9/11 Memorial & Museum Hours 2026 — Closed Tuesdays
The 9/11 Memorial Museum is open Wednesday through Monday from 9 AM to 7 PM and is closed on Tuesdays, with last admission at 6 PM. The outdoor Memorial plaza keeps longer hours and is free, open daily from 8 AM to 8 PM. A limited number of free Museum tickets are released for Mondays. Hours can change around holidays and the September 11 anniversary.
There are two sets of hours to know at the World Trade Center site: the outdoor Memorial, which is free and open every day, and the underground Museum, which is ticketed and closed one day a week. Getting the difference right saves a wasted trip, especially on a Tuesday.
This guide sets out the 2026 Museum and Memorial hours, the last-entry cut-off, the free Monday tickets, and the times to expect changes.
Hours at a Glance
| Site | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Museum (indoor, ticketed) | Wed–Mon, 9 AM–7 PM | Closed Tuesdays; last entry 6 PM |
| Memorial plaza (outdoor, free) | Daily, 8 AM–8 PM | No ticket required |
Hours can be adjusted around public holidays and the September 11 anniversary, so confirm your date on the official site before visiting.
Museum Opening Hours
The 9/11 Memorial Museum is open Wednesday through Monday from 9 AM to 7 PM, and closed every Tuesday. Last admission is at 6 PM, an hour before closing. On free-admission Mondays the last entry is earlier, in the late afternoon. Hours occasionally change for holidays and around the anniversary of the attacks, so it’s worth checking ahead.
The Museum runs a six-day week, closing on Tuesdays — the most common reason visitors arrive to find the doors shut. On the days it’s open, the galleries admit visitors from 9 AM, with the last entry at 6 PM. Because the exhibitions are extensive and emotionally demanding, arriving in the morning gives you unhurried time before closing; our guide on how long to visit helps you judge it, and the best time to visit covers the quietest windows.
The Outdoor Memorial’s Hours
The outdoor Memorial plaza — the two reflecting pools, the inscribed names, the Survivor Tree and the Memorial Glade — is free and open to everyone daily from 8 AM to 8 PM, longer hours than the ticketed Museum. You can visit the plaza without booking, even on Tuesdays when the Museum is closed. It’s a quiet, contemplative space, especially early and late in the day.
The plaza opens earlier and closes later than the Museum, and because it needs no ticket, it’s the part of the site you can always see. Early morning and evening are the most peaceful times to stand at the reflecting pools and read the names. If you’re visiting on a Tuesday, the plaza is still open even though the Museum is not.
Free Monday Tickets
The Museum releases a limited number of free timed tickets for Mondays, made available online each Monday morning on a first-come, first-served basis, with last entry earlier than on other days. They’re limited and go quickly, so plan to book the moment they’re released if a free visit matters to you. Several groups — 9/11 family members, rescue and recovery workers, and U.S. veterans — are always admitted free. Our guide to free versus paid access explains how the free tickets work.
Holiday and Anniversary Hours
The Museum’s schedule can change around major public holidays and, in particular, around September 11 itself, when the site holds commemoration activities and access to the Memorial is often restricted for families during the morning ceremony. If your visit falls near the anniversary or a holiday, confirm the day’s hours and any access changes on the official site in advance. Our guide on how to get to the 9/11 Memorial covers the subway and ferry routes to the World Trade Center site.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 9/11 Museum’s opening hours?
The Museum is open Wednesday through Monday from 9 AM to 7 PM, with last admission at 6 PM. It is closed every Tuesday. The outdoor Memorial plaza is separate and open daily from 8 AM to 8 PM, free of charge. Hours can change around holidays and the September 11 anniversary, so check the official site for your date.
Is the 9/11 Museum open on Tuesdays?
No. The Museum is closed every Tuesday. The outdoor Memorial plaza, however, remains open daily, so on a Tuesday you can still visit the reflecting pools and the names, just not the underground Museum. Plan a Museum visit for any other day of the week.
What time does the Museum close?
The Museum closes at 7 PM on the days it’s open, with last admission at 6 PM. On free-admission Mondays the last entry is earlier, in the late afternoon. Because a full visit takes around two hours, aim to arrive by mid-afternoon at the latest for an unhurried experience.
What are the outdoor Memorial’s hours?
The Memorial plaza is open every day from 8 AM to 8 PM and is free to enter. It keeps longer hours than the Museum and needs no ticket. Early morning and evening are the quietest and most reflective times to visit the pools and the Survivor Tree.
When is the Museum least busy?
The quietest times are right at the 9 AM opening and in the last hours before the 6 PM final entry. Midday and weekends are busiest, and the days around the September 11 anniversary are especially busy.
Are hours different around September 11?
Yes. Around the anniversary of the attacks, the site holds commemoration events, and access to the Memorial is typically reserved for victims’ families during the morning ceremony on September 11, with the Museum’s schedule adjusted. If you’re visiting in early-to-mid September, confirm the exact hours and any access restrictions on the official site.
Can I visit the Memorial without booking?
Yes. The outdoor Memorial requires no ticket and no booking — you can walk onto the plaza during its daily 8 AM to 8 PM hours. Only the underground Museum needs a timed-entry ticket. Our guide to the Memorial versus the Museum explains what each includes.
Do I need to book a Museum time slot in advance?
Museum admission is by timed entry, and slots can sell out at peak times, so booking ahead is sensible — especially on weekends and in summer. A timed entry ticket locks in your arrival time. Free Monday tickets in particular must be reserved as soon as they’re released.
