Free Museum Days in Minneapolis

Updated 2026-09-04 · Free · No sign-up

3 Minneapolis institutions with verified free admission — 1 always free, 2 with scheduled free days. Minneapolis leads with one of the country's great always-free museums: Mia's permanent collection is free every day, no ticket needed. The Walker adds a weekly free evening, and the Minnesota Zoo has no general-public free day (its free program is limited to public-assistance participants).

Always free in Minneapolis

InstitutionFree dayWho qualifiesReservation
Minneapolis Institute of ArtAlways freeEveryoneSee page

Scheduled free days

InstitutionFree dayWho qualifiesReservation
Minnesota ZooNo regular free dayMinnesota residents currently receiving qualifying public-assistance benefitsRequired
Walker Art CenterThursdaysOpen to everyone on Thursday nights and First SaturdaysRequired

Other ways in free

Bank of America cardholders get free general admission at participating Minneapolis institutions on Museums on Us weekends (first full weekend, monthly). If you hold a membership at a museum, zoo or science center elsewhere, check our reciprocity checker — NARM, ASTC and AZA reciprocity often cover Minneapolis institutions for traveling members.

↥ Check another museum →   Browse all free museum & zoo days →

FAQ

Which Minneapolis museums are always free?

Minneapolis Institute of Art — general admission never costs anything there.

Do Minneapolis free days require reservations?

Some do. Minnesota Zoo and Walker Art Center require advance free tickets; each institution's page here says exactly how it works and links the official booking page.

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