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Seattle Art Museum Tickets

Headout is an authorized and trusted partner of the venue, offering curated experiences to enjoy this attraction.

Visitors viewing artwork at Seattle Art Museum exhibition.

Why visit the Seattle Art Museum

Couple viewing paintings at Seattle Art Museum exhibition.
Visitor admiring artwork in a museum gallery.
Sculpture of a tree installation in the lobby of Seattle Art Museum.
Visitors listening to a guide at Seattle Art Museum in front of a large painting.
Aerial view of Seattle skyline with waterfront and Ferris wheel.
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Seasonal and rotating exhibitions that offer unique experiences

SAM’s headline exhibition, Farm to Table: Art, Food, and Identity in the Age of Impressionism (October 2025 - January 2026), features over 50 works by Monet, Gauguin, and Pissarro, highlighting the intertwining of art and French food culture during the Age of Impressionism.

New-age contemporary showcases

Exhibits such as the one by local artist Tariqa Waters, "Venus is Missing", reimagine beauty and resilience through blown-glass art rooted in Black culture and memory —a visually striking, deeply personal Seattle highlight.

Immersive installations

FriendsWithYou: Little Cloud Sky fills the Brotman Forum with 40 suspended smiling clouds, a free-to-view installation spreading joy and optimism right in the main lobby.

Connect with global art that spans centuries

From Impressionisms: The Global Nineteenth Century to Chronicles of a Global East, SAM connects world art traditions across time, linking European masters, Silk Road treasures, and American stories under one roof.

A landmark in the heart of downtown Seattle

Located steps from Pike Place Market, SAM’s downtown museum blends architecture, community energy, and rotating exhibitions, making it ideal for both first-time visitors and returning locals.

Exhibitions at the Seattle Art Museum

Japanese ceramic teapot with floral design.
  • Farm to Table: Art, Food, and Identity in the Age of Impressionism (Oct 23, 2025–Jan 18, 2026)
    Over 50 Impressionist works explore France’s culinary culture and how art captured the nation’s identity through its kitchens, markets, and meals.
  • Tariqa Waters: Venus is Missing (May 7, 2025–Jan 4, 2026)
    Watch the transformation of accessories into monumental glass sculptures, a way of bridging themes of vulnerability, cultural pride, and future possibility.
  • Ash-Glazed Ceramics from Korea and Japan (Jul 9, 2025–Jul 12, 2027)
    Features 34 ceramic pieces spanning centuries, showing how Korean and Japanese artists used natural ash glazes to create subtle, organic textures.
  • Diego Cibelli: Fiori dei Miei Habiti / La Montagne Enchantée (May 31, 2024–May 10, 2026)
    A porcelain sculpture that merges myth and nature in a dramatic, modern reinterpretation.
Visitors exploring art in a Montmartre museum gallery.
  • FriendsWithYou: Little Cloud Sky (Jun 27, 2025–ongoing)
    Forty smiling clouds float above SAM’s public lobby, creating a playful and uplifting welcome open to all visitors for free.
  • Yirrkala: Art from Australia’s Top End (May 10, 2024–ongoing)
    Aboriginal artists rework metal into dazzling, pattern-filled canvases that explore water, environment, and ancestral forces.
  • Lessons from the Institute of Empathy (Mar 31, 2018–ongoing)
    An interactive space where art and technology meet, inviting visitors to explore and expand their empathy.
  • Impressionisms: The Global Nineteenth Century (Mar 27, 2024–ongoing)
    Examines how Impressionism spread across continents, connecting European and American artists of the 1800s.
  • American Art: The Stories We Carry (Oct 20, 2022–ongoing)
    View the complex history of America through the gallery showcasing historical American and Native art to reflect on land, identity, and cultural exchange.
  • Chronicles of a Global East (Oct 20, 2022–ongoing)
    Explores Silk Road and maritime trade routes through art that reveals centuries of cultural blending.
  • Pacific Species (Dec 22, 2022–ongoing)
    Highlights biodiversity through art that encourages viewers to focus on animals and nature instead of humans.
Visitors viewing paintings at Seattle Art Museum exhibition.
  • Cosmic Beings in Mesoamerican and Andean Art (Nov 10, 2018–ongoing)
    Ceramics and sculptures depict ancient gods and myths that portray early civilizations’ views of life and the universe.
  • Art and Life Along the Northwest Coast (Nov 26, 2014–ongoing)
    Native art from the Pacific Northwest, both historic and contemporary, showcases living cultural traditions.
  • Conscious Constructions (Apr 29, 2011–ongoing)
    European art ranging from the Renaissance to the modern eras illustrates evolving ideas of beauty, form, and space.
  • Only Connect: The Art of Devotion (Apr 29, 2011–ongoing)
    Medieval and Renaissance Christian artworks show how artists used imagery to express faith and connection.
  • Porcelain Room (May 5, 2007–ongoing)
    Over a thousand pieces of European and Asian porcelain are displayed by color and theme, recreating the opulence of the global porcelain trade.

