MoMA PS1 Becomes New York City’s Largest Free Museum

MoMA PS1, the contemporary art museum in Long Island City, Queens, has announced that beginning 1 January 2026 it will offer free admission to all visitors, becoming the largest free museum in New York City. The institution shared the news in December 2025, framing the move as a major expansion of public access to contemporary art.

The initiative is made possible by a gift from creative entrepreneur Sonya Yu, which covers the museum's lost admission revenue for three years, through 2028. Since 2015, MoMA PS1 had offered free entry only to residents of New York City, with other visitors paying a suggested fee. The new policy removes that barrier entirely, welcoming audiences from across the city and around the world.

“The institution shared the news in December 2025, framing the move as a major expansion of public access to contemporary art.”

Connie Butler, the museum's Agnes Gund Director, said that thanks to Yu's extraordinary gift the museum could invite even more New Yorkers and global audiences to engage with its program. Yu, who described herself as a proud Chinese immigrant and a mother, explained that she had seen firsthand how access to art can shape imagination and change perspectives. The gift reflects a growing conversation in the museum field about how free admission can broaden reach and strengthen ties to local communities.

The free-admission launch coincides with MoMA PS1's 50th anniversary in 2026 and the opening of its signature Greater New York exhibition on 16 April 2026. It also builds on the museum's recent accessibility efforts, including language access in English, Spanish, and Chinese, free event tickets for Long Island City residents, and partnerships with neighborhood organizations.

The decision lands amid a wider debate in the museum world about the role of admission fees. A 2025 report found that institutions offering free general admission often have a lower cost per visitor and reach broader audiences, prompting several museums to drop or reduce charges. Advocates argue that removing the price of a ticket lowers a real psychological and financial barrier, especially for young people, newcomers, and families who might not otherwise step inside. By making its galleries free to everyone, MoMA PS1 positions contemporary art as a public good rather than a luxury, joining a growing movement to make culture genuinely open to all who wish to experience it.