Museum · New York
The Metropolitan Museum of Art: free entry days, tickets & hours
The largest art museum in the US, on Fifth Avenue at Central Park, spanning 5,000 years of art; ticket also covers The Met Cloisters.
Independent guide, not the official The Met website. Official links are under Sources.
The Met is free for some visitors, not for everyone.
- Free for: Children 12 and under are free; Museums for All: free with an EBT/SNAP card; Bank of America Museums on Us: free on the first full weekend of every month; IDNYC cardholders: free (complimentary one-year IDNYC Membership); and more below.
- Otherwise: adult admission — $30.
Calendar
Free days at The Met
For Bank of America cardholders (Museums on Us)
- SAT7NOVSaturday, 7 November 2026 · in 2 weeks
- SUN8NOVSunday, 8 November 2026 · in 2 weeks
- SAT5DECSaturday, 5 December 2026 · in 6 weeks
- SUN6DECSunday, 6 December 2026 · in 6 weeks
- SAT2JANSaturday, 2 January 2027 · in 2 months
- SUN3JANSunday, 3 January 2027 · in 2 months
Closures and public holidays are already taken out. Group-only days need proof of eligibility.
Before you go
How to actually get in for free
- The Met is closed on Wednesdays; Friday and Saturday are the late nights (to 9pm).
- Pay-what-you-wish for New York State residents is not quite free: the minimum is one cent.
- Your ticket also gets you into The Met Cloisters the same day.
- Outside vouchers and resold tickets are not accepted; buy on metmuseum.org or on-site.
All free options
Who gets in free, and when
| Free option | Who | Conditions | Book? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free forChildren 12 and under are free | children under 13 | — | No |
| Free forMuseums for All: free with an EBT/SNAP card | EBT cardholders (Museums for All) | New York State EBT/SNAP cardholders can also get a free membership (two adults plus children 17 and under); pick up tickets on-site. | No |
| Free dayBank of America Museums on Us: free on the first full weekend of every month | Bank of America cardholders (Museums on Us) | Pick up the ticket at an on-site ticketing desk. | No |
| Free forIDNYC cardholders: free (complimentary one-year IDNYC Membership) | idnyc holders | — | No |
| Free forMilitary ID holders free from mid-May to Labor Day (Blue Star Museums) | military members and families | Seasonal: mid-May through Labor Day only. | No |
| Free forNew York City high school students are free | NYC High School students | — | No |
| Free forCare partner of a visitor with a disability is free | disabled care partner | — | No |
Official prices
The Met ticket prices
| Adult admission — Seniors 65+ $22, students $17. NY State residents and NY/NJ/CT students pay what they wish (minimum $0.01). Same-day entry to The Met Cloisters included. | $30 |
Prices from the official website, checked Oct 2026. Free options are listed above.
Worth timing your visit?
What a free day saves
Based on the official price (adult admission). Free days are busier — if your dates don't line up, a timed ticket is the trade-off.
Tickets & tours
Best-rated tickets and tours: The Met
GetYourGuideNYC: Express Highlights Tour of the MET Museum★★★★★ 4.5 · 886 reviews2 hoursfrom $52
GetYourGuideNYC: Meet the Met – Extended 3-Hour Small-Group Tour★★★★★ 4.7 · 421 reviews3 hoursfrom $79
HeadoutMetropolitan Museum of Art Highlights Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Access★★★★★ 4.6 · 67 reviewsfrom $52
TiqetsThe Metropolitan Museum of Art: Skip The Line Ticket + Guided Tour★★★★☆ 4.4 · 28 reviews2 hoursfrom $55
HeadoutMetropolitan Museum of Art Pre-Orientation Tour with Skip-the-Line Access★★★★☆ 4.4 · 22 reviewsfrom $47.49
TiqetsThe Metropolitan Museum of Art: Guided Tour★★★★★ 4.8 · 16 reviews2 hoursfrom $59
All tickets and tours on GetYourGuide
Ratings and prices from the booking partners; prices may change.
Practical
Opening hours & how to get there
| Mon | 10:00–17:00 |
|---|---|
| Tue | 10:00–17:00 |
| Wed | Closed |
| Thu | 10:00–17:00 |
| Fri | 10:00–21:00 |
| Sat | 10:00–21:00 |
| Sun | 10:00–17:00 |
Sunday-Tuesday and Thursday 10am-5pm; Friday and Saturday 10am-9pm; closed Wednesday. Closed Thanksgiving, 25 December, 1 January and the first Monday in May.
1000 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10028, USA
Also free nearby
Make a free afternoon of it
Worth paying for nearby
Paid highlights within walking distance
FAQ
The Met: common questions
Is The Met free?
The Met has no free entry for everyone. Also free: Children 12 and under are free; Museums for All: free with an EBT/SNAP card; Bank of America Museums on Us: free on the first full weekend of every month; IDNYC cardholders: free (complimentary one-year IDNYC Membership); and more below. Otherwise the official ticket costs $30.
When are the free days at The Met for Bank of America cardholders (Museums on Us)?
Upcoming free dates for Bank of America cardholders (Museums on Us): Sat 7 Nov, Sun 8 Nov, Sat 5 Dec and Sun 6 Dec. Bring proof of eligibility; booking rules are listed above.
Who gets free entry to The Met?
Children under 13. EBT cardholders (Museums for All) — new York State EBT/SNAP cardholders can also get a free membership (two adults plus children 17 and under); pick up tickets on-site.. Idnyc holders. Military members and families — seasonal: mid-May through Labor Day only.. NYC High School students. Disabled care partner.
How much is a ticket to The Met?
Adult admission costs $30 on the official site.
What day is The Met closed?
The Met is closed on Wednesdays. Sunday-Tuesday and Thursday 10am-5pm; Friday and Saturday 10am-9pm; closed Wednesday. Closed Thanksgiving, 25 December, 1 January and the first Monday in May.
Visitor reviews
What visitors say about The Met
No reviews yet. Been here? Tell others how it went — especially on a free day.
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Sources
Where this comes from
- metmuseum.org/plan-your-visit · checked Friday, 23 October 2026
- metmuseum.org/policies/complimentary-admission · checked Friday, 23 October 2026
Every free rule is checked against the official source and re-checked on a schedule. Spotted a change? Tell us.