Seattle Art Museum’s top highlights

Porcelain sculptures on display at Seattle Art Museum exhibit.
Hammering Man sculpture outside Seattle Art Museum.
Visitors observing an exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum.
Ancient Roman sculptures and mosaics on display at Seattle Art Museum.
Visitors viewing art exhibits at Seattle Art Museum.

Plan your visit

Person admiring artwork in a London museum gallery.
  • Open days: Wednesday to Sunday
  • Closed on: Monday and Tuesday
  • Gates open: 10am
  • Closing time: Wednesday, Friday to Sunday: 5pmThursday: 8pm
  • Final admission: 30 minutes before closing
  • Holiday closures: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve

Address: 1300 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101, United States | Find on Maps
Nearby landmark: Pike Place Market (0.1 miles)

  • Closest bus stop: 3rd Ave & Union St. (0.1 miles)
  • Closest light rail station: Symphony (450 ft.)
  • Closest monorail station: Westlake Center (0.3 miles)
  • Distance from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport: 25-minute drive (13.3 miles)
  • Distance from the Seattle ferry terminal: (0.4 miles)

Parking: While there is no parking available at SAM, there are many paid parking garages nearby, at Pike Place, by the Pier, and more.

Wheelchair accessible route sign with arrow pointing right.
  • Wheelchairs: The museum is completely wheelchair accessible with accessible entrances, restrooms, and exhibits. Wheelchairs are also available for visitors at the Coat Check.
  • Service animals: Registered service animals are welcome at the museum.
  • Nursing: You can breastfeed your child anywhere across the museum, although bottle feeding is restricted to the Brotman Forum or the third-floor Knudsen Family Room.
  • Aides: Caretakers and aides receive free admission to SAM.
  • Strollers and stools: Complimentary strollers and foldable stools are available for guests at Coat Check.
  • ASL Interpreters: You can request an ASL interpreter for events with a minimum of 2 weeks’ notice. You can email or call 206.654.3210.
  • Visual and hearing aids: Magnifiers and color blind glasses are available at Coat Check and can be loaned with a valid ID. Certain works have Braille labels, and some come with verbal descriptions.  A TTY (text telephone) is also available upon request. You can also request complimentary disposable earplugs on your visit.
  • Closed captioning: Videos in the permanent galleries can be viewed with closed captioning, or you can ask for a printed copy as well.
Washroom signs at London Palace Theatre indicating male, female, and accessible facilities.
  • Restrooms: Restrooms, along with accessible options, are available for use on all floors of the museum.
  • Escalators and elevators: You can also use escalators or elevators to travel between the floors instead of stairs.
  • Maps: A handy printed map is readily available at the museum to help you navigate the exhibitions and galleries. You can also request a sensory map, a social narrative map, or a large print map, based on your needs.
  • Coat Check: Complimentary luggage check-in, along with guest services, can be found at Coat Check.
  • Free admission: Children 14 years and under get free admission to the museum. The first Thursday of the month is free for all visitors.
  • Complimentary tours: Take an hour-long tour of the museum’s highlights and newest exhibits on the complimentary guided tour with experts. Timings: Sat & Sun at 11:30am, Thurs at 6pm, first Thursday of the month at 11:30am, 1:30pm, and 6pm
Visitors admiring artwork in a museum gallery.
  • The artwork can get damaged by the moisture and oils released from our skin, so avoid touching the works at all costs. Keep a safe 12-inch distance at all times.
  • You can sketch and write at the museum, but keep in mind that only pencils are allowed. No pens, paints, or pastels. 
  • No outside food or beverages are allowed in the museum.
  • You cannot use your admission ticket to visit the other SAM museums.
  • Weapons of any kind are strictly prohibited in the venue.
  • No large bags, backpacks, or luggage of any kind are allowed inside the museum. Use the complimentary Coat Check to keep your luggage.
  • Photography and videography are welcome and encouraged at SAM, except for locations where it’s stated otherwise.
  • Flash photography and commercial photography or recording equipment of any kind are not permitted.
Lobster roll with lettuce on a bun, served on a paper wrapper.

