For museum lovers, living in San Diego gets even better this month. From May 1 to May 18, 2026, your local museum membership gets seriously supercharged. If you’re a member of any participating museum, you can use that membership to get free general admission to more than 60 other museums, historic sites, gardens, and aquariums all over San Diego County! Here’s all you need to know.
- How it works: Just show your active membership card (and photo ID) from a participating organization when you visit another spot on the list. The free admission matches your current membership status; so if you have a single membership, you get one free entry. A family membership will cover up to 4 guests.
- Not a member yet? If you aren’t a member anywhere yet, just pick your favorite museum, join today, and ask for a temporary Big Exchange card so you can start exploring.
- Exceptions: The Balboa Park Explorer Pass and the Go San Diego Card are not accepted for this program.
- Transit perks: Anyone 18 and under can ride MTS and North County Transit District for free using a Youth PRONTO app account or card.
Participating museums in the Big Exchange 2026
- Balboa Park Botanical Building & Gardens
- Birch Aquarium (Advance online reservations required; tickets are first-come, first-served)
- Bonita Museum & Cultural Center
- California Center for the Arts Museum (Museum only)
- California Surf Museum
- Centro Cultural de la Raza
- Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center
- Children’s Museum of Discovery
- Comic-Con Museum
- Coronado Historical Association
- Deer Park Winery & Auto Museum (Family memberships get max 2 free admissions)
- Encinitas Historical Society and the 1883 Schoolhouse
- Fleet Science Center (Exhibit gallery only; family memberships max out at 4 guests. Films cost an extra $9.95)
- Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House (Wed-Sat self-guided tours only)
- GIA (Gemological Institute of America) Museum (Must reserve tour online)
- Green Dragon Museum (Museum only)
- Heritage of the Americas Museum (No special events; kids must have an adult with them)
- Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) Central & North
- Japanese Friendship Garden
- Junípero Serra Museum
- La Jolla Historical Society
- La Mesa Depot
- Lemon Grove Parsonage Museum (Only open Saturdays, 11am – 2pm)
- Living Coast Discovery Center (General admission only; excludes member perks for camps, tours, gift shop, etc.)
- Marine Corps Depot Command Museum (Must show REAL-ID and enter through Gate 5)
- Maritime Museum of San Diego (Self-guided admission only; no on-the-water experiences)
- Marston House Museum and Gardens (Regular guided tours only)
- Mingei International Museum
- Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum
- Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial
- Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, La Jolla
- Museum of Making Music
- Museum of Photographic Arts at SDMA
- Nautical History Gallery & Museum
- Navy SEAL Museum San Diego
- New Americans Museum
- New Children’s Museum (No special events)
- Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
- Pacific Southwest Railway Museum (In-person museum admission only, no train rides)
- RUTH: Remember Us The Holocaust Exhibit
- San Diego African American Museum of Fine Arts * San Diego Archaeological Center
- San Diego Automotive Museum (Kids must have an adult with them)
- San Diego Chinese Historical Museum (Only open weekends 12 PM – 4 PM)
- San Diego History Center
- San Diego International Airport Arts Program (Some areas restricted to ticketed passengers)
- San Diego Model Railroad Museum
- San Diego Museum of Art
- San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat) (Films are an extra $5)
- San Diego Watercolor Society
- Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center
- Timken Museum of Art
- USS Midway Museum (Must go to the Midway Ticket Booth between 10 AM – 4 PM to get your reciprocal ticket)
- Visions Museum of Textile Art
- Warner Carrillo Ranch House
- Water Conservation Garden
- We The People Museum
- Wieghorst Museum and Western Heritage Center
- WorldBeat Cultural Center
Have fun learning and exploring the beautiful cultural centers of San Diego!
