Free Museum Days in NYC – Complete Schedule 2026
NYC museums are world-class but expensive ($25-30 admission). The good news: almost every major museum offers free or pay-what-you-wish hours. Here is the complete schedule.
Always Free
- National Museum of the American Indian — Always free, Bowling Green
- Bronx Museum of the Arts — Always free
- Museum at FIT — Always free, fashion and design
- Federal Hall — Always free, Wall Street history
- Hamilton Grange — Always free, Alexander Hamiltons home
Pay-What-You-Wish (NYC Residents)
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Any amount for NY/NJ/CT residents
- American Museum of Natural History — Suggested donation for NY residents
- Brooklyn Museum — First Saturday of each month free 5-11 PM
Weekly Free Hours
- MoMA — Free Fridays 5:30-9 PM
- Whitney Museum — Pay-what-you-wish Fridays 5-10 PM
- New Museum — Pay-what-you-wish Thursdays 7-9 PM
- Guggenheim — Pay-what-you-wish Saturdays 4-6 PM
- Museum of the City of New York — Pay-what-you-wish Thursdays 5-9 PM
Tips
- Bring a NY state ID for resident discounts
- Free hours are crowded — arrive early or go in the last 30 minutes
- Many museums are closed Mondays
- Bank of America cardholders get free admission first weekend of each month (Museums on Us program)
Watch our museum vlogs on NewYorkNoNavro YouTube.