Some of the best news in Kansas City is completely free: the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art opens its doors to everyone at no charge, inviting visitors to wander through nearly 5,000 years of human creativity in one of the finest art museums in the United States.
The museum’s encyclopedic collection spans ancient Egyptian pieces, European masterpieces, one of the country’s best collections of Chinese art, and beloved works by Monet, Caravaggio and Van Gogh. Outside, the famous giant Shuttlecocks scattered across the museum’s 22-acre lawn have become playful icons of the city, blending art and humor in the best Kansas City way.
This year brings a fresh chapter: throughout 2026 the museum’s modern Bloch Building is receiving state-of-the-art enhancements, with gallery refreshes rolling out as the work progresses. The historic original building, the galleries and the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park remain open for exploring.
Families love the free admission, the sculpture park picnics and the museum’s full calendar of classes, films and festivals. Whether you have an hour or a whole day, the Nelson-Atkins is the kind of place that makes a city proud — and it asks nothing but your curiosity in return.
