Port Authority unveils cultural showcase at JFK Terminal 6 with leading New York institutions

Credit: The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and JFK Millennium Partners (JMP), the company selected to build and operate the $4.2 billion Terminal 6 (T6) at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), have announced a major collaboration with four leading New York City cultural institutions: the American Museum of Natural History, Lincoln Centre for the Performing Arts, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).

The initiative will transform the new terminal’s international arrivals corridor into a permanent arts and culture showcase, presenting a curated experience that reflects the creative spirit of New York City. Millions of travellers will be welcomed each year with displays from the city’s world-renowned cultural institutions.

The project supports the Port Authority’s vision to create a world-class passenger experience at JFK, as seen in its redevelopment of LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport’s Terminal A, with public art, local concessions, operational excellence, advanced technology and high-quality facilities.

The overall T6 art programme will include sculptural works and immersive visual art, designed to capture the diversity, energy and identity of New York City while offering moments of connection and inspiration. Architect Stanis Smith is leading the effort with JMP. Nineteen major site-specific permanent installations will be curated by Public Art Fund, alongside rotating local artworks curated by Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning. These works will be revealed in 2026, when the first phase of T6 opens.

Terminal 6 forms part of the Port Authority’s $19 billion plan to transform JFK into a world-class gateway, which includes two new terminals, two expanded and modernised terminals, a new ground transportation centre, and a redesigned roadway network.

Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said: “Thanks to the collaboration with four of New York’s premier cultural institutions, Terminal 6 will offer arriving visitors from around the world a unique New York experience before they leave the terminal. Along with an extraordinary public art programme, state-of-the-art architecture, cutting edge technology and iconic, locally inspired dining and shopping, we are creating a world-class passenger experience at Terminal 6 that will be among the best in the world.”

Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole added: “For a region that is renowned for its museums and performing arts centres, it is more than fitting that visitors arriving at Terminal 6 will be greeted by vibrant displays from four of our most popular cultural institutions. Just as we’ve done at Newark Liberty International Airport’s Terminal A and at LaGuardia Airport, stunning public art and inspiring cultural icons will elevate our new terminals at JFK International into destinations in themselves.”

Steve Thody, CEO of JFK Millennium Partners, said: “We’re honoured to collaborate with such prestigious institutions — icons in the global arts community and deeply rooted in the spirit of New York City. Each installation will reflect and celebrate the vibrant cultural heartbeat of New York as we welcome the world to JFK and beyond.”

The cultural contributions

Lincoln Center’s contribution is a 140-foot mural depicting the energy, artistry and dynamism of the performing arts on its iconic campus. The mural will feature scenes from music, theatre, dance and opera, set against Lincoln Center’s architecture, legendary venues and New York’s streets, offering travellers a striking first impression of the city as a global stage.

MoMA will present a special installation in collaboration with Yoko Ono, inspired by her 2019 work PEACE is POWER. This project will invite travellers to engage with the depth and urgency of Ono’s voice.

The American Museum of Natural History will showcase a tapestry of images from its halls, from the famous Tyrannosaurus rex specimen and Rapa Nui figure to exhibitions such as the Hall of North American Mammals and the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation. The display will represent the museum’s research divisions and collections.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art will present images from each of its 17 curatorial collections, including the Unicorn Tapestry from The Cloisters and the Dior bar suit from the Costume Institute. The vibrant display will reflect New York’s status as the cultural capital of the world and the Met’s role as a key city institution and cultural destination.

Transforming JFK

The JFK Vision Plan, launched in January 2017, set out a framework for the complete redevelopment, modification and expansion of facilities and infrastructure at the airport. Construction on the $9.5 billion Terminal One began in September 2022, and the $4.2 billion Terminal 6 broke ground in February 2023. Terminal 6 will connect seamlessly with Terminal 5 to create a major hub on JFK’s north side.

The $1.5 billion expansion of Terminal 4, led by Delta Air Lines and JFK International Air Terminal, is now substantially complete, while the $400 million expansion of Terminal 8, led by American Airlines, was completed in November 2022.

These privately financed projects, combined with the Port Authority’s investments in roads, parking and infrastructure, represent a $19 billion transformation of JFK. The Port Authority’s $3.9 billion capital investment has leveraged more than $15 billion in private funding, with a public-private investment ratio of nearly four to one.

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