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Neue Galerie Merges Into The Met

Luis Enrique Hill, Contributor

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July 1, 2026

It’s not just the Met Gala that is creating buzz at The Met. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is officially getting a sibling, as Neue Galerie joins its family. This doesn’t mean that the iconic Neue Galerie building or the Klimts are moving over. In fact, Café Sabarsky will remain too. This is the inside scoop.

About The Merge

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) has gained a new family member: the Neue Galerie. They announced a landmark agreement to officially merge in 2028. The Beaux-Arts townhouse, located on Fifth Avenue, will be renamed the Met Ronald S. Lauder Neue Galerie (or Met Neue Galerie).

The Neue Galerie New York officially opened its doors to the public on November 16, 2001 and is currently under major renovations, and expected to open in Autumn of 2026. It will remain in its original historic William Starr Miller House at 1048 Fifth Avenue on Manhattan’s Museum Mile.

All of this was made possible by Cosmetics heir and Neue Galerie co-founder Ronald S. Lauder, and his daughter Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer, along with two dozen Met trustees, who are contributing a $200 million endowment to secure the building and its collection. It has purportedly met 80 percent of this goal.

What is changing, and what is staying?

The star attraction, Gustav Klimt’s Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I (“The Woman in Gold”) will stay. The museum will gain 13 choice paintings, donated by The Lauders personal collection, adding to the most significant 20th-century German and Austrian art under a single institution.

In addition, Café Sabarsky (the Austrian-style café) will reopen with the museum. It’s known for its authentic Austrian and German food, including soups, schnitzel, goulash, and pastries. You can also look forward to Cabaret at Café Sabarsky — a tradition at the museum. It pays homage to the vibrant German and Austrian theatrical culture of the 1890s to 1930s through intimate evenings with acclaimed artists.

FAQs

Q: Is the Neue Galerie moving into The Met?

A: No. The Neue Galerie will remain in its historic home at 1048 Fifth Avenue on Museum Mile. Beginning in 2028, it will become part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, renamed the Met Ronald S. Lauder Neue Galerie. The Neue Galerie will continue to operate from its iconic Beaux-Arts townhouse.

Q: When will the merger take effect?

A: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Neue Galerie expect the merger to be finalized in 2028. The Neue Galerie is currently undergoing renovations and is scheduled to reopen in autumn 2026 before officially joining The Met.