Ordering advance tickets, including free tickets for Illinois residents, is encouraged but not required. Tickets can be purchased on-site.

Both general admission and Fast Pass tickets allow you to see all of the museum’s nonticketed special exhibitions. Occasionally, exhibitions—like Frida Kahlo’s Month in Paris: A Friendship with Mary Reynolds and the upcoming Gustave Caillebotte: Painting His World—require an additional paid ticket that you can add to your order when checking out online.

We have two dining spaces that are open to all visitors: the Café offers an array of fresh seasonal dishes, including sandwiches, salads, and desserts, and the Modern Bar offers lighter fare plus a full coffee, tea, and beverage menu.

Additionally, the Member Bar at Terzo Piano, a space for our Art Institute members, provides free coffee and tea as well as wine, beer, cocktails, and light snacks for purchase. Learn more about our dining options.

Our next free hours for Illinois residents will be Free Thursday Evenings, June 5–September 25, 2025, 5:00–8:00 p.m.

Learn more about our ongoing free admission opportunities, including for the following groups:

-Kids under 14
-Chicago teens under 18
-Students who attend one of our University Partner schools
-LINK and WIC cardholders
-Illinois educators
-Active-duty military and their families (Armed Services Day–Labor Day)

Yes, our checkrooms are free for all visitors. Bags and backpacks larger than 13 x 17 x 4 inches are not allowed in the galleries and must be checked, but we cannot accept food, beverages, flowers, or balloons in the checkroom, and they are not permitted in the museum spaces that house art. Learn more about which items are and are not permitted in the museum.

The museum’s North and South Gardens are usually open throughout the summer months, Wednesday–Monday, during museum hours. The gardens regularly close for major special events that bring increased crowds downtown, such as the NASCAR Street Race and Lollapalooza.