Museums, theater and music: every affordable way in
How to get into New York's museums, zoos, theaters and concerts for free or cheaply: IDNYC memberships, Culture Pass through the libraries, pay-what-you-wish times, entry with an EBT card, Museums on Us and free theater.
Start here
- IDNYC, the free City ID card, gives free one-year memberships at museums, zoos and theaters, such as the Bronx Zoo.
- A full New York, Brooklyn or Queens Public Library card opens Culture Pass: free passes to more than 100 museums, gardens and theaters.
- New York State residents pay what they wish at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History.
Get IDNYC
The free New York City ID card. It opens free one-year memberships at museums, zoos and theaters and serves as proof of residence at several museums. How to get it: “311, IDNYC and how the City works”.
Get a full library card
With a full New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library or Queens Public Library card, from age 13, you can reserve free Culture Pass passes to more than 100 institutions. How to get the card: “Libraries: a free card, computers and English”.
Claim the one-year memberships with IDNYC
Enroll in person: usually you bring your IDNYC to the box office or membership desk. You can't get one if you redeemed or paid for a membership at that institution in the past 5 years.
Use pay-what-you-wish and free-entry times
Pay what you wish means you choose the amount. Many museums ask for proof of a New York State address; the Met accepts a New York State driver's license or ID, IDNYC, a bill or statement with a New York State address, a student ID or a New York library card.
If you receive SNAP, ask about EBT
SNAP is money for groceries on an EBT card. Several museums give free entry with it, including the Whitney, The Jewish Museum, the Morgan Library & Museum and the Studio Museum in Harlem.
First full weekend of the month: a Bank of America card
With a Bank of America card, entry to Museums on Us museums is free on the first full weekend of each month. The next one is November 7 and 8, 2026.
Days and hours change with holidays and exhibitions.
When you can get in free or pay what you wish
| What the deal is | When and for whom | Regular adult price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) | Pay what you wish, from $0.01 | New York State residents and NY, NJ and CT students; online tickets need a New York State billing address | $30 |
| American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) | Pay what you wish for General Admission | New York State residents with ID; exhibitions and the planetarium not included | See the site |
| Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) | Free: UNIQLO Friday Nights | New York State residents, Fri 5:30–8:30 pm, free ticket reserved in advance | $30 |
| MoMA PS1 | Free for everyone | Since January 1, 2026, for 3 years | Free |
| Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum | Pay what you wish | Tue and Sun 4–5:30 pm | $30 |
| Whitney Museum of American Art | Free | Fri 5–10 pm with tickets, second Sundays, anyone 25 and under, SNAP/EBT cardholders one admission | $30 |
| Brooklyn Museum | Pay what you can at the desk | General admission at the Admissions Desk; online or at a kiosk you pay the full suggested price; free for ages 19 and under | $20 suggested |
| New-York Historical Society | Pay as you wish | Fri 5–8 pm | See the site |
| Morgan Library & Museum | Free | Fri 5–8 pm with a reservation, College Sundays on the first Sunday, SNAP/EBT cardholders get tickets at the desk | $25 |
| Museum of the City of New York | Pay what you can; free on Wednesdays | New York City residents with ID; Wed free for everyone, tickets at the counter; free for ages 18 and under | $23 |
| Studio Museum in Harlem | Pay what you can; free on Studio Sundays | EBT/SNAP: up to 4 complimentary tickets; free for ages 16 and under | $16 suggested |
| Queens Museum | Pay what you wish | Free for children 12 and under, IDNYC and Culture Pass holders (valid ID required) | $8 suggested |
| The Jewish Museum | Free | Every Saturday and third Thursdays 5–8 pm; SNAP/EBT cardholders | $24 |
| The Frick Collection | Pay what you wish | Wed 1:30–5:30 pm; $5 minimum online | See the site |
| Neue Galerie | Free | First Fridays 5–8 pm, first come, first served; closed for construction until November 12, 2026 | $28 |
| New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) | Free on Wednesdays | New York City residents, grounds admission; other days the Resident Grounds Access Pass costs $15, $7 or $4 | See the site |
| Brooklyn Children's Museum | Free on Thursdays | Thu 2–5 pm | $15 |
| Bronx Museum of the Arts | Free for everyone | All exhibitions and events | Free |
A valid IDNYC gets you a free one-year membership at these institutions. If you redeemed or paid for a membership at the same institution in the past 5 years, you can't get it again. IDNYC says "over 35" institutions take part, so new ones appear on its list.
