Finding places to hang out as a teenager without spending money has become surprisingly difficult.
As malls shrink, community spaces change, and entertainment gets more expensive, genuinely free places for teens to gather are becoming harder to find. That’s part of what makes the Columbus Museum of Art’s upcoming Teen Night worth paying attention to.
On Friday, June 26, the Columbus Museum of Art at The Pizzuti will throw open its doors for an evening created specifically for teenagers, with free admission for all teens from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Even better, the event wasn’t just planned for teens. It was planned by them.
This year’s Teen Night was organized by the CMA//Next 2026 summer teen cohort, who put together an evening filled with activities, food, and opportunities to explore the museum in a way that feels a little less formal than your typical gallery visit.
Visitors to the space at 632 Park St. can expect free refreshments and mocktails, games, trivia, Jeopardy, bookmark-making stations, open art studio time, and teen-led tours throughout the evening.
The event also celebrates the opening of Tavares Strachan: The Day Tomorrow Began, the first U.S. museum survey dedicated to the internationally acclaimed conceptual artist.
Strachan’s work blends art, science, history, and storytelling into immersive installations that invite visitors to reconsider whose stories get remembered and whose are left out.
Much of the exhibition centers around his ongoing project, Encyclopedia of Invisibility, an ever-expanding archive highlighting overlooked people, events, and ideas that traditional historical narratives often ignore.
The exhibition features monumental sculptures, paintings, tapestries, ceramics, glass works, self-playing musical instruments, and large-scale installations designed to immerse visitors in Strachan’s world. It also includes Bar Room, a functioning café and community gathering space that will remain at The Pizzuti even after the exhibition closes.
Events like this matter because they create something that’s increasingly rare: a welcoming third space where teenagers can simply spend time together, meet new people, and try something creative without feeling like they have to buy something first.
Teen Night takes place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, June 26, at the Columbus Museum of Art at The Pizzuti, located at 632 Park St. Admission is free for all teens, and everyone is welcome to attend. FOr more info, head over to columbusmuseum.org.
