1Today2Tomorrow13This weekend11📅 Pick dates
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New York City80📍 Manhattan📍 Brooklyn📍 QueensBronx5Staten Island30Lower New York6Long Island2Westchester & Rockland3Lower Connecticut1New Jersey1

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🎨 Arts & culture26🎶 Music & nightlife4🌳 Outdoors3🧸 Family & kids5🥕 Farmers markets1🚶 Tours & walks1🖌️ Painting & crafts3🤝 Volunteering1🧺 Markets & pop-ups1
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🧸 Kids8👨‍👩‍👧 Family (all ages)36💞 Date30

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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.

87 verified listings right now. Updated automatically.

Happening now
Every Wed, Thu, Fri · 12 PM–8 PM
70°F · Chance Rain Showers
✓ 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 50m
Every Thu · 7 PM–9 PM
69°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ 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 15h 50m
1st Fri · 10 AM–5 PM
66°F · Rain
✓ Verified Nov 3, 2026
Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at The Noguchi Museum, 9-01 33rd Rd, Queens · official listing on noguchi.org · checked Nov 3
Arts & culture

Free First Friday at the Noguchi Museum

📍 The Noguchi Museum, 9-01 33rd Rd · Long Island City, Queens
Free admission · advance reservations highly recommended
Starts in 15h 50m
Every Sun, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat · 10 AM–3:30 PM
66°F · Rain
✓ Verified Nov 5, 2026
Why this place: Free · pay what you wish · repeats, so you can go another time · at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn · official listing on bbg.org · checked Nov 5
Outdoors

Brooklyn Botanic Garden daytime pay-what-you-wish (through Jan 15)

📍 Brooklyn Botanic Garden · Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Suggested donation · pay what you wish · Daytime admission pay-what-you-wish through January 15 while Lightscape is installed; evenings are separate paid Lightscape tickets
Starts in 16h 50m
Every Fri · 11 AM–9 PM
66°F · Rain
✓ 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 17h 50m
Every Sun, Thu, Fri, Sat · 12 PM–5 PM
66°F · Rain
✓ 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 17h 50m
Every Sun, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat · 12 PM–6 PM
66°F · Rain
✓ 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
Starts in 22h 50m
Every Fri · 5 PM–10 PM
65°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ 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 22h 50m
Daily · 5 PM–6 PM
65°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ 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 23h 20m
Every Fri · 5:30 PM–8:30 PM
65°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ 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 1d 0h
FRI, NOV 6 · 6:30 PM–7:30 PM
64°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ 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

Why We Play: Sport, Art and Youth Identity at the Whitney

📍 Whitney Museum of American Art · Meatpacking District, Manhattan
Free · registration required · Free; registration required, museum admission included
Starts in 1d 0h
FRI, NOV 6 · 7 PM–9 PM
63°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ 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
Painting & crafts

Collagraph Printing Workshop at the Whitney (Free Friday Night)

📍 Whitney Museum of American Art · Meatpacking District, Manhattan
Free · registration required · Free; included in free Friday-night museum admission (5-10 pm); ticket required, capacity limited, advance tickets recommended
Starts in 1d 13h
Every Sat · 8 AM–3 PM
57°F · Mostly Sunny
✓ Verified Oct 25, 2026
Why this place: Free to enter · repeats, so you can go another time · at MoMA PS1, Long Island City, Queens · official listing on grownyc.org · checked Oct 25
Farmers markets

Greenmarket at MoMA PS1

📍 MoMA PS1, Long Island City · Long Island City, Queens
Free to walk in · produce is paid
Starts in 1d 14h
SAT, NOV 7 · 8:30 AM–11 AM
57°F · Mostly Sunny
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Intrepid Museum, Manhattan · official listing on intrepidmuseum.org · checked Oct 29
Family & kids

Early Morning Opening: To the Stars! Space Exploration (sensory-friendly)

📍 Intrepid Museum · Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan
Free · advance registration required · for kids 3–18 with autism or sensory sensitivities + families
Starts in 1d 15h
SAT, NOV 7 · 10 AM–6 PM
62°F · Mostly Sunny
✓ Verified Oct 28, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · at MoMA PS1, Queens · official listing on momaps1.org · checked Oct 28
Arts & culture

MoMA PS1 November Open House

📍 MoMA PS1 · Long Island City, Queens
Free admission and programs; separate RSVPs required for selected activities. Optional purchases extra.
Starts in 1d 16h
SAT, NOV 7 · 11 AM–4 PM
64°F · Mostly Sunny
✓ Verified Oct 28, 2026
Why this place: Free · at King Manor Museum, Queens · official listing on eventbrite.com · checked Oct 28
Arts & culture

