San Diego Museum of Art Celebrates 100 Years with Centennial Events

The iconic Balboa Park institution marks a century of art and community with special exhibitions, performances, and a birthday party.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA) is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026 with a yearlong series of exhibitions, community events, and a special birthday celebration on February 28th. The museum, which was founded in 1926 as the Fine Arts Gallery of San Diego, has curated four new exhibits to honor its history and contributions to the city. Visitors can expect performances, live music, food vendors, and family-friendly activities as part of the centennial festivities.

Why it matters

The San Diego Museum of Art has been a cultural anchor in Balboa Park for a century, inspiring art lovers and the broader community. This milestone anniversary underscores the museum's enduring legacy and its role in shaping San Diego's artistic landscape. The centennial celebration provides an opportunity for the public to engage with the museum's history and look ahead to its future.

The details

The museum's centennial celebration includes four new exhibitions: 'SDMA 100 Years' showcasing archival images and community memories, 'Local Visions: Reimagining the Façade' featuring local artists' interpretations of the museum's architecture, 'Cafés and Cabarets: The Spectacular Art of Toulouse-Lautrec' highlighting the museum's collection of works by the French artist, and 'Forging a Legacy: 15 Years of Landmark Acquisitions' highlighting the museum's growth through recent donations. The main event is the 'Cake Party' on February 28th, the museum's 100th anniversary, featuring performances, music, food, and family activities.

  • The San Diego Museum of Art was founded on February 28, 1926.
  • The museum's 100th anniversary celebration will take place on February 28, 2026.
  • The 'SDMA 100 Years' and 'Local Visions: Reimagining the Façade' exhibitions will run from January 24 to July 26, 2026.
  • The 'Cafés and Cabarets: The Spectacular Art of Toulouse-Lautrec' exhibition will run from April 4 to September 20, 2026.
  • The 'Forging a Legacy: 15 Years of Landmark Acquisitions' exhibition will run from May 16 to September 7, 2026.

The players

Kate Merena

The Associate Director of Memberships at the San Diego Museum of Art.

Roxana Velásquez

The Maruja Baldwin Executive Director and CEO of The San Diego Museum of Art.

Baldwin M. Baldwin

A connoisseur of the French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, whose collection of the artist's work was among the most comprehensive in the world and was gifted to the San Diego Museum of Art in 1987.

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What they’re saying

“It's truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

— Kate Merena, Associate Director of Memberships

“We truly are built on community from the very beginning of the San Diego Museum of Art. Our community has been what has built and sustained us, so asking folks to send their favorite memories in is just a lovely way for us to show that we have been a part of the community for all that time.”

— Kate Merena, Associate Director of Memberships

“Cross-cultural partnerships are critically important for the arts and the community in general because it helps bring audiences who don't necessarily know about each of the folks involved together. It brings people together around a common purpose. It brings people together around a common interest.”

— Kate Merena, Associate Director of Memberships

“Almost everyone wants and loves Monet's landscapes. So if you come to San Diego and want to see Impressionist art like you would at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris this is the only museum in San Diego where you can see it.”

— Roxana Velásquez, Maruja Baldwin Executive Director and CEO

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The San Diego Museum of Art's centennial celebration showcases the institution's enduring legacy as a cultural anchor in Balboa Park and its commitment to engaging the local community through art, history, and shared experiences. This milestone anniversary underscores the museum's role in shaping San Diego's artistic landscape and inspires excitement for its future contributions.