Guggenheim New York Announces Spring and Summer Public Programs

As the city warms, a season of public programs invites audiences to gather for Museum Mile, Late Shift performances, and vibrant offerings inspired by exhibitions on view

• 2026 LG Guggenheim Award recipient Trevor Paglen’s performance lecture The Lizard People are Here!
• Musical guests Lauren Auder, Clarice Jensen, and Indigo de Souza at Late Shift
• Free admission for all Museum Mile Festival visitors
• Artist talk with Carol Bove and curator Katherine Brinson
• Launch of 2026 Poet-in-Residence programming by Patrick Rosal

This spring and summer, the Guggenheim New York invites visitors of all ages and interests to venture outside and explore the museum’s vibrant cultural offerings. From accessible gallery experiences to family-friendly activities, the Guggenheim’s programs foster thoughtful dialogue and hands-on creativity. Special weekend Stroller Hour and drop-in Art Cart programs will continue, welcoming families with children of all ages, while Teen Circle and Teen Tuesdays support independent discovery. Adults can experience the museum after-hours during Late Shift, held on the third Thursday evening of each month, featuring a cash bar, live music, and artistic activations.

Programs kick off on May 18 with The Lizard People Are Here!, a performance lecture by 2026 LG Guggenheim Award recipient Trevor Paglen, in which he will examine historical precedents for the manipulation of human perception and cognition at a moment when artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly pervasive. On June 2, the Guggenheim will present a talk between rotunda artist Carol Bove and curator Katherine Brinson. The annual Museum Mile Festival returns to Fifth Avenue on June 9, during which the Guggenheim will host outdoor chess games and activities while providing free admission to all exhibitions. Activations by 2026 Poet-in-Residence Patrick Rosal will also launch this summer, featuring drop-in activities and one-off experiences that encourage gathering, reflection, and exchange.

During June and July, the New York metropolitan area will host one of the world’s most celebrated global events—the 2026 FIFA World Cup. To celebrate, the Guggenheim welcomes local New Yorkers and visitors from across the world to experience the global spirit of soccer through an artist’s lens at one of the city’s two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The video work Zidane, a 21st century portrait by Douglas Gordon and Philippe Parreno will be on view in the Peter B. Lewis Theater.

Seasonal programming highlights include:

Trevor Paglen: The Lizard People Are Here!

Monday, May 18, 6:30–8 pm

Program is Currently Sold Out

This performance-lecture invites audiences to consider whether we are entering a new era of invisible architectures and algorithmic systems shaping perception, knowledge, and power. In the program, 2026 LG Guggenheim Award recipient, artist, and author Trevor Paglen traces a dense network of ideas spanning philosophy, belief, deception, and speculation. Bringing together psyops, artificial intelligence, magic, mind control, UFOs, the secret of the Ark of the Covenant, and the figure of a new demiurge, Paglen examines historical precedents for the manipulation of human perception and cognition at a moment when artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly pervasive.

The program will be followed by a conversation between Paglen and Noam Segal, LG Electronics Associate Curator, reflecting on how rapid developments in artificial intelligence—from large language models to agentic and robotic systems—are reshaping everyday life, modes of thought, and artistic practice.

An Evening with Carol Bove

Tuesday, June 2, 6:30–8:30 pm

Reserve Tickets

$30 General, $25 Member

Artist Carol Bove will join Katherine Brinson, Daskalopoulos Senior Curator of Contemporary Art and Director of Global Initiatives, in a special evening of conversation as they explore Bove’s creative practice on the occasion of her survey exhibition.

The discussion is followed by a private exhibition viewing of Carol Bove and a wine reception in the museum’s iconic rotunda.

This program is part of the Elaine Terner Cooper Education Fund Conversations with Contemporary Artists series.

Museum Mile Festival

Tuesday, June 9, 6–9 pm

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Free for Everyone

Seventeen museums and several neighborhood partners are once again coming together for the 48th annual Museum Mile Festival, the city’s biggest block party, held rain or shine.