American Museum of Natural History (AMNH)
Free
Ages 18 and up. There is no separate card: the membership is tied to your IDNYC, so show it at each visit.
Bronx County Historical Society
Free
A free one-year membership.
Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)
Free
A free one-year membership.
Brooklyn Children's Museum
Free
A free one-year membership.
Carnegie Hall
Free
A free one-year membership. While operations are limited, Carnegie Hall takes applications by email.
China Institute
Free
A free one-year membership.
Film Forum
Free
$6 off tickets for a year; redeem at the box office.
Flushing Town Hall
Free
A free one-year membership.
King Manor
Free
A free one-year membership.
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Free
A free $100-level Friends membership: pre-sale for Choose-What-You-Pay tickets and Fast Track for free events. Sign up in person at the David Geffen Hall Welcome Center or Alice Tully Hall.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met)
Free
A free one-year membership for ages 18 and up, issued on site, covering The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters.
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and MoMA PS1
Free
The "MoMA NYC" membership: free admission to both museums for one person, $5 for guests and free film tickets. Redeem in person; IDNYC says New York State ID holders are not eligible.
El Museo del Barrio
Free
Free entry for one person for a year.
Museum at Eldridge Street
Free
Free entry for two people for a year.
Museum of Jewish Heritage
Free
Free entry for one person for a year.
Museum of the City of New York
Free
Free unlimited admission for one person for a year.
New York City Ballet
Free
A free one-year membership.
New York City Center
Free
A free one-year membership.
The Public Theater
Free
A free one-year membership.
Queens Museum
Free
Admission for 2 adults and 4 children.
The Shed
Free
A free one-year membership.
Staten Island Children's Museum
Free
A free one-year membership.
Staten Island Museum
Free
Ages 14 and up; redeem in person.
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS): Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, New York Aquarium, Prospect Park Zoo, Queens Zoo
Free
Free general admission for one adult to the five zoos and aquarium of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Enroll at the Bronx Zoo, the Central Park Zoo or the New York Aquarium.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met)
Price depends on income
New York State residents and NY, NJ and CT students pay what they wish, from $0.01. Prove your New York State address with a driver's license or state ID, IDNYC, a bill or statement with a New York State address, a student ID or a New York library card. Regular prices: adults $30, seniors $22, students $17, children 12 and under free. Closed on Thanksgiving, December 25, January 1 and the first Monday of May.
American Museum of Natural History (AMNH)
Price depends on income
New York State residents with ID pay what they wish for General Admission only; separately ticketed exhibitions and the planetarium are not included. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Prices for other visitors and accepted ID are on the museum's site.
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Free
UNIQLO Friday Nights: free for New York State residents on Fridays from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. Reserve a free ticket ahead and bring proof of a New York State address.
MoMA PS1
Free
The contemporary art museum in Long Island City is free for everyone for three years from January 1, 2026. Reserve a free ticket online.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Price depends on income
Pay What You Wish on Tuesdays and Sundays from 4 to 5:30 pm. Closed November 10, November 26 (Thanksgiving) and December 25. Regular admission is $30.
Whitney Museum of American Art
Free
Free Friday Nights (5 to 10 pm) need free tickets, released 5 weeks ahead. Free Second Sundays are free for everyone. Anyone 25 and under is free every day; SNAP/EBT cardholders get one free admission per visit. The first-floor gallery is free to all. Regular admission $30, students and seniors $24.
