Celebrate the Grand Reopening of The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing at The Met with a Daylong Festival

Saturday May 31, 2025

Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 5th Ave

A dynamic, all-day celebration of art, music, dance, culture, and community marks the return of one of The Met’s most significant gallery wings

On Saturday, May 31, 2025, The Metropolitan Museum of Art will open its doors to the public for a vibrant, daylong festival celebrating the long-anticipated reopening of The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing, which houses the Museum’s renowned collections of the Arts of Africa, the Ancient Americas, and Oceania. After a multiyear renovation, this historic transformation will be unveiled through an immersive program of live music, performances, culinary experiences, art-making workshops, film screenings, and more, creating a cultural celebration that stretches across the Museum and spills out onto its iconic plaza.

The day kicks off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony from 9 to 10:30 am, led by Met Director and CEO Max Hollein, alongside architect Kulapat Yantrasast, whose vision guided the redesign of the wing. From 12 to 6 pm, visitors of all ages are invited to take part in interactive and multilingual programming that brings the stories behind these global collections to life.

Festival Highlights Include:

• Queens Night Market Pop-Up
  
  From 1 to 6 pm, renowned chefs and food vendors from the Queens Night Market will serve curated, pre-colonial menus inspired by the cultures represented in the newly renovated galleries. These culinary offerings, developed by chefs with indigenous and diasporic roots, will take guests on a journey from Sierra Leone to Hawaii, Nigeria to Peru—highlighting ingredients and foodways shaped before colonization.

• Hands-On Art Making & Artist Demonstrations
  
  On the Met’s plaza, acclaimed mosaic artist Manny Vega will guide visitors in a community mosaic project inspired by themes from the collection. Additional workshops include drum-making, community mural painting, and weaving demonstrations by artists Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez (Peru) and Teokotā’i Paitai (Oceania).

• Cultural Community Hub
  
  Outside the Museum, engage with local organizations that celebrate diasporic and indigenous traditions. Participants include Artistic Noise, CCCADI, Hālāwai NYC, Pachamama Peruvian Arts, and more—sharing storytelling, crafts, and heritage activities throughout the afternoon.

• Live Performances and Global Music
  
  Performers from across the Americas, Oceania, and Africa will fill The Met with rhythm and color. Don’t miss high-energy dance by Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation, the lush harmonies of Mariachi Real de México, Polynesian dance by Te Ao Mana, and drumming by MAX Percussion. Additional performances will feature West African balafon, Hawaiian hula, and canción bolero—each accompanied by artist talks and cultural context.

• Conversations, Films, and Curator Talks
  
  Throughout the afternoon, Met curators and guest experts will offer pop-up talks and gallery insights. A highlight includes a film series by Ethiopian-American filmmaker Sosena Solomon, presented with the World Monuments Fund, followed by a panel discussion exploring cultural preservation across Africa.

• Architecture & Innovation
  
  The day concludes with a special conversation between architect Kulapat Yantrasast and Director Max Hollein, offering behind-the-scenes perspectives on how the new design honors cultural specificity while reimagining museum spaces for future generations.

Admission and Access:

• Outdoor events are free and open to all.

• Indoor events are included with Museum admission.

• No registration is required for general festival activities; some programs may require advance sign-up—visit metmuseum.org for full details and scheduling.

Join The Met for a joyous celebration of global culture, artistic exchange, and community creativity—one that marks not only the return of The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing, but also a renewed commitment to honoring the voices and histories behind the art.