Your Full-Guide to NYC’s Museum Mile Festival 2025
If you’ve been meaning to make your way through the Upper East Side’s museum circuit but haven’t gotten around to it, now’s your chance. The Museum Mile Festival is back this June 10th, and it’s letting everyone in for free.
- Date: Tuesday, June 10, 2025
- Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Location: Fifth Avenue, from 82nd to 110th Streets
- Admission: Free
- Transit: Take the 4, 5, or 6 trains to 86th Street, or the M1, M2, M3, or M4 bus up Fifth Avenue
This once-a-year event shuts down traffic along the museum corridor and turns the street into a walking route filled with live music, food vendors, and open doors to some of NYC’s most well-known cultural spaces.
If you’re planning to go, keep reading. Below is your go-to breakdown of all eight museums, what they’re highlighting, who’ll likely enjoy them, and how to get there with minimal hassle.
Museum Mile Festival 2025: Who is Participating?
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Address: 1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street
- Closest Subway: 86th Street (4, 5, 6), walk west to Fifth
- Best For: Art lovers, fashion fans, people who appreciate centuries of history
- Website: https://www.metmuseum.org
This year, The Met is spotlighting exhibitions that focus on identity and design. “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” tracks how fashion has functioned as both armor and art, while Lorna Simpson’s newest paintings shift attention to how memory and media collide. It’s a solid stop if you like variety: sculptures, textiles, ancient relics, and photography all sit within steps of each other.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
- Address: 1071 Fifth Avenue at 89th Street
- Closest Subway: 86th Street (4, 5, 6), or take the M1 bus
- Best For: Fans of modern art, minimalists, architecture nerds
- Website: https://www.guggenheim.org
Frank Lloyd Wright’s spiral building is nearly as talked about as what’s inside it. During the festival, the museum opens up its galleries to walk-ins, giving visitors a look at rotating exhibits. Expect big canvases, conceptual installations, and that ever-present feeling of walking in circles, but in the best way.
Neue Galerie New York
- Address: 1048 Fifth Avenue at 86th Street
- Closest Subway: 86th Street (4, 5, 6)
- Best For: Fans of early 20th-century art, design heads, people with a taste for detail
- Website: https://www.neuegalerie.org
Focused on German and Austrian art, the Neue Galerie houses paintings, furniture, and objects from the likes of Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele. It’s a quieter stop, often missed by big crowds. If you’re into the Art Nouveau or Bauhaus movements, this one is for you.
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
- Address: 2 East 91st Street at Fifth Avenue
- Closest Subway: 96th Street (6), walk west
- Best For: Families, curious minds, hands-on learners
- Website: https://www.cooperhewitt.org
This museum leans heavily into interaction. You’ll find displays that let you sketch, scan, or digitally manipulate design ideas. Festival night usually includes sidewalk activities and community projects. It’s a low-pressure spot for kids and grown-ups alike to try something new with their hands.
The Jewish Museum
- Address: 1109 Fifth Avenue at 92nd Street
- Closest Subway: 96th Street (6), or 86th Street (4, 5, 6)
- Best For: Thinkers, readers, those drawn to social and cultural stories
- Website: https://thejewishmuseum.org
The museum’s exhibit on Ben Shahn showcases work that challenges injustice and tells the story of a visual activist. Posters, photos, and prints set the tone here. If you’re looking for art that’s tied to politics, identity, or community struggle, this is where you’ll want to spend some time.
Museum of the City of New York
- Address: 1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street
- Closest Subway: 103rd Street (6)
- Best For: Locals, dance fans, and families with young kids
- Website: https://www.mcny.org
Expect color, music, and movement here. “Urban Stomp” traces New York’s dance floor history, while another exhibit focuses on street art. On festival night, there’ll be hands-on projects for kids and music in the background. Partnering with Cool Culture, the museum will also offer community art tables and open its main halls to the public.
El Museo del Barrio
- Address: 1230 Fifth Avenue at 104th Street
- Closest Subway: 103rd Street (6), walk west
- Best For: People into Caribbean and Latin American art, nightlife lovers, creative types
- Website: https://www.elmuseo.org
El Museo brings a party with its art. DJ sets, live gallery talks, and bilingual programming are standard here. This year’s celebration includes music by DJ Chiquita Brujita and art projects linked to its current exhibits. If you like your culture loud and local, this is the place to start or end your walk.
