MoMA PS1 in New York will eliminate admission fees for all visitors starting in 2026, funded by a gift from collector and creative strategist Sonya Yu. The three-year initiative coincides with the museum's 50th anniversary and expands its existing free admission for New Yorkers to everyone. Director Connie Butler said the goal is to remove barriers and welcome broader audiences, including families with strollers, while Yu cited her own experience as a Chinese immigrant to explain her motivation.
This move positions MoMA PS1 among a small number of free-admission New York museums, such as the Bronx Museum, at a time when major institutions like the Met, Guggenheim, and MoMA have raised ticket prices to $30 or more. The decision reignites longstanding debates about museum accessibility and revenue models, highlighting how philanthropic gifts can enable institutions to prioritize public engagement over ticket income.