Paid or free: which ticket fits
The Whitney's visit page and its free admission page give these options:
| Who | Price | When |
|---|---|---|
| Adults | $30 | Any open day |
| Seniors (65+) and university students | $24 | Any open day |
| Visitors with disabilities | $18, one care partner free | Any open day |
| Age 25 and under | Free | Every open day |
| Everyone | Free | Fridays 5–10 pm |
| Everyone | Free | Second Sunday of the month, all day |
For an adult visitor the choice is about time. A paid ticket on a quiet weekday gives you the full day from 10:30 am. A free Friday gives you five hours in the evening with more people, and a free second Sunday gives you a full day with artmaking, tours, classes and themed events added.
The next free second Sundays are 8 November and 13 December 2026. If one falls on your trip and you can book a month ahead, it is the obvious day to go.
Free tickets still need booking
Free does not mean walk in. The Whitney FAQ says tickets are required even when the museum is free, and capacity is limited.
- Free Friday Nights: tickets are released up to five weeks in advance. The free admission page's own FAQ says tickets are required, while the event text only says they are recommended; book anyway.
- Free Second Sundays: advance tickets become available a month ahead.
- Age 25 and under: book a timed ticket for the day, or take the free 25 and Under Anytime Pass for unlimited visits. The page does not say what ID is checked, so carry something with your date of birth.
Other free admission listed: members, active military and veterans with ID, SNAP/EBT cardholders, and IDNYC cardholders on set dates, the remaining ones being 28 October and 5 December 2026.
Buying paid tickets
Tickets can be bought online or at the museum. The FAQ says walk-up tickets are sold first come, first served, and the visit page recommends booking ahead to speed up entry. No timed slot is described for paid adult tickets.
The ground floor is always free with no ticket: the Floor 1 gallery, the lobby, the shop and the Frenchette bakery. That is enough for a short stop if the upper galleries are not the point.
Hours and the Tuesday closure
The visit page lists:
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday: 10:30 am–6 pm
- Friday: 10:30 am–10 pm
- Tuesday: closed
Tuesday is the only regular closed day on the page, and no holiday closures were listed when checked on 25 October 2026. If you plan to go on Thanksgiving (26 November) or Christmas Day, check the visit page that week.
MoMA also opens late on Fridays, but its free Friday evening is for New York State residents only, as our MoMA guide explains. For visitors from elsewhere, the Whitney's Friday is the free one.
Getting there and inside
The museum is at 99 Gansevoort Street. The A, C, E and L subway lines stop at 14th Street and 8th Avenue, about six blocks away. Taxis are easiest to hail on Hudson Street, three blocks east; ride-share pick-up is at the museum address, and Citi Bike docks are at Gansevoort and Washington Streets.
Coat check is free on level -1. Strollers cannot be left at coat check or unattended. Personal photography is allowed in public areas and the permanent collection galleries, but not with flash, tripods or selfie sticks.
For another major museum with a different discount system, see our Met tickets guide.
