San Diego Museum Month Returns with Half-Off Admission

Over 70 cultural institutions across the region offer discounted entry throughout February.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 8:31pm

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San Diego's annual Museum Month promotion is back, offering locals and visitors 50% off admission at over 70 participating museums, gardens, aquariums, parks, and historic sites across the county and in Tijuana. Visitors can pick up free printed passes at public libraries in San Diego and Imperial counties or download digital passes starting February 1st.

Why it matters

Museum Month is a long-standing tradition in San Diego that helps drive tourism and support the region's vibrant arts and culture scene. The promotion makes it more affordable for locals to explore the diverse array of cultural institutions in the area, from the USS Midway Museum to the San Diego Botanic Garden.

The details

Participating venues include the USS Midway Museum, San Diego Botanic Garden, Pacific Southwest Railway Museum, Birch Aquarium at Scripps, and Living Coast Discovery Center. Visitors can pick up free printed museum passes at about 80 public libraries throughout San Diego County, as well as five libraries in Imperial County. Digital passes will also be available for download on the San Diego Museum Council website starting February 1st. Some locations may have special instructions, such as the San Diego Museum of Art and Museum of Photographic Arts, which will only accept the printed passes.

  • Museum Month runs throughout the month of February 2026.
  • Printed passes will be available at public libraries starting February 1st, 2026.
  • Digital passes can be downloaded from the San Diego Museum Council website starting February 1st, 2026.

The players

San Diego Museum Council

The organization that coordinates the annual Museum Month promotion across the region.

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The takeaway

Museum Month provides an affordable opportunity for San Diego residents and visitors to explore the area's rich cultural offerings, supporting the local arts and tourism industries. The promotion's expanded reach to Imperial County libraries also makes it more accessible to a wider audience.