TL;DR The Museo de Arte Popular (MAP) in Mexico City is the city’s essential destination for Mexican folk art in 2025: a compact but rich permanent collection of ~3,000 pieces, rotating temporary shows (notably “Entre fibras y formas” and “Jardín Imaginado” in summer–fall 2025), active workshops and family programs, and headline events like La Noche de los Alebrijes. Practical visitor info: Revillagigedo 11, Centro; Tues–Sun 10:00–18:00, Wed open until 21:00; general admission ≈ MXN 60 with many exemptions and free entry on Sundays. Read on for what to see, when to go, and how to plan your 2025 visit with insider tips and FAQs.

Museo de Arte Popular Mexico City: Your Complete Guide to Exhibits and Events in 2025

I write about museums for a living and I visit dozens a year — which is how I learned to appreciate a place like the Museo de Arte Popular. The MAP is compact but deliberate: it presents Mexico’s living artisanal traditions with care, programming, and occasional spectacle. Below I walk you through the 2025 highlights, explain practicalities, and share the tips I use when I visit (and when I send friends there).

Why MAP matters (short version)

The museum opened to the public in 2006 with a mission to promote and preserve Mexican handcrafts and folk art. In my visits I’ve seen how it balances a stable permanent collection with temporary shows that spotlight materials, techniques and contemporary artisans. The result is both scholarly and lively — from clay, textiles and wood carving to the extravagant alebrijes that fuel one of Mexico City’s most popular parades.

What to expect in the galleries (Exhibits in 2025)

Permanent collection — breadth and tangible culture

The MAP’s permanent galleries house roughly 3,000 donated works that map regional techniques and everyday artistry. Expect categories such as pottery, textiles, masks, miniatures, lacquer (maque), lapidary work, metalwork, paper and cardboard (including alfeñique), toys, and jewelry. In my experience this mix gives excellent context: you can follow motifs, materials and uses across regions and generations.

Temporary shows on the 2025 calendar

• Entre fibras y formas — a material-focused exhibition (June 25–August 24, 2025) that highlights amate and fiber techniques. During an afternoon visit I found the juxtaposition of traditional hand-processing and contemporary forms particularly illuminating.
• Jardín Imaginado — an artist-driven temporary show (June 25–September 21, 2025) exploring botanical themes through folk techniques; it made me look twice at how artisans render flora in ceramic, textile and paper.
• Other rotating exhibitions and thematic shows appear throughout the year; the MAP frequently programs two–three temporary shows concurrently, so you can see several narratives on one visit.

Seasonal and recurring displays

The MAP maintains rooms devoted to sacred and ritual pieces — including Day of the Dead objects — that are excellent primers on how festivity, belief and craft intersect. When I visited during October in a previous year, the museum’s Day of the Dead displays were compact but thoughtfully curated, showing altars, catrinas and small-scale skull work in varying materials.

Events, workshops and public programs (2025 highlights)

MAP is as active outside the galleries as inside. I often plan my visits around a workshop or a public conversation because the museum’s educational team programs accessible events for different ages and skill levels.

• La Noche de los Alebrijes / Desfile y Concurso de Alebrijes Monumentales — the MAP is the institutional sponsor of the spectacular alebrijes parade and contest; these monumental fantastical creatures are a major public draw and competition piece every year.
• Festival Mitotl (2025) — MAP participates in festivals such as Mitotl; the schedule includes dance and staged functions (example: a program day on August 24, 2025).
• Workshops — weekend two-hour children’s workshops, artisan workshops, and adult craft classes are staples. The second-semester 2025 talleres go on sale August 13, 2025, so plan in advance if you want a place.
• Charlando en el MAP — a monthly live conversation streamed on Facebook/Instagram on the second Wednesday at 17:00; I’ve tuned in to these and they’re a useful way to preview exhibitions and hear curators/artisans speak.

The building, shop and visitor vibe

The MAP occupies a restored Art Deco building that was a firehouse; that architectural character gives the museum a unique physical identity in the historic center. The museum shop stocks high-quality crafts and the institution runs satellite stalls across the city — helpful if you see something you want to take home. On a practical level I appreciate the manageable scale: you can do the permanent collection and a temporary show comfortably in 90–120 minutes.

What MAP offers (comparison)

Area	What to expect	Ideal for
Permanent collection	~3,000 works across ceramics, textiles, masks, lacquer, paper arts	First-time visitors, students of material culture
Temporary exhibitions	Thematic shows (materials, artists, region-specific)	Repeat visitors and researchers
Workshops & educational programs	Children’s weekend workshops; artisan seminars; ticketed talleres	Families, makers, teachers
Large public events	Alebrijes parade, festivals, contests & live talks	General public and cultural tourists
Visitor services	Shop, accessible spaces, photography allowed without flash	Shoppers and casual museumgoers

Practical Guide

I break this into concrete steps so you can plan your MAP visit without surprises.

