MoMA Internship 2027–2028: Programs, Deadlines & How to Apply

Last updated: October 2026

MoMA runs two paid internship programs in New York: a 10-week Summer Internship with a $6,160 stipend and a 12-Month Internship for recent graduates with a $42,000 salary. Neither is open today. MoMA's own opportunities page says "Summer 2027 applications will open in January 2027," while its FAQ says applications open in February, so be ready in January. The plain-words version: you apply between about January and March 2027, you intern from June to August 2027.

The summer program takes 25 to 30 interns a year, according to MoMA, and the 12-Month program about seven to 10. MoMA doesn't review an application until after the deadline, so submitting early doesn't get you read early.

Quick Facts

Nothing is open on October 16, 2026. Summer 2027 applications open in January 2027 per MoMA's opportunities page (February per its FAQ); the deadline hasn't been published.

Externships are short, remote programs where you finish a real project for a real company, and they fit into the months before MoMA's January opening. The Pinterest Gen Z Consumer Behavior Externship builds audience insight for marketing and engagement work, and the Beats by Dre Creative Advertising Strategy Externship builds creative strategy and storytelling. Explore all Externships.

What Is a MoMA Internship?

A MoMA internship is a paid placement in one department of The Museum of Modern Art in New York, which says its programs give interns "in-depth exposure to the workings of MoMA's individual departments." The summer program takes 25 to 30 interns annually, according to MoMA's FAQ, and projects are based on upcoming exhibitions or ongoing museum initiatives.

Interns may assist curators or managers with visitor engagement, research, writing, design or program coordination, and every internship has an administrative component. MoMA PS1 runs a separate program, and SFMOMA in San Francisco is a different museum with its own internships.

When Do MoMA Internship Applications Open for 2027–2028?

MoMA's summer calendar is short and anchored in winter. The opportunities page says summer applications open in January, the FAQ says February, and candidates are notified by late April, which puts the opening about four to five months before the June start. MoMA hasn't published the 2027 deadline. One department's 2026 deadline was March 1 (a listing on the NYU museum studies board), and a Reddit post said 2024 applications were due April 10.

The 12-Month program is a separate track. In 2026 it opened March 16 and closed May 3, with a September start, though the FAQ says applications open in May and candidates hear by late July.

How to read this page: our dates come from tracking previous recruiting cycles and daily posting data. Treat them as informed estimates based on historical patterns, not confirmed dates. The company's official careers page is always the most current source. If a role is posted there, go by that, even if this page suggests the window hasn't opened yet.

Why You Must Apply the Week Applications Open

MoMA's FAQ says you can submit before the deadline but that "MoMA will not review your application until after the application deadline." So the lesson is the opposite of a rolling program: apply early to avoid technical problems, but don't expect an early read.

The deadline is absolute. MoMA says the deadline is the date your application must be postmarked, and any application above three departments isn't considered. The 2027 date isn't published yet, so watch the opportunities page from January.

Which MoMA Internship Programs Should You Target?

MoMA lists two internship programs at the museum, and a third at MoMA PS1.

The 2026 12-Month cohort was hosted by four departments: Learning and Engagement, Media and Performance, the Office of the Director, and Painting and Sculpture. Details are on the opportunities page, which still carries a 2026 heading, so check the dates on it.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements?

From MoMA's About and FAQ pages:

• Summer: at least two years of undergraduate study completed by the start (rising junior status), from any discipline.

• Open to: current students, recent college graduates, graduate students and beginning museum professionals. You don't need to be currently enrolled.

• 12-Month: recent graduates of a bachelor's or master's program, ideally with research and writing experience in art history or a similar field.

• International students: the FAQ says they can participate.

• Limits: up to three departments per program term, one summer internship per year, and no deferrals or winter-break terms. There is no high school program.

Is the GPA a Hard Cutoff?

MoMA doesn't publish a GPA minimum. It does require a transcript, though an unofficial one is accepted, and a recommendation letter uploaded directly to the application. The firm rules are the study-level requirement (rising junior for summer) and the three-department cap. Individual departments can add requirements, such as a language, so read each posting when it opens.

What Skills Does MoMA Look For, and How Do You Build Them?

MoMA doesn't publish a skills list, and no internship posting was open to read. Its FAQ is the best guide: interns may help with visitor engagement, research, writing, design and program coordination, and every internship includes administrative work.

Three buckets follow. Research and writing, for curatorial and archival work. Design and digital work, for design, film, exhibition and digital teams. Audience and program work, for education, marketing and engagement. Read the department posting when it opens, since requirements such as a language vary.

