Free Museum Day: Explore Art and History near SMC

Civil twilight over American artist Chris Burden’s public installation “Urban Light,” at the entrance of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. “Urban Light” debuted in February 2008 and consists of 202 restored cast-iron Southern California street lamps from the 1920s and 1930s. (Elizabeth Bacher | The Corsair)

Museum entry stickers on a signal pole on 6th St. and Fairfax Ave. outside the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. Visitors leave their stickers after exiting. (Elizabeth Bacher | The Corsair)

Street view of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures at Fairfax Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 (Danny Sanchez l The Corsair)

American artist Chris Burden’s public installation “Urban Light,” at the entrance of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. “Urban Light” debuted in February 2008 and consists of 202 restored cast-iron Southern California street lamps from the 1920s and 1930s. (Elizabeth Bacher | The Corsair)

More than two dozen museums across Southern California will open their doors for free general admission on Sunday, Feb. 22, for Free Museum Day, organized by SoCal Museums. The event invites visitors to explore art, history, science and culture without a ticket fee, marking an annual tradition that encourages the public to experience the area’s diverse cultural offerings at institutions such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and the Santa Monica History Museum. 

Aligning with Black History Month, the Santa Monica History Museum is featuring “Food & Family: African American and Intercultural Traditions in Santa Monica,” an exhibit that displays how food has shaped community, identity and connection in the city. 

For students, Free Museum Day is a budget-friendly opportunity to engage directly with Black history and its cultural impact on Santa Monica and the surrounding communities. The event creates access to stories that might otherwise go untold, encouraging a greater awareness and understanding of the diverse histories that continue to influence Santa Monica today.

According to the museum, “Food & Family features photographs, oral histories, cookbooks, utensils, maps, and other materials that reveal how everyday cooking helped define home and identity for generations of Santa Monica residents.” The exhibition goes deeper into the impact of the Great Migration and global immigration on Santa Monica’s food landscape, showing how shared meals and recipes passed down through families brought generations and communities together.

While general admission is free, some museums require advance reservations and special exhibits may still require paid tickets. Regular parking fees apply, and visitors are encouraged to check individual museum websites for hours, directions and ticketing requirements. For a full list of participating museums and details on reservations, visit the SoCal Museums website.