Queens Fiber Arts Festival

📍 King Manor Museum · Jamaica, Queens
Free general admission; optional purchases extra. Workshop costs and RSVP requirements unconfirmed.
Starts in 1d 16h
Every Sat · 11 AM–2 PM
63°F · Mostly Sunny
✓ Verified Nov 1, 2026
Why this place: Free · pay what you wish · kid-friendly · repeats, so you can go another time · at Wyckoff House Museum, Brooklyn · official listing on wyckoffmuseum.org · checked Nov 1
Family & kids

Saturday house tours at the Wyckoff House Museum

📍 Wyckoff House Museum · Brooklyn
Suggested donation · pay what you wish · Guided house tours by donation
Starts in 2d 21h
Every Sun, Tue · 4 PM–5:30 PM
59°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
Starts in 4d 15h
Every Tue · 9:30 AM–12 PM
53°F · Sunny
✓ Verified Oct 29, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · repeats, so you can go another time · at Queens Botanical Garden Farm, Queens · official listing on queensbotanical.org · checked Oct 29
Volunteering

Farm Community Volunteer Days at Queens Botanical Garden

📍 Queens Botanical Garden Farm · Flushing, Queens
Volunteer program (no fee listed); sign-up required
Starts in 5d 15h
Every Wed · 10 AM–9 PM
55°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 5d 16h
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 5d 22h
WED, NOV 11 · 5 PM–9 PM
58°F · 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 1w 1d
FRI, NOV 13 · 6:30 PM–10 PM
✓ 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 1w 1d
SAT, NOV 14 · 11 AM–5 PM
✓ 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 1w 1d
SAT, NOV 14 · 11:30 AM–1 PM
✓ Verified Nov 3, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Queens Museum, New York City Building, Flushing Meadows Coro, Queens · official listing on queensmuseum.org · checked Nov 3
Family & kids

ArtAccess Museum Explorers for Children with Disabilities

📍 Queens Museum, New York City Building, Flushing Meadows Corona Park · Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens
Free; advance registration advised. Capacity unconfirmed.
Starts in 1w 1d
SAT, NOV 14 · 2 PM–4 PM
✓ Verified Nov 3, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Queens Museum, New York City Building, Flushing Meadows Coro, Queens · official listing on queensmuseum.org · checked Nov 3
Family & kids

ArtAccess Open Studio for Teens and Adults with Disabilities

📍 Queens Museum, New York City Building, Flushing Meadows Corona Park · Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens
Free; advance registration advised. Capacity unconfirmed.
Starts in 1w 2d
SUN, NOV 15 · 11 AM–4 PM
✓ Verified Oct 28, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Queens Museum, New York City Building, Queens · official listing on queensmuseum.org · checked Oct 28
Arts & culture

Community Archiving Day at Queens Museum

📍 Queens Museum, New York City Building · Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens
Free event; optional books and zines cost extra.
Starts in 1w 2d
SUN, NOV 15 · 11:30 AM–1 PM
✓ Verified Nov 1, 2026
Why this place: Free · kid-friendly · at Queens Museum, New York City Building, Queens · official listing on queensmuseum.org · checked Nov 1
Arts & culture

ArtAccess Museum Explorers for Children with Disabilities

📍 Queens Museum, New York City Building · Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens
Free ArtAccess program; RSVP recommended on the dated listing. Register in advance to arrange participation.
Starts in 1w 2d
SUN, NOV 15 · 2 PM–4 PM
✓ Verified Nov 1, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at Queens Museum, New York City Building, Queens · official listing on queensmuseum.org · checked Nov 1
Arts & culture

ArtAccess Open Studio for Teens and Adults with Disabilities

📍 Queens Museum, New York City Building · Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens
Free ArtAccess program; RSVP recommended on the dated listing. Register in advance to arrange participation.
Starts in 1w 5d
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 5d
WED, NOV 18 · 6 PM–8 PM
✓ Verified Nov 2, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at The Noguchi Museum, Queens · official listing on noguchi.org · checked Nov 2
Arts & culture

Noguchi Talks: Alanna Heiss and Martin Puryear

📍 The Noguchi Museum · Long Island City, Queens
Free · registration required · Free; reservation required (space is limited), RSVP by email per the museum's page
Starts in 1w 6d
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 1w 6d
THU, NOV 19 · 6 PM–9 PM
✓ Verified Oct 27, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at Brooklyn Museum Lobby, 1st Floor, Brooklyn · official listing on brooklynmuseum.org · checked Oct 27
Music & nightlife

Salsa Party at the Brooklyn Museum

📍 Brooklyn Museum Lobby, 1st Floor · Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Free; registration encouraged
Starts in 2w 2d
SUN, NOV 22 · 2 PM–4 PM
✓ Verified Oct 31, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Queens Museum, New York City Building, Queens · official listing on queensmuseum.org · checked Oct 31
Arts & culture

Free Adult Printmaking Workshop at Queens Museum

📍 Queens Museum, New York City Building · Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens
Free adults-only class; no registration required.
Starts in 3w 5d
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.

Questions

How many listings are in this guide?

87 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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