Newfields (Indianapolis Museum of Art) is pay-what-you-wish 1st Thursday monthly 10am–5pm (PWYW). On the first Thursday of every month, general admission is pay-what-you-wish from 10am to 5pm: you choose the amount, including $0. It covers the Indianapolis Museum of Art and The Garden. On other days adult admission is $23. Bank of America cardholders also get one free admission on the first full weekend of each month (Oct 3-4, Nov 7-8 and Dec 5-6, 2026). Advance tickets recommended but not required for First Thursday Verified on Newfields (Indianapolis Museum of Art)'s own page, last checked 2026-10-02.
| Free day | 1st Thursday monthly 10am–5pm (PWYW) |
|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Everyone |
| Reservation | Advance tickets recommended but not required for First Thursday |
| What's included | Indianapolis Museum of Art and The Garden, plus First Thursday programming (live music, docent tours, open studios, artist demos) |
| Regular adult price | $23 adult |
| Source | discovernewfields.org · checked 2026-10-02 |
Regular adult admission at Newfields is $23, so timing the visit to the pay-what-you-wish window keeps up to $46 in a couple's pocket and up to $92 for a family of four — each month it comes around. And since this free day is open to everyone, it's the cheapest possible way through the door. The catch is capacity, not money: free slots are reserved in advance and the popular dates go first, so the reservation is the real currency here.
Regular tickets ($23 adult) are on discovernewfields.org — book direct, there's no markup. A membership card from another city's museum or zoo might work here too — the reciprocity lookup answers it in one search.
Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art (published dates) · Indiana State Museum (published dates) · The Children's Museum of Indianapolis (published dates) — or see the full free museum days in Indianapolis guide.
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On the first Thursday of every month, general admission is pay-what-you-wish from 10am to 5pm: you choose the amount, including $0. It covers the Indianapolis Museum of Art and The Garden. On other days adult admission is $23. Bank of America cardholders also get one free admission on the first full weekend of each month (Oct 3-4, Nov 7-8 and Dec 5-6, 2026).
Advance tickets recommended but not required for First Thursday
Indianapolis Museum of Art and The Garden, plus First Thursday programming (live music, docent tours, open studios, artist demos)
$23 adult. That's what a well-timed visit saves you.
At $23 per adult, two adults keep $46 and a group of four paying adult prices keeps up to $92 per visit — before parking and extras.