Note: No frequency chart this time: MoMA had no internship posting live on October 16, 2026, and a chart built from third-party listings would misstate what its departments ask for. We will add one when summer 2027 postings appear.

How Is Demand for Marketing Interns Moving Right Now?

Build These Skills Before You Apply

Each skill maps to a remote Externship you can finish before MoMA's January opening. None of these is affiliated with MoMA.

A finished project gives your 650-word essay something concrete to draw on, which matters when MoMA asks about your own experiences with the arts.

What Is the MoMA Application and Interview Process Like?

The steps below come from MoMA's FAQ and About pages.

1. Choose up to three departments for the program term. Applications beyond three aren't considered.

2. Gather your materials: a PDF resume, a PDF transcript (unofficial is accepted) and at least one recommendation letter your recommender uploads directly, limited to one page.

3. Write the essay (650 words or fewer) on why you want to intern at MoMA, addressing the role of museums and their evolution, and an individual or experience that shaped your view of the arts.

4. Apply through MoMA's job board by the deadline. Don't send extra materials unless a department asks.

5. Review and interview. After Human Resources and department review, MoMA contacts select candidates for a virtual interview; all finalists are interviewed.

6. Notification. Summer candidates are notified by late April and 12-Month candidates by late July, per the FAQ.

MoMA can't offer informational interviews, so send questions to internships@moma.org.

What Students on Reddit Say

Applicants compare notes on r/MuseumPros, mostly about timing and silence after the deadline.

How Do You Stand Out for a MoMA Internship?

MoMA publishes program sizes (25 to 30 summer interns, about seven to 10 in the 12-Month program) but not applicant counts or an acceptance rate, so no selectivity figure here is sourced.

First, treat the essay as the main event. The prompt is fixed and asks about the role of museums and a formative experience, so answer both parts with specifics.

Second, use your three department slots on departments you can match with real work, since the cap is firm and extras are ignored.

Third, get a strong one-page letter from a recommender who knows your work, uploaded directly. Ask early.

What Other Companies Should You Consider?

MoMA applicants usually weigh other museums, especially in New York.

Our nonprofit and social impact internships guide for summer 2027 covers the wider set of nonprofit and cultural programs and their deadlines.

FAQ

Can I still apply for a summer 2026 MoMA internship?

No. MoMA's opportunities page says applications for the 2026 Summer Internship Program are closed, and its job board listed no internships on October 16, 2026. The next summer window is 2027, with applications opening in January 2027 per MoMA's page and in February per its FAQ.

When do MoMA summer 2027 internship applications open?

MoMA's opportunities page says January 2027, while its FAQ says applications open in February each year. Plan to be ready in January. The deadline for 2027 hasn't been published. One department's 2026 deadline was March 1, and candidates are notified by late April.

Are MoMA internships paid?

Yes. The 10-week Summer Internship Program pays a $6,160 stipend, and the 12-Month Internship Program pays a $42,000 salary, according to MoMA's About page. MoMA doesn't provide housing, so summer interns arrange their own accommodation in New York. It can provide letters for academic credit.

Who can apply for a MoMA summer internship?

Students who have completed at least two years of undergraduate study (rising juniors), plus recent graduates, graduate students and beginning museum professionals, in any discipline. MoMA says international students can participate and that you needn't be currently enrolled. The 12-Month program is for recent bachelor's or master's graduates.

What do I need to submit for a MoMA internship?

A PDF resume, a PDF transcript (unofficial is accepted), at least one one-page recommendation letter uploaded directly, and an essay of 650 words or fewer. The essay covers the role of museums and an experience that shaped how you see the arts. You can apply to up to three departments.

How many interns does MoMA accept?

About 25 to 30 summer interns a year and about seven to 10 in the 12-Month program, according to MoMA's FAQ. Cohort size varies year to year. MoMA doesn't publish applicant numbers or an acceptance rate, so selectivity can't be calculated from its pages.

Is MoMA the same as MoMA PS1 or SFMOMA?

No. MoMA is The Museum of Modern Art in New York. MoMA PS1 is a sister site with its own blended on-site and remote internship program, and SFMOMA in San Francisco is a separate museum with its own hiring. This guide covers MoMA's Summer and 12-Month programs.

Does a MoMA internship lead to a full-time job?

MoMA doesn't publish an intern-to-staff conversion rate. Former summer interns may apply to the 12-Month program, and permanent roles are posted separately on MoMA's job board. Interns get weekly professional development and department exposure, which can help, but nothing guarantees a return offer.

MoMA's summer applications open in January 2027, so use the months before to build proof: a remote Externship gives your essay a finished project to point to.