San Diego Museum Month 2026: Discover, Explore & Save
Last updated on September 5, 2026
Interested in getting half-price admission to more than 70 museums, attractions, historic sites, and more throughout San Diego, Tijuana, and the surrounding area?
February is Museum Month in San Diego! This is the perfect opportunity have fun and learn new things while also saving a few bucks. Whether your family loves dinosaurs, space, art, nature, or science, San Diego Museum Month 2026 has something for everyone.
In this guide, we’ll share everything you need to know about taking advantage of Museum Month – from how to get your discount pass to the best kid-friendly museums and attractions to visit.
When is San Diego Museum Month
San Diego Museum Month runs February 1-28, 2026.
San Diego Museum Month takes place every year throughout the month of February, offering half-off admission to more than 70 local attractions.
Participating Museums & Attractions
If you are just looking for a quick list of all the places participating in San Diego Museum Month 2026, here you go! We have divided the list by neighborhood to best help you plan.
Balboa Park
- Centro Cultural de la Raza
- Comic-Con Museum (Only available Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays from Feb. 1-15)
- Fleet Science Center
- ICA Central
- Japanese Friendship Garden
- Marston House Museum & Gardens
- Mingei International Museum
- MOPA at SDMA
- Museum of Us
- San Diego Air & Space Museum
- San Diego Automotive Museum
- San Diego History Center
- San Diego Model Railroad Museum
- San Diego Museum of Art (Museum Pass must be printed)
- San Diego Natural History Museum (Museum Pass must be printed)
- Timken Museum of Art
- WorldBeat Cultural Center
San Diego
- Brain Observatory (Tickets must be purchased online in advance)
- Chicano Park Museum & Cultural Center
- Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House
- JA Cooley Museum
- Junípero Serra Museum
- Maritime Museum of San Diego (Museum Pass must be printed)
- New Children’s Museum (Monday through Thursday only)
- Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
- San Diego Chinese Historical Museum
- San Diego International Airport Arts Program
- San Diego Police Museum
- USS Midway Museum
- Whaley House Museum
- WNDR Museum San Diego (Mondays and Thursdays only)
Liberty Station
- MCRD Command Museum (Limited base access)
- Nautical History Gallery & Museum
- New Americans Museum
- Visions Museum of Textile Art
La Jolla
- Birch Aquarium (Advanced reservations required)
- La Jolla Historical Society
- RUTH: Remember Us The Holocaust
Coronado
- Coronado Historical Association
North County San Diego
- California Surf Museum
- Deer Park Winery & Auto Museum
- GIA (Gemological Institute of America) Museum (Advanced reservations required)
- ICA North
- LEGOLAND California (Advanced reservations required)
- Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum
- Mission San Luis Rey
- Museum of Making Music
- San Diego Archaeological Center
- San Diego Botanic Garden
- San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum
- Warner Carrillo Ranch
East County
- Barona Cultural Center and Museum
- Heritage of the Americas Museum
- Lemon Grove Parsonage Museum
- Pacific Southwest Railway Museum
- The Water Conservation Garden
South Bay
- Bonita Museum & Cultural Center
- Living Coast Discovery Center
- Tijuana Estuary
Museums Without Walls – Virtual Exhibits
- San Diego African American Museum of Fine Art
- Vanguard Culture
- We The People
Tijuana
- Tijuana Cultural Center (CECUT)
- Tijuana Aquarium / Acuario Centro Cultural Tijuana
- El Cubo (The Cube)
- Museum of the Californias / Museo de las Californias
- Tijuana History Museum / Museo de Historia de Tijuana
- Municipal Institute of Art and Culture / IMAC Instituto Municipal de Arte y Cultura
- El Museo del Taco
- El Trompo
- Museo de la Lucha
How It Works
To receive half-off admission, you’ll need to present a Museum Month pass, and there are two ways to get them.
Pick up a free printed Museum Month pass at any of more than 80 public libraries throughout San Diego County. Each pass can be used for up to four half-priced admissions at any of the participating museums or attractions. Use the pass as many times as you like throughout the month of February.
► Travel Insight
You do not need to be a local resident or have a library card to receive a Museum Pass! Simply go into any participating library and request one at the counter.
If you prefer, download a digital version of the Museum Pass from the San Diego Museum Council website. The digital version is also free! Digital passes have links for each museum you can click to download passes to your phone.
Some museums and attractions only accept printed Museum Month passes, and others may require reservations. Be sure to check the Museum Month official website for any restrictions before visiting.
Also worth noting – some of the museums included on the list above are free year-round, and half off $0 is still $0. (Although donations are always encouraged!) However, since they are included on the San Diego Museum Council’s official list of participating museums, I am including them here.
Top Family-Friendly Spots You Can See for Half Price
With more than 70 great spots to choose from, there is definitely something for everyone! But if you are planning to visit with kids, here are our top 10 picks.
1. LEGOLAND California Resort and SEA LIFE Aquarium
For a day filled with LEGO-themed adventures for little kids, head to LEGOLAND California. From fun rides and shows to LEGO building stations, this theme park is a thrill for younger kids. Visiting during Museum Month is a fantastic way to save a lot of money on theme park admission.
