2025 Annual National Snapshot of United States Museums, American Alliance of Museums, 11 November 2025
About the Report
The 2025 Annual National Snapshot of United States Museums survey, conducted by AAM, was fielded in July and August 2025. It tracked key metrics that the Alliance began collecting in June 2020 to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on museums and to gauge new opportunities and challenges for the sector.
The data collected for these reports has become critical to national advocacy efforts, especially when advocating for funding for US museums.
Over 500 museum directors responded to the survey on behalf of their organizations, representing a broad cross-section of the field in terms of geography, size, and discipline. Thanks to growing annual participation, the data has been disaggregated by geographic region, museum discipline, operating expenses, and governance type.
Key Findings
Museums across the country are confronting a convergence of financial pressures and declining attendance even as they continue serving as vital community anchors.
The survey of 511 museum directors reveals troubling reversals in the sector’s post-pandemic recovery:
- More than half of museums (55%) are currently seeing fewer visitors than in 2019, a setback from last year when 49% remained below pre-pandemic levels
- Nearly one-third (29%) of museums report decreased attendance in 2025 due to weakened travel and tourism and economic uncertainty
- Only half of museums (52%) report stronger financial performance in 2024 than before the pandemic, down from 57% the previous year
Additionally, the report documents significant impacts from 2025 executive orders and federal actions.
One-third of museums (34%) have had government grants or contracts canceled, most often by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).
Only 8% of affected museums report that lost federal funding has been fully replaced by foundations, sponsors, or donors, while 67% report the funding has not been replaced at all.
These funding losses have forced difficult choices:
- Among museums that lost federal funds, 24% cancelled programming for students, rural communities, individuals with disabilities, the elderly, or veterans
- 28% of affected museums reduced programming for the general public
- 21% of all museums have deferred facility or physical infrastructure improvements or construction
Even amid financial pressure, museums continue serving their communities beyond their traditional roles, including:
- Over one-third (36%) provide direct educational support such as tutoring, after-school programs, and school supplies.
- One-fifth (19%) offer workforce development or job training.
- Museums also provide mental health and wellness resources, digital access and literacy services, civic engagement opportunities, and language access services.
Read more: Mining the 2025 Annual National Snapshot of US Museums