Brooklyn Museum
Price depends on income
Pay-what-you-can general admission at the Admissions Desk; online or at a kiosk you pay the full suggested price, $20 for adults. Ages 19 and under are free. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
New-York Historical Society
Price depends on income
Pay as you wish on Fridays from 5 to 8 pm. Takes part in Culture Pass. Closed Mondays.
Morgan Library & Museum
Free
Free on Fridays from 5 to 8 pm with a reservation; tickets open a week ahead. College Sundays on the first Sunday are free for college students. SNAP/EBT cardholders get free tickets at the Admissions Desk. Regular admission is $25.
Museum of the City of New York
Price depends on income
New York City residents with ID pay what they can; Wednesdays are free for everyone, tickets at the counter only. Ages 18 and under are free; regular admission is $23. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and all day Saturday, November 21. The admission sticker gets you into El Museo del Barrio for free.
Studio Museum in Harlem
Price depends on income
Pay-What-You-Can: suggested $16 for adults, $9 for others. Studio Sundays are free for all. EBT/SNAP cardholders get up to 4 free tickets; children 16 and under are free.
Queens Museum
Price depends on income
Pay what you wish (suggested $8, $6 for seniors and students). Free for children 12 and under, IDNYC and Culture Pass cardholders, caregivers and some others; valid ID required.
The Jewish Museum
Free
Free every Saturday and on third Thursdays from 5 to 8 pm. SNAP/EBT cardholders and visitors with disabilities (plus a caregiver) are free. Closed November 26; closes early December 24, 25 and 31 and January 1. Regular admission is $24. Museums on Us applies on Sundays only.
The Frick Collection
Price depends on income
Pay what you wish on Wednesdays from 1:30 to 5:30 pm: $5 minimum online, onsite tickets can cost less but are not guaranteed. Louis Vuitton First Fridays are from 5:30 to 9 pm.
Neue Galerie
Free
Closed for construction; reopens on Thursday, November 12, 2026, with its 25th Anniversary Exhibition. First Fridays (5 to 8 pm) are free, first come, first served; regular admission is $28.
New York Botanical Garden (NYBG)
Price depends on income
On Wednesdays Grounds admission is free all day for New York City residents. On other open days the NYC Resident Grounds Access Pass costs $15 for adults, $7 for students and seniors and $4 for children, bought on site with proof of residency.
Brooklyn Children's Museum
Free
Free on Thursdays from 2 to 5 pm: reserve online or get tickets at the museum the same day. Group visits are limited then. Regular admission is $15, members free.
Bronx Museum of the Arts
Free
All exhibitions and events are free for everyone. While the south wing is renovated, the museum is open in the north wing.
Met Explorer Membership
Free
On June 2, 2026 the City and The Met announced that New Yorkers who receive in-state SNAP can enroll for free in the Met Explorer Membership: free general admission for the cardholder, one guest and children 17 and under. Enroll at the Membership Desk at The Met Fifth Avenue (82nd Street) or at The Cloisters. Source: the City's Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA).
Museums for All and the EBT card
Free
A national program in which each museum decides whether to give discounted entry with an EBT card. The Whitney, the Morgan, the Studio Museum in Harlem, The Jewish Museum and The Met (Met Explorer Membership) publish their EBT policies. The New York Transit Museum says it does not accept EBT for free or discounted admission.
Bank of America Museums on Us
Free
Bank of America credit and debit cardholders get free General Admission on the first full weekend of every month. The next one is November 7 and 8, 2026. In New York City: Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, the New York Botanical Garden, The Jewish Museum (Sundays only), The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters, and the Staten Island Children's Museum. Entry rules for each museum are on the program map.
The 2027 season is not announced yet. This is how it worked in 2026, per The Public Theater's official ticketing guide.
Tickets go out at noon
Free tickets to the Delacorte Theater in Central Park are given out at noon on the day of the performance, one or two per person.
