The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

09/13/2026

It’s thought that only around thirty-five paintings by Johannes Vermeer survive in the entire world. Of these, five are at The Met—more than at any other museum.

Explore the beloved 17th-century Dutch painter in a talk with Met curator Adam Eaker and writer Ruth Bernard Yeazell, author of Vermeer's Afterlives. Vermeer’s works at The Met trace his artistic developments, from early explorations to refined mastery.

Gain insight into the rise of this extraordinary painter and the ways in which Vermeer’s captivating art has been interpreted through the centuries.

🗓️ Sunday, September 27
🕰️ 2 pm
🎟️ Get tickets → met.org/4ilIzJ3

09/12/2026

Shanah Tovah! ✨ Wishing a happy new year to all who celebrate Rosh Hashanah, which began last night at sundown and continues through nightfall on Sunday.

The sounding of the shofar—a musical instrument usually made from an animal's horn, often a ram, like this one—is central to Rosh Hashanah observances, where up to 100 shofar blasts are played during the course of the holy day's morning services. It is also heard later in September at the end of the Yom Kippur service, where a single blast marks the end of the fast. ⁣
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A shofar player can produce a number of different calls, each of which has its own scriptural significance. Calls are distinguished by note length, inflection, and articulation.⁣

Explore Jewish ritual art at The Met through our ongoing tour series. More information on metmuseum.org.
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"Shofar," 18th century (?). Jewish. Ram's horn. In our Musical Instruments collection.

09/10/2026

Experience The Met collection anew as artists working across disciplines—including poetry, theater, design, and more—respond to works on view in encounters that can only happen at The Met.

Join artist and choreographer Jonathan González in the American Wing for a live performance responding to Tiffany Studios’ Garden Landscape. Positioning a Black female performer within the landscape while González offers a live recitation, the performance considers questions of visibility, labor, historical memory, and presence within an American aesthetic tradition that has so often rendered Black life absent. González will be joined by artist Marguerite Hemmings during the program.

🗓️ Friday, September 18
🕰️ 7 pm
🎟️ Get tickets → met.org/4r5cM1h
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Agnes F. Northrop (American, Flushing, New York 1857–1953 New York, New York), Tiffany Studios (1902–32), "3-part Garden landscape window for Linden Hall," 1912. Leaded Favrile glass.

09/09/2026

Roll out the carpet, literally!

In 1668, Louis XIV commissioned the Savonnerie manufactory to create a series of 92 monumental carpets for the Louvre’s Grande Galerie, one of the most ambitious textile projects of all time.

Now, for the first time in The Met’s history, three Savonnerie carpets from this extraordinary commission are on view together.

Hear European Sculpture and Decorative Arts curator Wolf Burchard share how the “Music” carpet was installed in the galleries.

“A King’s Carpet: Louis XIV and the Savonnerie” is now on view in Galleries 524–528.

09/08/2026

Join artist Liu Wei and Met curator Lesley Ma for a conversation about The Genesis Facade Commission: Liu Wei, "Speculation," a suite of four large-scale sculptures for The Met Fifth Avenue’s facade.

Using a variety of materials and remixing familiar motifs, Liu Wei invites contemplation, surprise, and revelation to pierce through our perceptions of reality with a blend of rawness and refinement. The conversation also delves into Liu Wei’s expansive career as a conceptual artist.

🗓️ Tuesday, September 22
🕰️ 6:30 pm
🎟️ Get tickets → met.org/46c58ss
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Image: Photograph by Jumbo Tsui. Courtesy Liu Wei Studio.

09/08/2026

Rooted in Black fraternity and sorority life, stepping transforms the body into an instrument—using sound and collective movement to express identity, community, and shared history.

Step Afrika! brings this powerful tradition to life, showing how the human body itself can become a musical instrument.

📣 See "Musical Bodies" at The Met through September 27.
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Excerpt from "The Movement" presented by Step Afrika! (American, formed 1994). Performers: Robert Warnsley, Pelham Warner, Ariel D***s, and Nya Christian. Choreographed by Conrad R. Kelly II. Courtesy of Step Afrika!, 2025. Video: Waesse, LLC.

09/06/2026

Celebrate "Musical Bodies" with multidisciplinary artists, musicians, and experts who contributed to the exhibition!

"Musical Bodies" examines how musical instruments, in turn, often draw their form and decoration from our bodies, emerging as powerful vehicles that represent our voices, actions, and identity.

Take a deep dive into the exhibition's themes with dynamic presentations, conversations, and performances that explore the relationship between musical instruments and the body.

🗓️ Sunday, September 20
🕰️ 11 am
🎟️ Get tickets → met.org/4yftc9F
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“Le Royaume de Harmonie,” (The Kingdom of Harmony) from the theater production of La Poule aux Oeufs d’Or , (The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs) in the Galerie Dramatique, 1848. Hand colored lithograph. Private collection, New York.

