The American Alliance of Museums has released its 2025 Annual Snapshot, and the results show a difficult year for museums across the United States. The survey of 511 museum directors points to a slowdown in recovery, with attendance and financial performance slipping for many institutions.
More than half of museums report visitor numbers below 2019 levels. Fifty-five percent are seeing fewer visitors than before the pandemic, which is a setback compared to last year when forty-nine percent remained below pre-pandemic attendance. Twenty-nine percent of museums say attendance dropped in 2025, which they link to weaker tourism and economic uncertainty.
Financial performance is also changing. Only half of museums say they performed better in 2024 than before the pandemic. Fifty-two percent report stronger performance (that figure was fifty-seven percent the previous year). AAM President and CEO Marilyn Jackson describes the findings as a sign that recent gains are not holding.
Federal funding cuts are adding pressure
The report also highlights substantial losses tied to recent federal actions. Thirty-four percent of museums experienced cancelations of government grants or contracts in 2025. Funding losses most often involved the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Endowment for the Humanities, or the National Endowment for the Arts.
Most affected museums have not been able to replace these funds. Only eight percent report full replacement, while sixty-seven percent say no lost funding has been replaced at all.
And these gaps are forcing difficult decisions. Twenty-four percent of museums that lost federal funds canceled programming for students or community groups. Twenty-eight percent reduced programming for the general public. Twenty-one percent of all museums deferred facility or infrastructure improvements or construction. The report notes that these delays affect the broader economy because many museums work closely with architects, engineers, and construction firms, to give one example.
Museums continue community support despite setbacks
Even with financial strain, museums continue offering programs that support learners, families, and local workers. Thirty-six percent provide tutoring, after-school programs, or school supplies. Nineteen percent offer workforce development or job training. Institutions are also offering mental health resources, digital literacy support, civic engagement opportunities, and language access services.
Jackson notes that the sector is adapting by rethinking business models and speaking with policymakers. She also calls on policymakers and philanthropists to recognize that investing in museums supports education, economic development, and community stability.
This year’s Annual Snapshot was fielded in July and August 2025 with support from The Wallace Foundation. Access the full report here.
