Mexico City Museums Experience Unprecedented Visitor Surge During Holy Week 2026
Mexico City, April 4, 2026 – Museums across Mexico City are reporting record-breaking attendance figures during the Holy Week holidays, with the Museum of Modern Art (MAM) and the National Museum of Anthropology (MNA) leading the charge. The influx of visitors has transformed the cultural venues into bustling hubs of activity, reflecting a strong public interest in art and history.
Museum of Modern Art (MAM) Draws Massive Crowds
The Museum of Modern Art (MAM) has seen an extraordinary number of visitors, with official figures up to April 2, 2026, showing a total of 137,973 attendees for the year. During Holy Week, the museum experienced a significant spike, with 12,000 visitors on Sunday and a record 5,000 on Tuesday, a remarkable number for a weekday.
Visitors are queuing for 30 to 40 minutes just to enter the museum, a wait many deem worthwhile for the opportunity to view the exhibitions of Remedios Varo and the Gelman Santander collection. However, once inside, another queue of similar length awaits those wishing to access the Manuel Álvarez Bravo room, where Frida Kahlo’s iconic painting Las dos Fridas is displayed, allowing only five people at a time.
The exhibition Relatos modernos. Obras emblemáticas de la colección Gelman-Santander has already surpassed 100,000 visitors. The Remedios Varo exhibition, Habitantes de lo insólito, which opened in March and runs until August, is accommodating up to 130 people per session, with tours lasting between 25 minutes and an hour.
Alejandra from Tecámac, State of Mexico, shared, “I came for Remedios Varo. Surrealism inspires me.” Pedro Rivero, his wife Lourdes Torres, and their daughter, who just exited the Gelman collection, described it as “Fabulous! Impressive that someone manages to bring together so many works by so many people: Frida, Diego, Tamayo, Orozco, Toledo… a whole era of Mexico and Europe.” They had waited 40 minutes for their tour, having been unable to enter the previous day due to the crowds.
National Museum of Anthropology (MNA) Also Sees High Numbers
A short distance away, the National Museum of Anthropology (MNA) is experiencing its own “romería” (pilgrimage), with persistent queues snaking across its outdoor esplanade under the scorching sun. Visitors face a 5 to 10-minute wait outside, followed by another 15 minutes to reach the ticket booths.
According to the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), the MNA has accumulated 985,500 visitors so far in 2026. During last year’s Holy Week, the museum set an attendance record, welcoming 210,940 people in just four days, the highest figure among all INAH venues.
Museo Tamayo Offers a Quieter Alternative
In contrast to the bustling MAM and MNA, the Museo Tamayo, also located in the Chapultepec area, offers a more serene experience. With only 10 to 20 people at the ticket counter, staff acknowledge it’s “nothing like the others.” As of April 2, the Museo Tamayo has welcomed 47,122 visitors this year, making it an ideal choice for those seeking to avoid crowds. The museum is currently featuring the exhibitions Wayamou: lenguas de lo común, El gesto y lo invisible, and Futuros arcaicos.
The significant increase in museum attendance during Holy Week underscores the cultural vibrancy of Mexico City and the enduring appeal of its artistic and historical treasures.
Source: https://www.jornada.com.mx/noticia/2026/04/04/cultura/museos-de-la-ciudad-de-mexico-rompen-records-de-asistencia-en-semana-santa
