The Metropolitan Museum of Art is pay-what-you-wish for New York State residents and for students from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, a standing exception to a general admission ticket that otherwise runs $30 for adults. Several other institutions in the city apply their own conditions — a weekly free window, a student list, or in one case, no charge at all — and the terms vary enough between them that a visitor budgeting a day of museum-going benefits from checking each policy before arriving.
Is the Met really pay-what-you-wish for everyone?
No. The Metropolitan Museum of Art's pay-what-you-wish rate applies only to New York State residents and to students from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, according to the museum's own visitor information. Everyone else pays the standard ticket: $30 for adults, $22 for visitors 65 and older or with disabilities, and $17 for students, with children 12 and under admitted free.
The museum states that under the pay-what-you-wish rate, "the amount you pay for admission is up to you, but you must pay something ($00.01 minimum per ticket)." Buying a pay-what-you-wish ticket online requires a New York State billing address; New Jersey and Connecticut students can only claim the rate in person, with valid student identification. Accepted proof of New York residency includes a New York driver's license, an IDNYC card, a current bill showing a New York address, or a New York library card. The Met is open Sunday through Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; it is closed Wednesdays, Thanksgiving, December 25, January 1 and the first Monday in May.
When is MoMA free, and for whom?
The Museum of Modern Art's standard adult ticket is $30, with $22 for visitors 65 and over and $17 for full-time students with ID, but the museum runs a standing free window called UNIQLO Friday Nights. According to MoMA, "admission is free for New York State residents every Friday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.," though advance reservation and proof of residency are required.
MoMA also lists a broader set of visitors who enter free at any time: children 16 and under, visitors with disabilities and one care partner, museum professionals with valid ID (plus one guest), active-duty US military, United Nations staff, recipients of SNAP or WIC food assistance, and Cool Culture cardholders. Full-time students with ID from a specific list of area schools — including CUNY, Columbia, Cooper Union, Pratt, SUNY, the School of Visual Arts, Juilliard, The New School, Rockefeller University and New York University — also receive complimentary entry at the ticketing desk. Most of these categories require advance booking or ID presentation on site, and group visits are typically excluded.
Has MoMA PS1 become a free museum?
Yes, as of January 1, 2026. According to The Art Newspaper, MoMA PS1 began offering free admission to all visitors at the start of this year, funded by a three-year initiative backed by entrepreneur and collector Sonya Yu, making it the largest fully admission-free museum in New York City. The change coincides with the affiliate institution's 50th anniversary; PS1 director Connie Butler said the support allows the Long Island City museum to reach broader audiences, and the outlet reported the upcoming exhibition "Greater New York," running April through August 2026, will be among the first major shows accessible under the new policy. The Art Newspaper noted MoMA PS1 joins the Bronx Museum as one of the only New York City art institutions that is fully free year-round, rather than free only during set hours.
What does the Whitney offer on Friday nights?
The Whitney Museum of American Art's general adult admission is $30, and according to the museum's visitor information, admission is free — not merely pay-what-you-wish — on Friday nights from 5 to 10 p.m., with regular hours running 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Saturday through Sunday, extending to 10 p.m. on Fridays. The museum describes the Friday evening window as including "free access to exhibitions, special programming, and more."
How do the policies compare?
| Museum | Standard adult ticket | Reduced or free access | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Metropolitan Museum of Art | $30 | Pay-what-you-wish, any visit | New York State residents; NY/NJ/CT students with ID |
| MoMA | $30 | Free, Fridays 5:30–8:30 p.m. | New York State residents, with reservation and proof of residency |
| MoMA PS1 | Free | Free, all hours | All visitors, since January 1, 2026 |
| Whitney Museum of American Art | $30 | Free, Fridays 5–10 p.m. | All visitors |
Children's admission is a separate track at each institution: the Met admits visitors 12 and under free, while MoMA extends free entry to anyone 16 and under. Full pricing, reservation requirements and blackout dates are subject to change and should be confirmed on each museum's website before a visit.
Practical details
The Metropolitan Museum of Art: 1000 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan. Sunday–Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Friday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m.; closed Wednesdays. Adult admission $30; pay-what-you-wish for New York State residents and NY/NJ/CT students. Hours and pricing subject to change.
MoMA: 11 West 53rd Street, Manhattan. Adult admission $30; free for New York State residents on Fridays, 5:30–8:30 p.m., with reservation. Hours and pricing subject to change.
MoMA PS1: 22-25 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City, Queens. Free admission for all visitors as of January 1, 2026, under a three-year funding initiative. Hours and program details subject to change.
Whitney Museum of American Art: 99 Gansevoort Street, Manhattan. Monday–Thursday and Saturday–Sunday, 10:30 a.m.–6 p.m.; Friday, 10:30 a.m.–10 p.m., with free admission 5–10 p.m. Adult admission $30. Hours and pricing subject to change.
For a related exhibitions perspective, read How a library card unlocks free admission to more than 100 New York museums.