New York art lovers have a whole month of good news: the Whitney Museum of American Art is opening its doors for free all through October with Free Friday Nights and a special Free Second Sunday on October 11.
Every Friday from 5 to 10 pm, admission is free and the museum fills with music, art-making and unbeatable city views from its Meatpacking District terraces. The October lineup includes DJ sets, a live performance by guitar legend Marc Ribot on October 9, free swing dance classes led by Ailey Extension instructors on October 16, and hands-on art workshops inspired by the artists on view — no experience needed, supplies provided.
The highlight arrives on Sunday, October 11, when the entire museum is free all day and coincides with the opening of Roy Lichtenstein: Like New, a major retrospective of one of Pop art’s defining figures, with some 130 works spanning five decades. Families can enjoy bilingual storytime in Spanish and English and help build a giant Lichtenstein-inspired tape mural.
Free exhibition tours led by Whitney educators, including family-focused options, round out the programming. Admission is free, but tickets are required and capacity is limited, so advance booking at whitney.org is strongly recommended.
Photo: Roy Lichtenstein, Girl in Window (Study for World’s Fair Mural), 1963. Whitney Museum of American Art, New York. © Estate of Roy Lichtenstein/DACS 2026.
