Beginning January 1, MoMA PS1 in New York City will eliminate admission fees for all visitors over a three-year period, as the museum disclosed on Tuesday, December 9. This initiative follows a generous donation from Sonya Yu, a Bay Area art collector and entrepreneur, who is a board member at both the Hammer Museum—where PS1 Director Connie Butler previously served as chief curator—and the San Francisco Museum of Art. The exemption will be in place from 2026 to 2028, a measure the museum believes will address financial obstacles to entry.
In recent years, the cost of visiting museums in New York City has surged, with major establishments like the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim, and the Whitney Museum of American Art increasing their standard adult admission fees to $30.
The fee waiver at MoMA PS1 coincides with the museum’s 50th-anniversary celebrations in 2026, which will include the annual Greater New York exhibition launching in April. Although New York residents currently enjoy free entry, others are charged $10, with discounts for seniors and youth. The museum stated that this upcoming admission policy change will make it the largest free-entry museum in New York City.
Yu’s donation follows last year’s Whitney Museum of American Art initiative, which, due to a $2 million contribution from artist Julie Mehretu and further funding from philanthropist Susan Hess, offered free admission to visitors under 25 for three years.
MoMA PS1 has not yet disclosed the financial details regarding the size of Yu’s donation to Hyperallergic. In a statement to Hyperallergic, Yu expressed her aspiration to inspire new generations through art, emphasizing its transformative potential. She remarked, “I have always believed that building authentic creative communities is a powerful force for social change.” As a Chinese immigrant and mother, Yu has witnessed the impact of art in shaping imagination and altering perspectives.
