Several San Francisco and Bay Area museums offer free admission days in July 2026. Most fall on the first Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Sunday of the month. Free days draw crowds, so arriving near opening helps. Special exhibitions often carry a separate fee even on free days.
Free Days in July 2026
Wednesday, July 1: The GLBT Historical Society Museum in the Castro is free to all on the first Wednesday of the month.
Thursday, July 2: The Museum of Craft and Design in the Dogpatch is free on the first Thursday of the month. BAMPFA, the UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, is also free on the first Thursday.
Sunday, July 5: The Asian Art Museum in Civic Center is free to all in its permanent galleries on the first Sunday of the month, from 10am to 5pm.
Tuesday, July 7: The de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park, the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park, and the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park are each free to all on the first Tuesday of the month. Free admission covers the permanent galleries at the de Young and Legion.
Free Every Week or Every Day
The Legion of Honor and de Young are free every Saturday for Bay Area residents with valid ID. The Conservatory of Flowers and the San Francisco Botanical Garden are free any day for San Francisco residents with valid ID. SFMOMA is free every day for visitors 18 and under.
Borrow a Free Pass
San Francisco Public Library cardholders can reserve free museum passes through the Discover and Go program, which covers the de Young, Legion of Honor, Asian Art Museum, California Academy of Sciences, and others. Passes are limited and book up quickly.
Good to Know
Free days and resident programs can change. Check each museum’s website before you go, especially around holidays and for special exhibitions. The Exploratorium and the California Academy of Sciences do not have a regular monthly free day. The Exploratorium typically offers one pay-what-you-wish day each year on Mother’s Day.