2026 Free Museum Weekend is happening March 7 and 8. While tickets are free, advance registration is required to participate in the annual community event designed to increase museum access to all community members. Photo courtesy of Sacramento Area Museums

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) – Twenty local museums from around the Sacramento region are collaborating to present the 2026 Free Museum Weekend on March 7 and 8. While tickets are free, advance registration is required to participate in the annual community event designed to increase museum access to all community members. Ticket registration opens on March 2 at 9 a.m. via www.sacmuseums.org/free-museum-weekend and are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and will continue until March 5 at 5 p.m. or until all tickets have been secured.  

This is the 28th consecutive year the local museum community has presented a free museum experience. More than 30,000 tickets will be available for the 2026 Free Museum Weekend across all participating destinations but will fluctuate by museum and/or by day.

Local museums participating in the 2026 Free Museum Weekend include the following: Aerospace Museum of California; California Automobile Museum; California Museum; California State Railroad Museum; Capitol Park at California State Capitol Museum; Crocker Art Museum; Don & June Salvatori California Pharmacy Museum; Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park; Locke Boarding House Museum; Maidu Museum & Historic Site; Museum of Medical History; Sacramento Children's Museum; Sacramento Historic City Cemetery; Sacramento History Museum; SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity; Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum; State Indian Museum; Sutter's Fort State Historic Park; Utility Exploration Center; and Verge Center for the Arts.

 Most museums are open for admissions from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., but there are exceptions. All hours will be posted on the ticket page for each museum. Free tickets are available only for regular admission on March 7 and 8.

To make Free Museum Weekend even more accessible, SacRT is offering complimentary transit for participants. When community members sign up for Free Museum Weekend, they will receive a free ride flyer valid from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 7 or Sunday, March 8.

Free Museum Weekend attendees simply present the flyer to bus operators or light rail fare inspectors on the day of the visit to enjoy free rides throughout the SacRT system.

For more details about the upcoming 2026 Free Museum Weekend (including the SacRT flyer), visit www.sacmuseums.org/free-museum-weekend. For more information about Sacramento Area Museums, follow on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SacMuseums,Instagram and X @SacMuseums or visit www.SacMuseums.org.

About Sacramento Area Museums (SAM)

Comprised of approximately 25 greater Sacramento area museums, SAM’s mission is to raise awareness of local museums by giving the community the opportunity to discover the region’s fine art, history, science, and wildlife treasures. SAM achieves its mission by implementing cooperative promotions, developing strategic marketing alliances, and encouraging the sharing of knowledge and resources among its partner institutions. For more information, please visit www.SacMuseums.org.