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.

79 verified listings right now. Updated automatically.

FreeRegistration requiredPhoto: MoMA PS1

Starts in 9h 10m

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

62°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 14h 10m

Daily · 5 PM–6 PM

59°F · Mostly 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