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 spring 2026’s Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color—require an additional paid ticket that you can add to your order during checkout.

We have two dining spaces that are open yearround to all visitors with a ticket or membership: 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 days for Illinois residents will be on the following days, from 11 a.m. through closing every day we’re open (5 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and 8 p.m. on Thursdays):

-Free December Weekdays: December 1–18
-Free Winter Weekdays: January 5–February 28

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. Smaller backpacks are permitted, but visitors may be asked to wear them on the front of their bodies.

Please note that for safety reasons, we cannot accept food, beverages, flowers, or balloons in the checkroom, and these items are not permitted in any museum spaces that contain artwork.

Learn more about which items are and are not permitted in the museum.

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