The Guggenheim New York invites Museum Mile Festival visitors of all ages to share an evening inside and outside the museum with free admission, outdoor chess and interactive experiences for an evening of creativity and discovery. All exhibitions on view, including Carol Bove and Guggenheim Pop: 1960 to Now, will be free to explore.

Late Shift

Third Thursday of every month, 6:30–9 pm

Reserve Tickets

$30 General, $19 Student, Free for Members

On third Thursdays, explore the Guggenheim’s iconic spiral after dark during Late Shift, when the galleries stay open until 9 pm and the vibe shifts. Each Late Shift is a one-night-only opportunity to experience live music in the Guggenheim’s rotunda—alongside after-hours access to exhibitions—making it a standout summer destination for New York audiences.

On May 21, London-based French singer-songwriter Lauren Auder delivers an intimate, genre-defying live set of hypnotic orchestral pop music. On June 18, composer and cellist Clarice Jensen transforms the space into a “kaleidoscopic, surging cathedral of sound” through layered loops and electronic effects. Musician Indigo de Souza brings their raw, emotionally charged music to the rotunda on July 16

On June 18, Pawn Chess Club will host a pop-up experience that brings people together in a friendly, low-stakes environment, welcoming both new and experienced chess players (in that order) to play together.

Bring Your Own (Chess) Board

Sundays, May 24, June 14, and July 12, 3–5 pm

Reserve Tickets

Free with Admission

One Sunday each month, Carol Bove’s invitation to play extends beyond the rotunda into Café Rebay, where visitors of all ages and skill levels can convene for friendly competition and learning. Guests are encouraged to bring their own chess boards, but additional chess sets will be available for play. Check-in begins at 2:45 pm, with games starting at 3 pm. Museum admission will include a 10% discount at the café.

2026 Poet-in-Residence Patrick Rosal

Ongoing

Learn More

Programming by 2026 Poet-in-Residence Patrick Rosal will launch this summer, featuring a mixture of poetry readings and community drop-in activities for audiences of all ages. More information about these opportunities for gathering, reflection, and exchange will be added to the museum’s website as programs are announced.

Teen Circle

Ongoing

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Free to Join

The Teen Circle is a free pass for NYC teens ages 13–18 to connect with the arts, meet other creative teens, and be part of a vibrant cultural community at the Guggenheim New York. Members can explore the museum for free, bring up to four guests, and access exclusive events, performances, and other special offerings.

Teen Tuesdays

First Tuesday of every month, 4–5:30 pm

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Free with RSVP

This drop-in series for teenagers takes place on the first Tuesday of every month. Teen Tuesdays offer a relaxed hangout where teens come together through art, culture, and community, with free museum admission, giveaways, snacks, and art materials included.

Open to ages 13–18. Participants are welcome to drop in anytime during the event; however, advance RSVP is encouraged to reserve a spot for one or more sessions.

This program is part of the Guggenheim’s free Teen Circle Membership.

Teen Collab

Applications open August–September, program begins fall 2026

Learn More

Free to Apply

The Teen Collaborative is a pre-professional arts program that brings together NYC public high school students to learn about the museum and produce content for their peers. Students collaborate to make the museum more accessible to teen audiences, learn about careers in the arts, and cultivate leadership and other skills that prepare them for the next steps of their young adult lives. Students will receive a stipend for their participation.

Stroller Hour

Monthly on Saturdays, 9:30–10:30 am

Reserve Tickets

$30 Adults, Free for children 12 and under and Members at the Dual/Family Level and Above

Once a month on Saturdays, families, parents, and caregivers with young children are invited to experience the Guggenheim New York before the museum opens to the public for an hour. Guests can explore the exhibition Carol Bove in a welcoming environment, including interactive spaces for rest, reflection, and play. Plus, participate in a guided artmaking activity designed to nurture creativity and connection.

Advance registration is required. Program registration includes museum admission.

