Free Museums in NYC

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.

84 verified listings right now. Updated automatically.

FreeRegistration requiredPhoto: MoMA PS1

Starts in 17h 27m

Every Sun, Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat · 12 PM–6 PM

58°F · Mostly Sunny

✓ Verified Nov 6, 2026

Why this place: Free · registration required · repeats, so you can go another time · at MoMA PS1, Queens · official listing on momaps1.org · checked Nov 6

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MoMA PS1 (Free Admission)

📍 MoMA PS1 · Long Island City, Queens

Free · registration required · Free admission for all; reserve tickets on the official visit page. Closed Tue, Wed, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day. Saturday opens 10 AM.

Pay what you wishPhoto: Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

Starts in 22h 27m

Daily · 5 PM–6 PM

56°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

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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

Pay what you wishPhoto: Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Starts in 1d 15h

Every Sun, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat · 10 AM–3:30 PM

54°F · Mostly Sunny

✓ 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

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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

FreePhoto: Bronx Museum of the Arts

Starts in 2d 16h

Every Sun, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat · 11 AM–6 PM

57°F · Sunny

✓ Verified Oct 31, 2026

Why this place: Free · repeats, so you can go another time · at Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx · official listing on bronxmuseum.org · checked Oct 31

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Bronx Museum of the Arts (Always Free)

📍 Bronx Museum of the Arts · Bronx

Free

Pay what you wish

Starts in 2d 17h

Every Sun, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat · 12 PM–6 PM

60°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

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Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art (Suggested Donation)

📍 Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art · Manhattan

Suggested donation; pay what you wish

FreeIllustration

Starts in 2d 17h

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

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

📍 The Museum at FIT · Manhattan

Free

FreeKid-friendlyIllustration

Starts in 3d 15h

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

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New York Transit Museum Holiday Train Show

📍 New York Transit Museum Grand Central Gallery · Midtown, Manhattan

Free

FreeRegistration requiredPhoto: Hispanic Society Museum & Library

Starts in 3d 17h

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

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Hispanic Society Museum & Library (Free Admission)

📍 Hispanic Society Museum & Library · Manhattan

Free; registration required; Free with a reserved ticket

Pay what you wishPhoto: The Studio Museum in Harlem

Starts in 4d 16h

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

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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

FreeRegistration requiredPhoto: Whitney Museum of American Art

Starts in 4d 22h

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

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Whitney Free Friday Nights

📍 Whitney Museum of American Art · Meatpacking, Manhattan

Free; timed tickets required

FreeRegistration required

Starts in 4d 22h

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

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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