Metropolitan Museum of Art Sees Steady Increase in Visitor Attendance Amidst Federal Arts Funding Cuts
Despite recent cutbacks in federal arts funding and significant layoffs in cultural institutions across the United States, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan has reported a consistent rise in visitor attendance. According to the museum’s latest announcement on July 21, more than 5.7 million people visited its two locations — The Met Fifth Ave and The Cloisters — during the 2025 fiscal year, ending on June 30.
While these numbers do not surpass The Met’s record-breaking attendance of over 7 million guests in 2019, they do indicate a 5% increase from the previous year when the institution welcomed 5.5 million visitors.
The reopening of the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing on May 31 set a new single-day attendance record at the museum since 2017, attracting 33,700 people. The success of ongoing exhibitions like “Sargent and Paris” and “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” also contributed to the strong turnout, with each show drawing in over 427,000 and 291,000 guests, respectively.
The Met’s attendance numbers show a steady recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to temporary closures in March 2020. Despite facing financial challenges, the museum has managed to increase admission prices for out-of-state adults by $5, while keeping its “pay-what-you-wish” policy for New York state residents and tri-state region students.
Local attendance from New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey has shown a remarkable 109% recovery rate since the pandemic, accounting for 62% of all visitors. Domestic out-of-state attendees made up nearly a quarter of the total turnout.
However, international attendance remains a concern for The Met, with last year’s global visitorship representing only 16% of the museum’s overall attendance — half of what it was before the pandemic. The museum has yet to disclose specific figures regarding international visitors.
