Visit These Museums On SoCal Museums Free-for-All Day 2026
SoCal residents are blessed with a plethora of incredible museums covering everything from art to science and even movies. Every year dozens of these institutions come together to open their doors to the public for free on Museums Free-for-All day.
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Museums Free-for-All 2026
This yearāsĀ Museums Free-for-All, which celebrates free arts and culture in Southern California, takes place onĀ Sunday, February 22, 2026. From Santa Barbara to Orange County to Palm Springs, cultural institutions welcome guests for this region-wide tradition presenting art, design, cultural heritage, film, natural history, science, political history and more.
āFor more than twenty years, SoCal Museums members have come together annually to collectively open our doors and welcome the public,āĀ Cristian Hamilton,Ā President of SoCal Museums and Vice President of Advancement, Autry Museum of the American West said in a press statement. āWe believe arts and culture should be accessible to everyone, andĀ Museums Free-for-AllĀ has become a community touchstone. The day encourages visitors to try something new, return to an old favorite, and experience the extraordinary diversity of free cultural experiences unique to Southern California.”
Looking for more to explore? Check out our guide to the Best Museums in Southern California.

Participating Museums
There are several museums across Southern California participating in the free day. While all of them are admission-free, some so require advanced reservations, so be sure to check each location’s policy. Check out the complete list of places participating in Museums Free-for-All below:
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
(Tickets will be first come first serve all day)
American Museum of Ceramic Art
(Advanced reservations are required. VisitĀ amoca.orgĀ to make a reservation)
Autry Museum of the American West
(Advanced reservations are required. VisitĀ theautry.orgĀ to make a reservation)
Benton Museum of Art at Pomona College
The Broad
(Advanced reservations are recommended. VisitĀ broad.orgĀ to make a reservation)
California African American Museum
California Botanic Garden
(Advanced reservations are recommended. VisitĀ calbg.orgĀ to make a reservation)
The Getty Center &Ā The Getty Villa
(Timed tickets are required for The Getty Center. VisitĀ getty.eduĀ to make a reservation)
Hammer Museum
(Show a L.A. Metro TAP card at the Hammer Museum Store for 10% off your purchase, including membership)
Institute Contemporary Art, LA
La Brea Tar Pits & Museum
(Advance tickets required. VisitĀ tarpits.orgĀ to make a reservation)
Long Beach Museum of Art
(Advance tickets are recommended. VisitĀ lbma.orgĀ to make a reservation)
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
(Advance tickets are required. VisitĀ lacma.orgĀ to make a reservation)
MOCA Grand Avenue and The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA
(Advance tickets are recommended. VisitĀ moca.orgĀ to make a reservation)
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
(Advanced reservations recommended. VisitĀ sbnature.org; Sea Center not included)
Skirball Cultural Center
(Advance tickets recommended for both Noahās Ark and general admission. VisitĀ skirball.orgĀ to make a reservation)
Many of these museums and others offer free admission on other days throughout the year. A full calendar of free days can be found atĀ socalmuseums.net/free.Ā
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