Whitney Museum Unveils WICKED and More for June Pride Programming
The month-long series includes performances, family activities, Queer History Walks, and special Pride celebrations.
The Whitney Museum of American Art is offering free admission, special performances, artmaking programs, music, and much more during Free Friday Nights and the June edition of Free Second Sundays.
Visitors of all ages are invited to celebrate Pride at the Whitney and enjoy free programs with friends and family all month long. The festivities begin with performances by the New York City Gay Men's Chorus on June 5 and the much-anticipated return of WICKED on Broadway on June 14.
The Museum will also be open 7 days a week beginning on June 16 and continuing through August 18, so New Yorkers and visitors alike will have even more chances to experience the art they love and discover new favorites. Whitney Pride is part of the Museum's ongoing commitment to support LGBTQ+ artists and communities and offers an inclusive space for all to gather and enjoy American art.
Friday, June 5
Earlier in the day from 1–5 pm, kick off Pride month at the Whitney with a special ticket giveaway held in partnership with Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal. From 5–10 pm, all visitors can enjoy free admission, art, drinks, and city views during Free Friday Nights. The evening continues with special performances by the New York City Gay Men's Chorus throughout the Museum from 5–10 pm. For the third year in a row, visitors can experience the vibrant heart of queer pride at the Whitney with Our Joy is a Protest: A Choral Installation of Song, bringing together the NYCGMC, Tonewall, Youth Pride Chorus, the Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus, and the New Jersey Gay Men's Chorus for an all-day celebration.
At 5 pm and 7:30 pm, visitors can join a Queer History Walk throughout the neighborhood. From the Hudson River piers to the clubs, the free walking tours explore the rich queer history of the Whitney's neighborhood, bringing visitors to select historical sites that once provided a place to find and create queer community. From 6:30–7:30 pm, Art + You: Gallery Conversations for Younger Adults will be offered in the seventh-floor galleries. Guided by museum educator Patryk Tomaszewski, this session invites younger adult visitors to slow down and spend time with Andy Warhol Family Album, a collection of Polaroids from 1972 to 1973 that captures an intimate view into Warhol's world of collaborators, friends, and celebrities, now on view for the first time.
Friday, June 12
From 5–10 pm, all visitors can enjoy free admission, art, drinks, and city views. Returning for its fifth edition at the Whitney, Mixtape Vol. 5 is co-hosted by Ms. Carrie Stacks and ms. z tye. Ms. Carrie Stacks is a multidisciplinary artist and co-founder of the influential London nightlife platform PDA, and ms. z tye is a Brooklyn-based artist whose practice unfolds through topographical investigations in performance, sculpture, and scripture. The two will perform in the Museum's lobby featuring a DJ set by Mixtape creator April Hunt. Earlier in the evening at 6 pm, visitors are invited join a Queer History Walk in the Meatpacking District to learn more about the impact and history of LGBTQ+ communities in the neighborhood around the Whitney.
Sunday, June 14
On Sunday, June 14, the Whitney is offering free admission from 10:30 am–6 pm for visitors of all ages during Free Second Sunday. At 11 am in the Museum's lobby, visitors can drop by storytime with Spiral Books, celebrating independent bookstores and diverse children's voices. From 11 am–3 pm in the third-floor Artspace, artists of all ages are invited to contribute to the Whitney Community Pride Mural. Visitors can add drawings, messages, and designs throughout the day as the mural grows into a collective celebration of Pride, creativity, and community. At 11:30 am and 1:30 pm in the third-floor theater, the Whitney will welcome ensembles from the Queer Urban Orchestra (QUO) for a series of family-friendly performances inspired by works on view in the 2026 Biennial.
The musical performances continue at 3 pm and 4:30 pm in the third-floor theater with the return of WICKED on Broadway! Visitors are invited to step into the Land of Oz with special performances by Natalia Vivino, Amanda Jane Cooper, and Ryan Mac, followed by a themed figure drawing session led by Whitney educators. Guests of all ages will enjoy the gravity-defying musical moments inspired by the beloved Broadway phenomenon, making it an unforgettable afternoon of Broadway magic. Both performances feature the same musical program and will be ticketed separately. Tickets will be available beginning June 5, and visitors are encouraged to reserve tickets for one performance only.
Additional activities on June 14 include Guided Close-Looking Through Dialogue at 3 pm exploring highlights from the Whitney's collection and a Queer History Walk throughout the neighborhood at 4 pm.
Friday, June 19
In addition to free admission from 5–10 pm, visitors can enjoy music, art, city views, and more during Free Friday Nights at the Whitney. At 6 pm, the Museum will offer a Queer History Walk throughout the neighborhood. From the Hudson River piers to the clubs, visitors are invited to consider their connection to the changing landscape of the neighborhood that the Whitney now occupies, as well as the city's history.
Thursday, June 25
On Thursday, June 25, 4–6 pm, the Whitney and community partner ADAPT Community Network will host the fifth annual Radical Joy Ball in the third-floor theater. Museum visitors are welcome to celebrate and honor the community living at the intersections of LGBTQ and disability identities. There will be music, runway performances, dancing, and a special performance by partner organization, Drag Artists for Expression NYC.
Friday, June 26
Offering free admission from 5–10 pm, the Whitney's Free Friday Nights features art, drinks, special programming, music, and more. Visitors are also invited to join a Queer History Walk at 6 pm and learn more about the impact and history of LGBTQ+ communities in the neighborhood around the Whitney. The latest Free Friday Night offerings can always be found on whitney.org.
Ongoing Exhibition Tours
A variety of free exhibition tours led by Whitney educators, ranging from family-focused to 15-minute tours, are offered during Free Friday Nights and Free Second Sundays. For further details on upcoming tours, please visit whitney.org/events.
While general admission to the Whitney is free every Friday from 5–10 pm and all day on Sunday, June 14, tickets are still required, and capacity is limited. Advance booking is strongly recommended, and tickets can be reserved at whitney.org/admission.
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