Museums continued to attract consistently large audiences in 2025, although the reasons for growth varied significantly by region. In 2024, TEA Global Experience Index broadened the definition of museums to include selected leading historic sites that have significant museum components. This year they widened its application of that definition, resulting in several first-time entrants to the lists.

North American attendance increased modestly, although the results in the U.S. were heavily affected by the federal government shutdown in the busy fall 2025 season. Outside Washington, results were considerably stronger. The Metropolitan Museum of Art increased attendance 4.5%, buoyed by the reopening of the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing. The Museum of Modern Art grew 5.4%, and the Art Institute of Chicago increased 13.3%, boosted by major exhibitions.

See how North American Museums fared in 2025 compared to previous years:

Top 20 Museums in North America
Rank	Museum, Location	Change	2025	2024	2023	2022
1	The Metropolitan Museum of Art,  New York, NY, USA	4.5%	5,984,000	5,727,000	5,364,000	3,209,000
2	Museo Nacional De Antropologia,  Mexico City, Mexico	33.5%	5,049,000	3,782,000	2,640,000	––
3	American Museum of Natural History,  New York, NY, USA	-7.4%	5,000,000	5,400,000	5,000,000	––
4	Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island,  New York, NY, USA	-4.9%	3,538,000	3,722,000	––	––
5	National Museum of Natural History,  Washington, DC, USA	-15.4%	3,300,000	3,900,000	4,400,000	3,900,000
6	National Gallery of Art,  Washington DC, USA	-28.9%	2,800,000	3,937,000	3,830,000	3,256,000
7	Museum of Modern Art,  New York, NY, USA	5.4%	2,800,000	2,657,000	2,840,000	2,190,000
8	Chapultepec Castle (National Museum of History),  Mexico City, Mexico	1.9%	2,676,000	2,625,000	––	––
9	National September 11 Memorial & Museum  New York NY, USA	0.0%	2,400,000	2,400,000	––	––
10	Museo Soumaya,  Mexico City, Mexico	-4.3%	2,200,000	2,300,000	––	––
11	National Air and Space Museum,  Washington, DC, USA	0.0%	1,900,000	1,900,000	1,900,000	419,000
12	National Museum of American History,  Washington, DC, USA	-14.3%	1,800,000	2,100,000	2,100,000	1,800,000
13	Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex,  Merritt Island, FL, USA	New	1,551,000	––	––	––
14	Houston Museum of Natural Science,  Houston, TX, USA	-1.1%	1,529,000	1,547,000	1,800,000	1,700,000
15	Griffin Museum of Science & Industry,  Chicago, IL, USA	2.9%	1,519,000	1,476,000	1,476,000	1,134,000
16	The Art Institute of Chicago,  Chicago, IL, USA	13.3%	1,500,000	1,324,000	1,322,000	1,037,000
17	California Science Center,  Los Angeles, CA, USA	-11.9%	1,497,000	1,700,000	1,700,000	1,694,000
18	National Museum of African American History and Culture,  Washington, DC, USA	-12.5%	1,400,000	1,600,000	1,600,000	1,093,000
19	Denver Museum of Nature & Science,  Denver, CO, USA	1.9%	1,385,000	1,358,000	1,306,000	1,151,000
20	Getty Center,  Los Angeles, CA, USA	-0.1%	1,300,000	1,301,000	1,251,000	909,000
TOP 20 TOTAL ATTENDANCE FROM 2025 AND 2024 (PUBLISHED PRIOR YEAR TOTAL)		0.8%	51,129,000	50,723,000	––	––

Source: 2025 TEA Global Experience Index™
TEA/ECA/TPDB