Guidelines for Visiting SFMOMA

Accessibility

SFMOMA has a variety of affordances available. Wheelchairs and cane chairs can be rented from coat check for free.

Service animals are welcome at the museum. Service animals must be under control at all times. Pets are not allowed.

Visitor Experience staff can be identified by red lanyards and can assist with any questions regarding gallery policies.

Ticketing and Arrival

All visitors (including those eligible for free entry, such as members and visitors 18 and younger) require a ticket.

We encourage visitors to reserve tickets online for their whole party so that everyone can enter the galleries together. Complimentary tickets for visitors 18 and younger can be booked online in conjunction with a paid or member ticket. Tickets are also available on-site.

Only vouchers from registered ticket partners will be accepted.

Tickets are valid all day and must be shown to staff at ticket checkpoints.

Exchange and Refund Policy
Tickets purchased in advance may be exchanged for a $5 fee; expired tickets cannot be exchanged. No refunds. Contact visit@sfmoma.org or 415.357.4000 with any questions. Members can contact membership@sfmoma.org or call 415.357.4135.

For free events with RSVP, space will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis and the RSVP does not guarantee a seat.

For exhibitions with timed tickets, please aim to arrive at the museum at least 15 minutes before your time slot. Accommodation for late arrivals will depend on gallery crowds and available tickets.

Gallery Guidelines

Please help us protect the art. Honor all safety barriers and maintain a distance of at least 18 inches from all artwork.

Backpacks and other items such as child carriers may not be worn on the back. Such items can be carried by hand below the waist, worn on the front of your body, or checked at coat check.

Breastfeeding and bottle feeding is welcome in all museum spaces. SFMOMA does not provide any dedicated spaces for feeding.

Photography/videography is allowed for personal, noncommercial use (except where indicated). No flashes, tripods, or selfie sticks. Please note that photography may be restricted in certain exhibitions.

Wet umbrellas are not allowed in galleries without an umbrella bag and must be stored inside your bag or carried by hand below the waist.

The use of all pens and any other writing/drawing/marking implements that may be used to mark and/or deface SFMOMA property are strictly prohibited in the galleries. If making notes is necessary, please use a pencil.

Disruptive noise is prohibited. Visitors with electronic/sound-producing devices, including but not limited to cell phones, tablets, handheld game consoles, et cetera, will be asked to turn the volume down.

Items prohibited in the galleries:

No food or drink unless needed for medical reasons. Spill-proof containers may be carried in the galleries but must remain sealed.
No pens, markers, writing, or other drawing materials, except pencils.
No wagons or metal-framed baby carriers. Single strollers may be borrowed from coat check on a first-come, first-served basis.
No oversized items, including but not limited to large suitcases, skateboards, scooters, signs, selfie sticks, and tripods. Coat check may not be able to accommodate such items. See below for coat check policies.

Items prohibited in the museum:

No flowers, plants, feathers, or balloons. Artificial flowers or plants are allowed.
No permanent markers or spray paint.
No pets. Service animals are welcome.
No motorized items, including but not limited to motorized scooters, skateboards , and unicycles. Motorized mobility devices are allowed.
No weapons or explosives.

For Families

Children 13 and younger must be accompanied at all times.

Strollers are allowed unless otherwise noted for specific exhibitions or programs.

On high-traffic days, the museum may have space designated for self-service stroller parking. These spaces are first-come, first-served and are not monitored. Items are left at the owner’s risk and SFMOMA is not liable for any belongings left behind.

Wagons and metal-framed baby carriers are not allowed in the galleries. Single strollers may be borrowed from coat check on a first-come, first-served basis.

Breastfeeding and bottle feeding are welcome in all museum spaces. SFMOMA does not provide any dedicated spaces for feeding.

For art activities and other offerings, check out our For Families page.

Coat Check

Coat check is available on a first-come, first-served basis. SFMOMA reserves the right to deny items based on size and space availability. Items are left at the owner’s risk and SFMOMA is not liable for any belongings left behind.

Items not accepted in coat check:

Any food or perishable items including flowers.
Drinks in open containers. Sealed, spill-proof containers are allowed.
Pets or other living animals.
Motorized items, including but not limited to motorized scooters, skateboards, and unicycles . Non-motorized items with wheels will be accepted depending on space.
Oversized items. If it does not fit in a cubby, we are unable to accept it. Maximum size accepted is 22 x 14 x 9 inches.

Tour Groups

Unauthorized tours, meaning privately operated tours that are not affiliated with the museum, are prohibited and may be asked to stop the tour and/or leave the museum. Tour operators may reach out to groups@sfmoma.org for details on becoming a contracted partner.

Grounds for Immediate Ejection from SFMOMA

Racism, discrimination, or abusive behavior of any kind.

Smoking any tobacco or other product, including smokeless devices, inside the museum or in an outdoor area within 20 feet of a main exit, entrance, or operable window of the museum.

Littering on museum property, including entrance areas, entrance steps, platforms, access ramps, and any surrounding areas.

Excessive intoxication or possession, use, and/or being under the influence of controlled substances while on the premises, except as authorized by physician prescription.

Photographing, filming, or otherwise recording SFMOMA staff in a manner that the staff determines disrupts the safe or orderly use of the museum or interferes with the staff’s ability to provide services.

Damage to or removal of museum property.

Blocking or interfering with museum spaces and/or staff’s ability to provide services, including but not limited to interfering with lines, valet services, or art safety barriers.

Petition signature gathering, solicitation, or leafletting activities in any museum area, including any entrance area, entrance steps, platforms, or access ramps.

The use or possession of any type of weapon or explosives.

Lack of clothing covering the upper and/or lower body. Lack of shoes or other footwear.

Use of placards, signs, or banners in gallery spaces.

Use of drones and other unmanned or remotely controlled flying devices.

Unauthorized entry into controlled or restricted areas.