MoMA Tickets 2026: Prices, Free Days & What to See First
MoMA holds The Starry Night, Warhol's Campbell's Soup Cans, and Picasso's Demoiselles d'Avignon. Tickets are $28 online. Here's how to plan your visit and what most people miss.
MoMA is the museum that defined modern art as a category. Van Gogh's The Starry Night, Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, Warhol's Campbell's Soup Cans, Monet's Water Lilies triptych — they're all here, in a building that's been expanded and rethought so many times it now fills an entire Midtown block. Most visitors beeline for The Starry Night on floor 5, take the photo, and work their way down. That's fine. But the museum rewards a different approach.
In 3 minutes, you'll know:
- What tickets cost and how to get in free
- Which floors to prioritise (and which to skip on a short visit)
- Where to find The Starry Night without fighting the crowd
- The best time to visit for fewer people
How much are MoMA tickets in 2026?
Online tickets cost $28 (adults), $20 (seniors 65+), $15 (students with ID). Under 16 is always free. At the door, prices jump to $30/$22/$17.
Free admission: New York State residents get in free every Friday from 5:30 to 8:30 PM. Reserve your free ticket in advance on the MoMA website — walk-ups are possible but the line is long. MoMA PS1 in Queens is free for everyone since January 2026.
Where to book
Our take: Same $28, but GYG adds skip-the-line, MoMA PS1 (14-day window), and free cancellation. NY residents: book free Friday evening slots on the official site.
What should you see first?
Floor 5 — the greatest hits. The Starry Night, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, Warhol's Campbell's Soup Cans and Gold Marilyn Monroe, Mondrian's Broadway Boogie Woogie, Matisse's Dance. This floor alone justifies the ticket. Go here first — by 11 AM the Starry Night crowd is three deep.
Floor 4 — the connectors. Abstract Expressionism (Pollock, de Kooning, Rothko) and Pop Art in context. The leap from Picasso to Pollock to Warhol makes visual sense when you walk it in order.
Floor 2 and 3 — the surprise. Contemporary art and photography. Most visitors skip these floors. The rotating installations are often MoMA's most provocative work, and the galleries are emptier.
The sculpture garden (ground floor). Free to enter even without a museum ticket. Picasso, Rodin, and rotating installations in a Midtown courtyard. Best in spring and autumn. Most visitors don't know it exists.
When is the best time to visit?
Hours: Monday–Thursday and weekends, 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM. Fridays 10:30 AM – 8:30 PM (free entry for NY residents from 5:30 PM).
Quietest times: Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, 10:30 AM – 12 PM. Weekdays in general are calmer than weekends. Avoid Saturday afternoons and Friday evenings (free hours draw large crowds).
The Starry Night tip: Go to floor 5 first thing when the museum opens. By noon, the room is packed with tour groups and selfie queues. At 10:30 AM, you might have 30 seconds of quiet with it.
What do most visitors wish they knew?
The bag check is free but slow. Large bags and umbrellas must be checked. The line at coat check moves slowly on busy days. Travel light if you can.
The design store is worth a visit. MoMA Design Store (across the street on 53rd) is one of the best museum shops in the world. Not the usual postcards — actual design objects you'll use.
MoMA PS1 is included. Your ticket gets you into MoMA PS1 in Long Island City (Queens) within 14 days. PS1 focuses on experimental contemporary art and has been free for everyone since January 2026. It's a 25-minute subway ride from Midtown.
The film programme is real. MoMA screens films daily in its theatres — included with admission. Check the schedule on the MoMA website. It's one of the best film programmes in New York and most tourists don't know about it.
- Tickets
- $28 online | $20 senior | $15 student | Under 16 free
- Hours
- Daily 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM | Fri until 8:30 PM
- Free entry
- NY residents: Fridays 5:30–8:30 PM (reserve online)
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours (highlights) | 4–5 hours (full museum)
- Best time
- Tuesday or Wednesday morning, 10:30 AM
- Book at
- GetYourGuide (free cancellation) · official site
- Getting there
- 11 W 53rd St, Manhattan | E/M to 5th Ave–53rd St or B/D/F to 47-50th St
Frequently asked questions
How much are MoMA tickets in 2026?
Adults pay $28 online ($30 at the door). Seniors (65+) $20. Students $15. Under 16 always free. New York State residents get in free every Friday from 5:30 to 8:30 PM.
Is MoMA free on Fridays?
Free for New York State residents only, every Friday 5:30–8:30 PM. Reserve a free ticket in advance on the MoMA website. Expect crowds — Friday evenings are MoMA's busiest time.
How long do you need at MoMA?
2 to 3 hours for the highlights (floors 4 and 5). The full museum (six floors plus sculpture garden) needs 4-5 hours. Most visitors spend too long on 5 and rush through 2-3, where the contemporary work is often the most surprising.
What floor is The Starry Night on at MoMA?
Floor 5. It's in the permanent collection galleries along with Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (Picasso), Campbell's Soup Cans (Warhol), and Monet's Water Lilies triptych.
Is MoMA worth it compared to the Met?
Different museums for different purposes. MoMA covers 1880s to now — modern and contemporary. The Met covers 5,000 years across all cultures. MoMA is focused and doable in 2-3 hours. The Met is enormous and needs a full day. If you only have time for one: MoMA for modern art lovers, the Met for everything else. Full side-by-side comparison — prices, timing, same-day route — in Met vs MoMA: which museum to pick. If the Guggenheim is the other museum on your shortlist, see the MoMA vs Guggenheim comparison instead.
MoMA is where modern art lives. Start on 5, work your way down, and leave time for the sculpture garden. See where it ranks in our best art museums in New York guide, or check the free museum options if you're watching your budget. Get MoMA tickets on GetYourGuide — same price, free cancellation.
Last verified: April 2026