Located north of San Diego in Carlsbad, LEGOLAND offers more than 60 interactive play areas, shows, and kid-friendly rides. When my son was younger we visited often. The park’s emphasis on creativity and learning through play makes it an ideal destination for families with younger kids.
- One LEGOLAND Drive, Carlsbad
- legoland.com/california
2. USS Midway Museum
The USS Midway is America’s longest-serving aircraft carrier, now turned into a floating museum.
Kids will love exploring the flight deck, cockpits, and below-deck exhibits while learning about naval history. Visiting this museum is one of the best things to do in San Diego with teens and older kids, but young ones will enjoy it, too.
- 910 North Harbor Drive, San Diego
- midway.org
3. Maritime Museum of San Diego
The Maritime Museum of San Diego is comprised of nearly a dozen ships, vessels, and even a submarine. It enjoys a worldwide reputation for excellence in restoring, maintaining, and operating historic vessels. It boasts one of the world’s finest collections of historic ships, including the Star of India.
The Maritime Museum is located on the waterfront near the USS Midway Museum and Seaport Village San Diego.
- 1492 North Harbor Drive, San Diego
- sdmaritime.org
4. New Children’s Museum
The New Children’s Museum is located in downtown San Diego and is one of the most family-friendly things to do in the Gaslamp District. The museum features interactive activities and installations, art workshops, sensory experiences for toddlers, and outdoor spaces ensure hours of fun and creativity.
Be sure to remember that the Museum Pass for New Children’s Museum in only valid Monday through Thursday!
- 200 West Island Avenue, San Diego
- thinkplaycreate.org
5. The Living Coast Discovery Center
The Living Coast Discovery Center is a zoo and aquarium located in Chula Vista, just a short drive south of downtown San Diego. It is located in the Sweetwater Marsh Unit of San Diego National Wildlife Refuge.
Kids will love the hands-on, interactive exhibits and vast array of marine life, animals, and plants native to coastal California. There are a number of exhibits, activities, and even walking trails waiting to be explored.
- 1000 Gunpowder Point Drive, Chula Vista
- thelivingcoast.org
6. Birch Aquarium
The Birch Aquarium in La Jolla showcases a fascinating range of sea life. Kids will be captivated by the colorful fish, mesmerizing jellyfish, and playful turtles and sea otters that call this aquarium home.
Birch Aquarium is part of Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego. It is located high on the cliffs, offering spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.
- 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla
- aquarium.ucsd.edu
7. San Diego Model Railroad Museum
The San Diego Model Railroad Museum is one of many great Balboa Park museums that participate in San Diego Museum Month.
The San Diego Model Railroad Museum is located on the lower level of the historic Casa de Balboa. Though it is fairly small in size, it’s one of the largest model railroad museums in the world and features elaborate train layouts. Kids will love watching the trains move through miniature towns, mountains, and landscapes. Interactive train controls and educational displays make this a highly engaging experience for the whole family.
- 1649 El Prado, San Diego
- sdmrm.org
8. San Diego Air & Space Museum
Ignite young minds with a journey through aviation history at the San Diego Air & Space Museum. Interactive exhibits and flight simulators offer an exciting glimpse into the world of aerospace.
- 2001 Pan American Plaza, San Diego
- sandiegoairandspace.org
9. The Natural History Museum (The NAT)
The NAT is a fantastic museum and one of the best places to visit with kids in Balboa Park. It’s a huge building filled with everything you’d expect to find in a great natural history museum – dinosaurs, skulls, gems and geology, whales, fossils, and a Living Lab.
- 1788 El Prado, San Diego
- sdnhm.org
10. Fleet Science Center
I saved the best for last because this museum is our family’s favorite! My son even went to summer camp here when he was a bit younger.
The Fleet Science Center brings science to life with hands-on experiments that are sure to engage your child’s inquisitive mind. There is also an IMAX theater.
- 1875 El Prado, San Diego
- fleetscience.org
More About San Diego Museum Month 2026
San Diego Museum Month was created in 1989 to promote the region’s diverse range of world-class cultural offerings during a traditionally slow period for most local museums.
The program has grown over the years to include a broader range of San Diego County museums and attractions. In 2020, 40 museums participated in Museum Month. In 2026, there will be more than 70 participating locations, ranging from San Diego’s North County to Tijuana, Mexico.
Museum Month 2026 is also supported by the San Diego Foundation, First 5 San Diego, Serra Cooperative Library System, the City and County of San Diego, and California Arts Council, a state agency.
► For more special events happening all throughout the year, be sure to read Seasonal Magic: San Diego’s Best Family Events.
Final Thoughts: Getting the Most Out of Museum Month
If your family loves visiting museums as much as mine, then you’re going to love taking advantage of these great money-saving deals during Museum Month. This year, there are more places than ever on the list!
And February happens to be the perfect time of year to visit a museum. Even though the weather is beautiful year-round, winter in San Diego can be chilly or rainy. What better way to spend the day?
Whether you are a San Diego local or happen to be visiting San Diego in February, Museum Month is an awesome opportunity to check out one of the many world-class museums and attractions.
It’s also a good time to explore some of the smaller and lesser-known attractions since the price is low and you can visit as many places as you wish throughout the month.
Save This Guide to Museum Month in San Diego for Later!
Planning a visit to San Diego in February? Pin the image below for future reference.
