A cultural takeoff: JFK Airport’s Terminal 6 to showcase art from leading New York cultural institutions

When JFK Airport’s Terminal 6 opens as part of a $4.2 billion redevelopment, travelers will step into more than just a modern travel hub. The new terminal, set to debut in phases between 2026 and 2028, will feature large-scale art installations created in collaboration with four of the city’s most prestigious New York cultural institutions—transforming the airport into a vibrant cultural gateway.

The project reimagines the airport not only as a point of departure and arrival but also as a cultural destination. According to officials, Terminal 6 is designed to greet visitors with the creative spirit of New York before they even leave the building. The plan includes a permanent display of works from four major museums alongside newly commissioned pieces curated by Public Art Fund, blending architecture, design, and fine art into the airport environment.

The role of each cultural institution

Four world-renowned institutions will take part in the initiative: the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Each will contribute a unique installation, highlighting the depth and diversity of New York’s cultural landscape.

Lincoln Center will unveil a 140-foot mural, featuring images of musicians, opera singers, dancers, and actors, symbolizing the performing arts as a defining force of the city. The Metropolitan Museum of Art will showcase highlights from its global collection, representing 5,000 years of history and artistic expression. Meanwhile, the American Museum of Natural History will bring science into the space, referencing its iconic collections, from fossils to natural wonders.

The art of Yoko Ono

Among the most anticipated projects is a new installation by Yoko Ono, created in partnership with MoMA. Drawing inspiration from her 2019 work, PEACE is POWER, the piece will reflect her signature vision of peace and collective hope. A vast sky-blue gradient will cover the walls and ceilings, interwoven with her iconic messages, such as Imagine Peace, Spread Peace, and Think Peace, written in crisp white letters. Engraved in multiple languages, the words will greet international travelers with a universal call for unity and reflection. This immersive environment extends Ono’s lifelong commitment to using art as a vehicle for dialogue, memory, and transformation, turning the new terminal into a space for shared contemplation, not just a travel hub.

Beyond the museums

Terminal 6 will also include 19 site-specific installations by contemporary artists, as well as rotating displays of local art curated by the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning. The building itself—designed with a dramatic oculus skylight and a monumental 3D mural titled JFK Global Panorama—will merge cutting-edge technology with public art, positioning the terminal as both a functional space and an artistic landmark.

As Steve Thody, CEO of JFK Millennium Partners, noted, the collaboration is intended to “reflect and celebrate the cultural heartbeat of New York.” For millions of visitors each year, the experience of the city will begin the moment they step off the plane.