If you’ve been waiting for the perfect excuse to finally visit that museum you keep bookmarking, this is it. SoCal Museums just announced that its annual Museums Free-for-All will return on Sunday, February 22, 2026, opening the doors to cultural institutions across Southern California. And it’s completely free!
Whether you’re searching for a free family-friendly outing or a solo day of wandering through galleries and gardens, Museums Free-for-All is one of SoCal’s best cultural freebies of the year.
🏛️What Is Museums Free-for-All?
Now in its third decade, Museums Free-for-All is a collective effort by SoCal Museums members to make arts and culture accessible to everyone for one special day each year.
“We believe arts and culture should be accessible to everyone,” said Cristian Hamilton, President of SoCal Museums. “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.”
🏛️Plan Ahead
While general admission is free, regular parking fees may still apply, and special ticketed exhibitions are not included as part of the offer. Many museums require or strongly recommend advance reservations, while others operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so planning ahead is essential.
Some popular spots, like The Getty Center and Getty Villa, require timed tickets even on free days, and those tend to go fast, so if you have your heart set on a specific museum, it’s best to book early and map out a mini museum-hopping route for the day.
⭐ All the Incredible SoCal Museums You Can Visit for Free
Here is the full list of the standout spots participating this year:
🎬 Film, Art & Contemporary Culture
- Academy Museum of Motion Pictures (first come, first served)
- American Museum of Ceramic Art (advanced reservations required)
- Bakersfield Museum of Art
- Benton Museum of Art at Pomona College
- Bowers Museum
- The Broad (reservations recommended)
- Craft Contemporary
- Fowler Museum at UCLA
- Hammer Museum (L.A. Metro TAP card holders get 10% off at the store, including membership)
- Institute of Contemporary Art, LA
- Long Beach Museum of Art (advance tickets recommended)
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) (advance tickets required)
- MOCA Grand Avenue & The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA (advance tickets recommended)
- Santa Barbara Museum of Art
🌿 Science, Nature & History
- California Botanic Garden (reservations recommended)
- Columbia Space Center
- La Brea Tar Pits & Museum (advance tickets required)
- Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (reservations recommended; Sea Center not included)
🏛️ Culture & Heritage
- Autry Museum of the American West (advanced reservations required)
- California African American Museum
- The Forest Lawn
- The Getty Center (timed tickets required)
- The Getty Villa (timed tickets required)
- LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes
- Lincoln Memorial Shrine
- Museum of Tolerance
- Santa Monica History Museum
- Skirball Cultural Center (advance tickets recommended for Noah’s Ark and general admission)
- Wende Museum
🏛️When: Sunday, February 22, 2026