The Africa Center
- Address: 1280 Fifth Avenue at 110th Street
- Closest Subway: 110th Street (2, 3), or 103rd Street (6)
- Best For: People who want something different, culturally aware travelers, global thinkers
- Website: https://www.theafricacenter.org
Often overlooked, The Africa Center uses art, food, and discussion to connect visitors with the continent’s present and future. While specific programs for the festival are still under wraps, past years have included everything from pop-up readings to culinary demos. Head here if you want to engage with timely topics and shifting narratives.
Neighborhood Partners
Several hyperlocal cultural, educational, and civic organizations are also joining the Museum Mile Festival with special programming, pop-ups, performances, and interactive stations. These partners offer everything from jazz and puppetry to ancient history and canine art. Here’s a look at who else will be taking part.
New York Academy of Medicine
- Address: 1216 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street
- Closest Subway: 103rd Street (6)
- Best For: Individuals interested in public health, medical history, and urban health policy
- Website: https://www.nyam.org
The New York Academy of Medicine contributes to the festival by offering insights into the intersection of health and urban living. Visitors can learn about the Academy’s initiatives aimed at improving public health in urban settings.
Church of the Heavenly Rest
- Address: 1085 Fifth Avenue at 90th Street
- Closest Subway: 86th Street (4, 5, 6)
- Best For: Families, history enthusiasts, and those interested in community arts
- Website: https://www.heavenlyrest.org
During the festival, the Church of the Heavenly Rest presents “96 Years on 90th Street,” an interactive historical tour featuring photographs and artifacts from its archives. Attendees can enjoy turn-of-the-20th-century carnival games, live jazz performances, and an art exhibit titled “ReComposition: Art + Science for Earth” accompanied by musical compositions.
Asia Society Museum
- Address: 725 Park Avenue at 70th Street
- Closest Subway: 68th Street–Hunter College (6)
- Best For: Those interested in Asian arts, culture, and global affairs
- Website: https://asiasociety.org/new-york
Asia Society participates in the festival by showcasing aspects of Asian culture and art. Visitors can engage with exhibits and programs that highlight the diversity and richness of Asian traditions.
92NY (92nd Street Y)
- Address: 1395 Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street
- Closest Subway: 96th Street (6)
- Best For: Art and culture enthusiasts, families, and community members
- Website: https://www.92ny.org
As a cultural and community center, 92NY contributes to the festival by offering programs that celebrate the arts and foster community engagement. Attendees can participate in activities that reflect the organization’s commitment to cultural enrichment.
Institute for the Study of the Ancient World (ISAW)
- Address: 15 East 84th Street between Fifth and Madison Avenues
- Closest Subway: 86th Street (4, 5, 6)
- Best For: History buffs, archaeology enthusiasts, and those interested in ancient cultures
- Website: https://isaw.nyu.edu
ISAW extends its hours for the festival, allowing visitors to view the “Rethinking Etruria” exhibition, which features recent discoveries from Etruscan tombs and temples. Docents are available for tours, and attendees can collect free postcards and posters from recent exhibitions.
NYC Kids Project
- Address: Various locations; check website for details
- Closest Subway: Varies by event location
- Best For: Children, families, and educators
- Website: https://www.nyckidsproject.org
The NYC Kids Project engages children through puppetry and storytelling, focusing on themes of inclusion and diversity. During the festival, they offer performances and interactive activities designed to educate and entertain young audiences.
The People’s Bus
- Address: Mobile unit; locations vary
- Closest Subway: Varies by event location
- Best For: Civic-minded individuals and community members
- Website: https://www.nyc.gov/site/civicengagement/our-programs/the-people-bus.page
The People’s Bus is a civic engagement project that transforms a retired city bus into a community center on wheels. At the festival, it serves as a platform for public art, performances, and discussions aimed at fostering community involvement.
AKC Museum of the Dog
- Address: 101 Park Avenue at 40th Street
- Closest Subway: Grand Central–42nd Street (4, 5, 6, 7, S)
- Best For: Dog lovers, families, and art enthusiasts
- Website: https://museumofthedog.org
The AKC Museum of the Dog showcases artwork and exhibits dedicated to the role of dogs in society. During the festival, they present canine-themed art and activities that appeal to visitors of all ages.
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