1. Check the calendar — Before you go, visit the museum’s official site or social channels to confirm current exhibitions, workshop dates and any temporary closures (the museum posts exhibition dates and workshop sales windows; for example, second-semester 2025 talleres were scheduled to go on sale August 13).
2. Plan your day & buy tickets — MAP’s general admission is listed as around MXN 60 (INBA and the museum indicate this as the general price in 2025). Bring ID if you qualify for a discount (students, professors, people over 60, minors under 18, people with disabilities, and artisans can be exempt). Sundays are free; I recommend arriving mid-morning on a Sunday if you don’t mind slightly larger crowds.
3. Time your visit — Typical hours are Tuesday–Sunday 10:00–18:00, with extended hours on Wednesday to 21:00. If you prefer fewer families, weekday mornings are quieter. If you want evening programming or talks, Wednesday nights are a good option.
4. How to get there — Address: Revillagigedo 11, Colonia Centro, CDMX. I usually take a ride-hail or the metro to the historic center and walk; Centro is compact but be mindful of traffic and street crowds depending on the time and nearby events.
5. What to bring — Valid ID (for discounts), small cash/card, comfortable shoes, a camera (photography allowed but without flash), a notebook if you’re sketching or taking notes in workshops. If you plan to buy crafts, bring some extra budget.
6. Accessibility & rules — The museum allows photography without flash. If you need accessibility services, contact the museum ahead of time — they have visitor services and educational staff who can assist. If unsure about a particular accommodation, call the museum to confirm.
7. Book workshops early — Popular children’s workshops and specialized artisan classes fill quickly. Note the sale dates for the semester programs and reserve early.

Tips from my visits (quick bullet list)

• Arrive early on Wednesday evenings if you want the quieter late-hours experience and possible talks.
• If you want photos of details (weaves, painted miniatures), use a mid-range lens and avoid flash — the pieces photograph well with ambient light.
• Visit the shop before you leave — the crafts are curated and many items are harder to find elsewhere.
• Combine the MAP with nearby Centro attractions: the museum sits in a walkable area of the historic center.
• If you’re traveling with kids, check the weekend workshop schedule and enroll them in advance when possible.

FAQs

Is the Museo de Arte Popular open every day?

The MAP is typically open Tuesday through Sunday. Regular hours listed for 2025 are 10:00–18:00, with extended hours on Wednesday until 21:00. Always double-check the official calendar for holidays or special closures.

How much does admission cost in 2025?

General admission is around MXN 60 according to institutional listings for 2025. Many groups are exempt or receive discounts: minors under 18, people with disabilities, people over 60 (with ID), students and teachers with valid credentials, and registered artisans. Sundays are free.

Can I take photos inside the museum?

Yes — photography and video are allowed without flash. Flash is prohibited to protect delicate materials.

What are the must-see pieces or rooms?

Don’t miss the permanent galleries that survey pottery, textiles, lacquer, masks and paper arts for a broad overview. Temporary exhibitions like “Entre fibras y formas” and “Jardín Imaginado” (summer–fall 2025) are highlights. If your trip coincides with La Noche de los Alebrijes, the related displays and parade-related programming are unmissable.

Does MAP offer workshops and how do I sign up?

Yes. MAP offers weekend children’s workshops, two-hour family sessions, and specialized courses for artisans and the public. Semester workshop registration windows are posted on the museum site; for example, second-semester 2025 classes went on sale August 13. If you’re unsure about online registration, call the museum’s education office or visit in person to enroll.

Is the museum good for families with young children?

Absolutely. The museum programs child-friendly workshops, puppet shows and storytelling; galleries are concise enough that children can engage without fatigue. For a hands-on experience, reserve a weekend workshop slot in advance.

How crowded does the museum get?

Weekends (especially Sundays, which are free) attract families and can be busier. Weekday mornings are the quietest. Special events like festivals or the alebrijes season will draw larger crowds.

Where can I buy artisan work I see in the exhibits?

The MAP shop sells curated crafts and the museum operates satellite shops around the city. If a specific artisan or technique interests you, ask staff — they can sometimes point you to artisan contacts or fair schedules where the makers sell directly.

Who runs the museum and how official is it?

The museum operates with institutional support and is recognized by national cultural bodies; it’s widely cited by the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes (INBA) and city cultural listings. It functions as a public reference for Mexican folk art and actively supports artisans and education programs.

Final thoughts

The Museo de Arte Popular is one of those museums that rewards repeated visits: the permanent collection grounds you in craft traditions, the temporary shows keep the perspective fresh, and the public programs let you meet living artisans and learn hands-on. If you have a single afternoon in Mexico City to learn about Mexican folk art, MAP is an efficient, authentic choice. For the latest dates, tickets and program specifics, check the museum’s official site and social channels — and if anything here is uncertain, the museum team is usually responsive through their public services and social media.

If you’d like, I can draft a half-day itinerary that pairs MAP with nearby museums and dining spots in Centro for a full cultural afternoon.