MARKET Seattle

Get a classic Seattle-style meal in with your art exploration, with fresh, local produce. Enjoy dishes like fish & chips, chowder, crab & lobster rolls, and oysters, paired with seasonal beverages and classics.

  • Timings: 
    Wednesday to Sunday: 10:30am to 5:30pm
    First Thursday of every month: 10:30am to 8pm
Child exploring colorful bracelets at Museum of Illusions Madrid gift shop.

SAM Shop & Gallery

Original works of art, prints, local artisanal jewelry, ceramics, home decor, books on art and design, and more, you can pick up souvenirs or support artists at the SAM Shop & Gallery at the museum.

Couple cutting cake at Sky View Observatory with cityscape view.
  • Sky View Observatory: See panoramic views of the Seattle skyline from the 73rd floor of the Columbia Center at Sky View Observatory, an ideal way to spend the evening after a day at the museum. 
  • The Seattle Great Wheel: Climate-controlled gondolas overlooking the water on one side, and the city skyline on the other, with a great view of the city’s top landmarks (0.1 miles).
  • Seattle Aquarium: Visit the Seattle Aquarium for some interactive exhibits, VR shows, and a closer look at the marine life of the region (0.3 miles).

Visitor tips

  • Book ahead online: You’ll often save time at entry, especially on weekends and exhibition opening days.
  • Go early or late in the day: Morning and late afternoon hours tend to be quieter.
  • Don’t skip the Brotman Forum: The Little Cloud Sky installation is free to visit without a ticket.
  • Plan for 1.5-2 hours minimum: There’s a lot to cover across multiple floors, and keep a copy of the floor map with you to help you navigate.
  • Take an interactive smartphone tour: Ideal for self-guided and detailed exploration of the museum’s works. You can tour the museum with an interactive digital guide for free.

Frequently asked questions about Seattle Art Museum tickets

How long does it take to see the museum?

Most visitors spend about 2 hours exploring, but if you want to take in both temporary exhibits and ongoing collections, plan for up to 3 hours.

Are my admission tickets timed entry or flexible?

Timed entry isn’t required for general admission; you can enter the museum any time during the day.

Is re-entry allowed on the same day?

Yes, you can leave and return the same day, just keep your ticket or digital confirmation handy.

Is the Brotman Forum free to enter?

Yes, the lobby area featuring Little Cloud Sky is open to everyone without a ticket.

Is SAM good for kids?

Yes! There’s plenty of visual variety, interactive displays, and family guides available at the info desk.

Can I bring a sketchbook?

Yes, small sketchbooks and pencils (no ink, pastels, or paint) are welcome in most areas.