The last weekend of May is one of the more exhibition-rich weekends Manhattan has seen all spring. Three major shows close on Sunday, May 31, the Paley Center is pulling double duty with two back-to-back closers, and the outdoor scene is fully awake. Here is your guide to making the most of it.

Last Weekend Alert: Three Shows Closing Sunday

If you have been putting off the Paley Center for Media (25 West 52nd Street, Midtown), this is your final window. Two exhibits close Sunday, May 31: “45 Years of Pac-Man” traces the iconic arcade character from his 1980 origins in Japan through Pac-Man-branded Oreos, Krispy Kreme donuts, and ramen noodles — plus playable games throughout. Running alongside it, “Outwit, Outplay, Outlast: Celebrating 50 Seasons of Survivor” also ends Sunday, featuring torches, hidden immunity idols, a recreation of Tribal Council, and a timeline of the show’s most iconic moments.

In the East Village, the Brant Foundation Art Study Center — inside a former Con Edison substation at 421 East 6th Street — closes its Keith Haring exhibit Sunday as well. The show covers pieces Haring created during his formative New York years, including his famous subway chalk drawings. Admission is free, and the converted substation building is worth seeing on its own.

Free Culture Worth Making Time For

The South Street Seaport Museum (12 Fulton Street) is showing “The Promise of Liberty: Words That Shaped a Nation,” a free exhibit marking the 250th anniversary of the United States. On display: an official edition of the U.S. Constitution printed September 17, 1787; the Emancipation Proclamation; and an advance copy of Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1963 March on Washington speech — notably without the “I Have a Dream” passage, which he famously ad-libbed. This exhibit is ongoing through the summer, making it a strong option for any time this weekend.

The Whitney Museum of American Art (99 Gansevoort Street) continues its Whitney Biennial 2026 — the 82nd edition of the longest-running survey of contemporary art in the United States, featuring 56 artists and running through August 23. The first full summer weekend is an ideal time to visit before lines build through June and July.

The New Museum (235 Bowery) has recently reopened after a major expansion that doubled its gallery space. The inaugural exhibition, “New Humans: Memories of the Future,” features more than 200 artists exploring what it means to be human in an era of rapid technological change. Open Tuesday through Sunday.

Get Outside: High Line, Beaches, and Movies Under the Stars

On the High Line at West 30th Street and 10th Avenue, a 27-foot-tall sandstone Buddha sculpture titled “The Light That Shines Through the Universe” is now installed on the Plinth. Created by artist Tuan Andrew Nguyen in Vietnam, the work honors the ancient Bamiyan Buddhas destroyed in Afghanistan in 2001. It remains through spring 2027. The High Line is generally free and open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

NYC beaches opened for the season this past week with lifeguards on duty daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Swimming is prohibited outside those hours. NYC Parks has also launched Movies Under the Stars for the summer — more than 150 free, family-friendly outdoor film screenings across all five boroughs. Check the NYC Parks calendar to find a screening near you this weekend.

What You Need to Know

• Paley Center (25 W 52nd St) — Pac-Man and Survivor 50 both close Sunday, May 31. Go Saturday to avoid last-day crowds.
• Brant Foundation / Keith Haring (421 E 6th St) — Closes Sunday. Free admission, limited capacity. Arrive early or book online.
• South Street Seaport Museum (12 Fulton St) — “Promise of Liberty” is free and ongoing. Strong for any time this weekend.
• Whitney Biennial (99 Gansevoort St) — Through August 23. This weekend avoids peak summer crowds.
• High Line Buddha Sculpture (W 30th St & 10th Ave) — Free, outdoor, accessible anytime the park is open.
• NYC Beaches — Open for the season. Lifeguards on duty 10 a.m.–6 p.m. daily through Labor Day.
• Movies Under the Stars — Free screenings all summer at NYC parks. Check nycgovparks.org for dates and locations.

For a broader look at free things happening across the city this week, see our Free in NYC This Week roundup (May 26–June 1). If you want a longer cultural itinerary, our Insider’s NYC 2026 guide has you covered. Enjoy the last weekend of May, Manhattan.