If you’ve been dragging your feet on switching from the trusty MetroCard to OMNY, today might be the nudge you needed. The MTA is giving out free OMNY cards—no activation fee—for one day only.
Today, all you have to do is transfer your remaining MetroCard balance at any of the system’s 16 customer service centers. The first 400 customers at each location score a free card and transfers happen on the spot.
With MetroCard sales officially ending on December 31, OMNY will take over completely in 2026. The MTA is trying to make the transition a little smoother (and a little less expensive) as riders tap their way into the future. The cards won’t come preloaded with free rides—you’ll just get the balance you already have—but the purchase fee is waived, which feels like a tiny early holiday present…