09/05/2026

Love art, science, and working with kids? Join us as a volunteer at the 81st Street Studio!

Volunteers will help inspire young visitors ages 3-11 and their caregivers to explore the scientific properties of materials in The Met’s collection. We encourage people from all backgrounds and life experiences to apply to our volunteer programs—no experience is required.

Learn more and apply here by September 11 →

Volunteers assist visitors throughout The Met and in the library and help with events and programs. Training is provided—no prior experience is required.

09/04/2026

Part household essential, part woven sculpture, brooms have a rich history and are a joy to make!

Learn more about the traditional techniques and sculptural approaches of the broom making process through a demonstration by Aspen Golann, Vacheron Constantin Artist in Residence. Create your own handheld broom while experimenting with shape, binding, and design.

🗓️ Saturday, September 12
🕰️ 1 pm
💡 Learn more → met.org/4x3sjA3
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Image: Photo by Bonnie Durham for Boston Art Review (Issue 16, Spring/Summer 2026)

09/04/2026

Final few days to experience the work of Alberto Giacometti in one of New York's most iconic spaces!

See the work of one of the great artists of the twentieth century in conversation with the ancient civilization that influenced not only his art, but also his style and vision.

📣 Last chance! “Giacometti in the Temple of Dendur” is on view at The Met through September 8.
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The Exhibition was co-organized by The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Fondation Giacometti, Paris (Fondation Giacometti).

09/03/2026

Celebrate Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month with percussionist Javier Diaz!

Enjoy an Afro-Cuban/folkloric drumming performance and conversation in celebration of the exhibition "Musical Bodies."

🗓️ Friday, September 11
🕰️ 6 pm
💡 Learn more → met.org/4x4sZ8g
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Image: Photo by Filip Wolak

09/03/2026

This room will make you glance twice 👀

What looks like a fully furnished study is actually an extraordinary illusion, created from thousands of pieces of wood.

Federico da Montefeltro’s studiolo is a masterpiece of artistry and a reflection of his love of learning, science, music, and the classical world.
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Designed by Francesco di Giorgio Martini (Italian, Siena 1439–1501 Siena), Executed under the supervision of Francesco di Giorgio Martini (Italian, Siena 1439–1501 Siena), Executed in the workshop of Giuliano da Maiano (Italian, Maiano 1432–1490 Naples), and Benedetto da Maiano (Italian, Maiano 1442–1497 Florence), "Studiolo from the Ducal Palace in Gubbio," ca. 1478–82. Walnut, beech, rosewood, oak and fruitwoods in walnut base. On view in Gallery 501.

09/02/2026

Alberto Giacometti’s fascination with ancient Egypt began early in his career.

The influence of Egyptian sculptures can be seen in some of his sketches of walking figures. Giacometti’s "Walking Woman I (1932)" is installed in the entrance hall of "The Temple of Dendur," recalling the placement of a deity’s statue within an ancient Egyptian sanctuary.

Completed in 10 BCE under Caesar Augustus, "The Temple of Dendur" was gifted by Egypt to the United States in 1965 and has been one of The Met’s most beloved works since opening to the public in 1978. The placement of Giacometti’s figures on the temple platform echoes the gathering of figures and visitors around the temple in ancient Egypt.

📣 Last chance! See "Giacometti in the Temple of Dendur" on view at The Met through September 8.
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The Exhibition was co-organized by The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Fondation Giacometti, Paris (Fondation Giacometti).

Installation view of "Giacometti in the Temple of Dendur," on view through September 8, 2026 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo by Anna-Marie Kellen. © Succession Alberto Giacometti / Adagp, Paris, 2026.

08/28/2026

Step into the world of Alberto Giacometti in one of New York’s most iconic spaces!

For the first time at The Met, “Giacometti in the Temple of Dendur” brings together 17 iconic sculptures by one of the 20th century's greatest artists. The exhibition places his bronze and plaster figures in dialogue with the ancient Egyptian art that profoundly shaped his creative vision.

📣 See this exhibition on view at The Met through September 8.
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The Exhibition was co-organized by The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Fondation Giacometti, Paris (Fondation Giacometti).

08/26/2026

Happy from Met K9 security dog, Valor!

To celebrate, Valor took us around to some of his favorite spots in the Museum including:

🏠 Engelhard Court
🐎 His taller four-legged friends in Arms and Armor
🩰 Degas's "The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer" in European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
⛲️ Monet's gardens in European Paintings
🛶 "Washington Crossing the Delaware" in The American Wing

08/22/2026

A legendary horse with a mythical twist 🐉

This portrait of "White Shining in the Night," the favorite warhorse of Emperor Xuanzong (r. 712–756), is perhaps the most famous equestrian painting in Chinese art.

The fierce horse is said to embody ancient Chinese myths of “heavenly steeds” that could “sweat blood” and were believed to be dragons in disguise.