Choose a way
In 2026 the options were: the line at the Delacorte (official line from 6:00 am, Public Theater Patron ID needed); an in-person lottery at The Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street (arrive between 11:00 and 11:58 am, exchange the voucher at the Delacorte from 5:30 to 7:30 pm); Borough Distribution; the TodayTix digital lottery (midnight to noon, accept by 3 pm); a standby line; a line for ages 65 and up; and an accessibility line (10 am).
Theater entrances
Enter the Delacorte Theater from 81st Street and Central Park West or from 79th Street and Fifth Avenue.
Shakespeare in the Park (The Public Theater)
Free
Free tickets to summer performances at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. The Public Theater has not announced how the 2027 season will work.
Lincoln Center: Summer for the City
Free
Hundreds of free and Choose-What-You-Pay events. The 2026 summer season has ended; there is a free Fast Track option, Social Dance nights and the year-round Lincoln Center Presents program. The 2027 summer program is not announced yet.
SummerStage (City Parks Foundation)
Free
A free outdoor festival: in 2026, its 40th season, it held more than 60 shows in 13 parks. The season has ended; the next schedule on the site starts in May 2027.
TDF Membership
Low cost
A not-for-profit (since 1968) that sells a $42-a-year membership: Broadway tickets for $53.50 to $62.50, shows beyond Broadway from $11. Full-time students of any age, freelancers and the self-employed, workers eligible for overtime and union members qualify; you upload proof.
TKTS Discount Booths
Low cost
Same-day theater tickets at up to 50% off; no TDF membership needed. The Times Square booth (Broadway at West 47th Street) is open until 8:00 PM. The Lincoln Center booth is closed.
- IDNYC
- The free New York City ID card, which opens free one-year memberships at museums and theaters.
- Culture Pass
- Free passes to museums, gardens and theaters for holders of a full New York, Brooklyn or Queens Public Library card.
- Pay what you wish
- You choose the amount: the museum has a regular price but accepts less at certain hours or from certain visitors.
- SNAP
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: money for groceries for people with low income.
- EBT
- Electronic Benefits Transfer card: the card that holds SNAP benefits; museums accept it as proof of eligibility for a discount.
- Museums on Us
- A Bank of America program: free museum entry for holders of its cards on the first full weekend of the month.
- TDF
- Theatre Development Fund: a not-for-profit organization that sells discounted theater tickets.
- TKTS
- TDF's booths that sell same-day theater tickets at up to 50% off.
- Choose-What-You-Pay
- A ticket format in which you choose the price; Lincoln Center uses the term for some of its tickets.
This is general information, not legal advice: QARAVAN has no lawyers. QARAVAN does not help anyone enter the US and cannot arrange visas, invitations, sponsorship or evacuation. For your own case, talk to a licensed immigration attorney or a representative accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Sources, checked November 2026
- nyc.gov/site/idnyc/benefits/museums-and-cultural-institutions.…
- metmuseum.org/plan-your-visit
- nyc.gov/site/dcla/about/pressrelease/PR-2026-6-2-The-Metropoli…
- amnh.org/plan-your-visit/admission
- visit.moma.org/select/uniqlo
- momaps1.org/en/visit
- guggenheim.org/plan-your-visit
- whitney.org/visit/free-admission
- whitney.org/visit
- brooklynmuseum.org/visit
- nyhistory.org/visit
- themorgan.org/visit
- mcny.org/visit
- studiomuseum.org/visit
- queensmuseum.org/visit
- thejewishmuseum.org/visit
- frick.org/visit
- neuegalerie.org/visit
- nybg.org/visit/admission
- brooklynkids.org/visit
- bronxmuseum.org/visit
- about.bankofamerica.com/en/making-an-impact/museums-on-us-part…
- nytransitmuseum.org/know-before-you-visit
- publictheater.org/media/svpd2erk/ticketing-guide-to-the-delaco…
- lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city
- cityparksfoundation.org/summerstage
- tdf.org/discount-ticket-programs/tdf-membership
- tdf.org/discount-ticket-programs/tkts-by-tdf/tkts-live