Art Cart

Saturdays at select times, 10:30 am–12:30 pm and 3–5 pm

Learn More

Free with Admission

On Saturdays, families and visitors of all ages are invited to pick up materials from a museum educator and participate in communal art making in the galleries. Each month features a new theme and encourages participants to explore their own creativity while actively making meaningful connections with works on view. Sessions begin with a motivating question to guide shared exploration of materials, processes, and ideas.

Art Cart is open to visitors of all abilities; previous art-making experience is not necessary.

Mind’s Eye

Monthly on select Mondays, 6–8 pm, and Wednesdays, 2–4 pm

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Free with RSVP

Monthly Mind’s Eye tours and workshops for visitors who are blind or have low vision are conducted by arts and education professionals through verbal description, conversation, sensory experiences, and creative practice.

RSVP is required at least three days before the program. To RSVP, email access@guggenheim.org . Staff assistance is available at the museum. Please note that some Mind’s Eye programs are virtual and others take place in person.

Architecture Tours

June 22–26 and July 7–10, 12–1 pm

Reserve Tickets

$50 General, $45 Members

Hour-long architecture tours offer an inside look at the Guggenheim New York’s stunning architecture. These building walkthroughs guide visitors through the rich history and structural elements of Frank Lloyd Wright’s landmark building, while providing insight into its innovative materials and design.

Tours include same-day museum admission and are limited in size to ensure an intimate experience.

Sponsors

Major support for Guggenheim Pop: 1960 to Now is provided by Edlis-Neeson Foundation.

Support is also generously provided by Per J. Skarstedt.

The exhibition and the conservation of the artwork are made possible by ORNELLAIA

Mind’s Eye is made possible by Sarah K. de Coizart Article TENTH Perpetual Charitable Trust.

Teens at the Guggenheim is a Program of the Gail May Engelberg Center for Arts Education. Generous underwriting for the Teen Programs has been provided by A4 Arts Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. J. Tomilson Hill and Hill Family Foundation. Additional support has been provided by grants from The Pinkerton Foundation and MacMillan Family Foundation. Teen Circle has been made possible by support from an anonymous donor and The Sherman Family Foundation.

The LG Guggenheim Award and The LG Guggenheim Art and Technology Initiative are made possible by LG

Guggenheim Poet-in-Residence is made possible by Van Cleef & Arpels

Major support for Carol Bove is provided by The Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation, Barbara and Andrew Gundlach, Nancy and Steve Crown, Gagosian, and Sarah Simmons.

Support is also generously provided by Barbara Bluhm-Kaul, Leslie Bluhm, Meredith Bluhm, The Deborah Buck Foundation, The Kate Cassidy Foundation, Natasha and François-Xavier de Mallmann, Girlfriend Fund, The John & Amy Griffin Foundation, Meryl and Andrew B. Rose, and an anonymous donor.

Funding is provided by Deborah Beckmann and Jacob Kotzubei, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Broughton, The DeMartini Family Foundation, Charlotte Feng Ford, Kaitlyn and Mike Krieger, Lebowitz-Aberly Family Foundation, The Robert Lehman Foundation, Melony and Adam Lewis, Steve Pulimood, Pete and Michelle Scantland, Fern and Lenard Tessler, and Wagner Foundation.

Additional funding is provided by Bonnie and R. Derek Bandeen, Ann Ames, Christy Ferer, Miyoung Lee and Neil Simpkins, Eric Michael and Craig Kruger, Dr. Frederico Wasserman, The Blue Rider Group at Morgan Stanley, the Guggenheim Constellation Council, the Rita and Jeffrey Adler Family Foundation, and Pritzker Traubert Foundation.

Exhibition paint is provided by Farrow & Ball. Exhibition fabric is provided by Kvadrat.

About the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation was established in 1937 and is dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of modern and contemporary art through exhibitions, education programs, research initiatives, and publications. The international constellation of museums includes the Guggenheim New York; the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice; the Guggenheim Bilbao; and the future Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. A “temple of spirit” where radical art and architecture meet, the Guggenheim New York is among a group of eight Frank Lloyd Wright structures in the United States designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To learn more about the Guggenheim New York and the Guggenheim’s activities around the world, visit guggenheim.org.