The painting is attributed to Han Gan, an artist celebrated for capturing not only the likeness of horses, but their essence.
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🐎 Attributed to Han Gan, Chinese, active 742–756, "White that shines in the night," ca. 750. Horizontal roll; ink on paper. In our Asian Art collection.

08/21/2026

Long before modern glassmaking, the island of Murano was known for producing some of Europe’s most coveted glass.

Since the mid-15th century, Murano manufacturers had specialized in making cristallo—a clear, colorless glass that resembles rock crystal—using a secret recipe that was coveted by courts throughout Europe.

By the 18th century, changing tastes and competition from England and Bohemia inspired Venetian glassmakers to experiment with new techniques, creating pieces that imitated fashionable materials like lace, gemstones, and porcelain.
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🕯️ "Candelabrum (one of a pair)," 18th century. Italian, Venice (Murano). Glass, blown, molded with lampworked decoration.

🕯️ "Candelabrum (one of a pair)," 18th century. Italian, Venice (Murano). Glass.

08/18/2026

The story behind New York’s most iconic silhouette. 🗽

In this large-scale presentation drawing, sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi depicts Lady Liberty illuminating the night, with New Jersey, Manhattan, and Brooklyn visible in the background.

Through donations, this monumental sheet helped rally Americans to support the construction of the statue’s pedestal.

💡 Fun fact: the design for the base changed several times before the final version was completed, evolving from a pyramid shape to a hexagonal design, and ultimately to the square base we know today.
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✏️ Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi (French, Colmar 1834–1904 Paris), "Presentation Drawing of 'The Statue of Liberty Illuminating the World,'" 1875. Charcoal, heightened with white chalk.

08/14/2026

Across ages and cultures, artists have found inspiration in the human urge for connection.

This collection of thought-provoking essays by staff across The Metropolitan Museum of Art explores 100 works, from famous highlights to little-known gems. Curators, conservators, designers, editors, educators, and librarians offer fresh perspectives on relationships, identity, politics, spirituality, and the environment, exploring how art inspires us to connect with ourselves, each other, and the world around us.

📖 Learn more → met.org/463C4TK

08/13/2026

Can you find the cat in this photo? Swipe to reveal its location! 🐈‍⬛

Giacometti remembered that his brother Diego’s cat moved "just like a ray of light," squeezing its slim and agile body between close objects without ever touching them.

This cat is one of only a few animal sculptures made by Giacometti. He also made plaster sculptures of a dog and two horses on the same day.

📣 See "Giacometti in the Temple of Dendur" on view at The Met through September 8.
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The Exhibition was co-organized by The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Fondation Giacometti, Paris (Fondation Giacometti).

"The Temple of Dendur," completed by 10 B.C. Roman Period. Aeolian sandstone.

Alberto Giacometti (Swiss, Borgonovo 1901–1966 Chur), "The Cat," 1954. Bronze. © Succession Alberto Giacometti / Adagp, Paris, 2026. In our collection.

08/11/2026

Explore the materials and traditions of piñata making with sculptor Roberto Benavidez and create a mini piñata of your own at The Met Cloisters!

🗓️ Sunday, August 16
🕰️ 2 pm
💡 Learn more → met.org/45V6RlG
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Photo by Roberto Benavidez

08/10/2026

This costume study is also a compelling portrait of Nicolas Trigault, a Flemish Jesuit missionary to China.

Created by Peter Paul Rubens during Trigault's temporary return from China to Europe, the drawing captures a fascinating moment of cultural exchange. Trigault traveled to the city to raise funds and recruit new missionaries, and Rubens, who had close ties to Antwerp's Jesuit community, portrayed him in the modified Chinese scholar’s robes that the mission had adopted for interactions with local elites.

The carefully chosen attire reflects the Jesuits' efforts to adapt to Chinese culture while still maintaining their own identity. Rubens conveys the robe's texture, weight, and movement.

📣 Last chance to see this drawing in the exhibition "City of Memory: Nanjing in the Seventeenth Century" before it comes off view on September 8. Like many works on paper, it can only be displayed for a limited time due to its sensitivity to light.
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✏️ Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish, Siegen 1577–1640 Antwerp), "Portrait of Nicolas Trigault in Chinese Costume," 1617. Black, red, and white chalk, blue pastel, and pen and brown and black ink on light brown laid paper. In our collection.

08/09/2026

Join Met curators for an in-depth look at fantastical beings from Europe and the Americas on view in The Met Cloisters exhibition "Creatures of Myth and Imagination: Europe and the Americas."

Decipher hybrid creatures that transcend the natural world, combining the features of animals, humans, and even plants. Visual artists from across cultures have given form to these mythical creatures, resulting in fearsome, beloved, and extraordinary works of art.

🗓️ Tuesday, August 25
🕰️ 4 pm
🎟️ Get tickets → met.org/4wN3FnW
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"Fragment of a Tapestry or Wall Hanging," ca. 1420–30. Upper Rhenish. Wool and linen.