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Events/ Ongoing Programs/ MetCelebrates/ Celebrate the Holiday Season at The Met
Animated gif of snow crystals on a blue background

Celebrate the Holiday Season at The Met

The Met Fifth Avenue

An ornate Christmas tree on view in the Medieval Hall at The Met Fifth Avenue

Christmas Tree and Neapolitan Baroque Crèche

Through January 8, 2023

On view in the majestic Medieval Sculpture Hall, this beloved holiday tradition features a 20-foot blue spruce adorned with 19 cherubs, 59 angels, and an additional 71 figures that evoke 18th-century Naples Nativity scenes.

 

Ornate, silver menorah

Eastern European Silver Menorah

Through January 8, 2023

Visit one of the largest-known silver Hanukkah lamps, now on display in The Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Galleries. This magnificent, late 19th-century silver Menorah was made in Lviv, Ukraine, and is on loan from The Moldovan Family Collection.

 

Painted portrait of Elizabeth I with the text "The Tudors: Art and Majesty in Renaissance England"

Exhibitions On View

Discover how the infamous Tudor monarchy shaped their public image through art. See Maya art rarities from Mexico and Guatemala. Examine the vital work by enslaved Black potters in the 19th-century American South. Discover the eye-opening realistic paintings that inspired Cubist painters.

A young child and their guardian are photographed from above engaging in craft making.

Family and Kids

Explore in-person programs created specifically for kids like Storytime, Start with Art, and Art Trek. Or enjoy #MetKids content at home, including art making, behind-the-scenes features, and more!



 

Performances

A black and white image of three women posing outside amid trees.

Trio Mediæval at The Met Cloisters

Sunday, December 11, 2 and 4 pm

The GRAMMY®-nominated vocal trio weaves strands of folk, jazz, and improvisation through six centuries of holiday music from Britain and Scandinavia—all in one of NYC’s most reverberant spaces, the Fuentidueña Chapel.

 

A black and white image of a masked performer with their hands outstretched.

Catalyst Quartet: Bassline Fabulous with Machine Dazzle

Friday, December 16, and Saturday, December 17, 7 pm

MetLiveArts' ‘22-’23 Quartet in Residence takes an immersive dive into Bach’s behemoth Goldberg Variations as “theatrical genius” performance artist Machine Dazzle interprets the music’s inescapable evolution through a personal, emotional lens.

The Met Cloisters

A festive wreath of holly and apples adorns a medieval arch at The Met Cloisters.

Medieval ‘Christmastide’ Decorations

December 15, 2022–January 8, 2023

Holly boughs symbolizing light, warmth, and welcome adorn the great archway, and the Main Hall boasts grand displays of fresh ivy and hand-polished lady apples, hazelnuts, rose hips, and pine cones, all locally sourced.

Holiday Shopping and Dining

Three white christmas ornaments with floral motifs hang from branches of a pine tree.

Shop Art-Inspired Gifts at The Met Store

Discover 160 new arrivals—scarves, jewelry, home decor, kids’ toys, and so much more—for holiday gifting at The Met Store. Your purchase supports our vital work as stewards of 5,000 years of art.

An assortment of pastries.

Grab a Bite

Enjoy seasonal snacks and menus at The Great Hall Balcony Cafe and The Met Dining Room. Members at the Evening Hours level and above can enjoy an exclusive menu or a quick pick me up during Members Morning Hours at The Balcony Lounge.

 

Join and Support The Met

Give the Gift of Membership

Searching for the perfect holiday gift? Share the magic of The Met with a gift Membership! Your recipient will enjoy free admission all year round, early previews of new exhibitions, and discounts on shopping and dining.

 

Member Morning Hours

Every Thursday between 9 and 10 am, Members get exclusive access to select exhibitions before the Museum opens to the public. Stop by The Balcony Lounge for coffee and a muffin before checking out our newest exhibitions without the crowds.

 

 

Support The Met

This season, consider making a fully tax-deductible donation to the Fund for The Met. Your contribution provides critical support for everything we do, from exhibitions, education, and live arts performances to caring for our collection.


Above: Wilson Alwyn Bentley (American, 1865–1931). [Snow Crystal] (multiple), 1890s–1920s. Gelatin silver prints. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Josh Rosenthal Fund, 2005 (2005.55.3) and Purchase, Alfred Stieglitz Society Gifts, 2015 (2015.157; 2015.194; 2015.179; 2015.165; 2015.154; 2015.155; 2015.152; 2015.164; 2015.153; 2015.161; 2015.187; 2015.185; and 2015.193)