New Orleans Museum of Art Free Days

Updated 2026-09-15 · Free · No sign-up

New Orleans Museum of Art is free wednesdays — for Louisiana residents (Wednesdays); youth 19 and under free daily; SNAP/LaCAP cardholders free (2 adults) any day. Louisiana residents get free general admission every Wednesday, courtesy of The Helis Foundation. Youth 19 and under are free every day. The Besthoff Sculpture Garden is free to everyone, seven days a week. No advance reservation required; special exhibitions may carry an additional fee Verified on New Orleans Museum of Art's own page, last checked 2026-09-14.

At a glance

Free dayWednesdays
Who qualifiesLouisiana residents (Wednesdays); youth 19 and under free daily; SNAP/LaCAP cardholders free (2 adults) any day
ReservationNo advance reservation required; special exhibitions may carry an additional fee
What's includedGeneral museum admission
Regular adult price$23 adult ($18 Louisiana residents)
Sourcenoma.org · checked 2026-09-14

The math

Regular adult admission at NOMA is $23, so timing the visit to the free window keeps $46 in a couple's pocket and up to $92 for a family of four — every qualifying week. That's what Louisiana residents leave on the table every time they pay walk-up prices. 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.

Upcoming free days

  • Wednesday, Sep 23, 2026
  • Wednesday, Sep 30, 2026
  • Wednesday, Oct 7, 2026
  • Wednesday, Oct 14, 2026
  • Wednesday, Oct 21, 2026
  • Wednesday, Oct 28, 2026

Dates computed from the published schedule rule as of 2026-09-15 — an institution can still cancel one for a private event or holiday. Confirm on the official page before you go.

Know before you go

  • Who qualifies: Louisiana residents (Wednesdays); youth 19 and under free daily; SNAP/LaCAP cardholders free (2 adults) any day. Bring proof for every adult in the group — redemption is where residency gets checked, not booking.
  • Reservations: No advance reservation required; special exhibitions may carry an additional fee.
  • What's covered: General museum admission.
  • Schedule detail: Louisiana residents only — Helis Foundation.
  • Worth knowing: The Besthoff Sculpture Garden next door is free for everyone every day — no ticket at all, even when the museum charges.

Other ways in, no calendar required

  • Museums for All is worth knowing for any museum trip: a SNAP EBT card plus photo ID gets up to four people in for free to $5 at 1,700+ participating institutions nationwide — during all normal hours, not just special days. Check whether NOMA participates on the official list.
  • An art- or history-museum membership from another city may already cover NOMA: check the NARM roster with our reciprocity lookup — a qualifying membership travels to 1,400+ museums.

Dates don't line up?

Regular tickets ($23 adult ($18 Louisiana residents)) are on noma.org — book direct, there's no markup. And if you hold a museum, science-center or zoo membership from another city, run it through our reciprocity lookup — it may already get you in.

Also free in New Orleans

Ogden Museum of Southern Art (thursdays 10am–5pm) · Louisiana State Museum (Cabildo & Presbytère) (no regular free day) — or see the full free museum days in New Orleans guide.

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FAQ

When is New Orleans Museum of Art free?

Louisiana residents get free general admission every Wednesday, courtesy of The Helis Foundation. Youth 19 and under are free every day. The Besthoff Sculpture Garden is free to everyone, seven days a week.

Do I need a reservation for New Orleans Museum of Art's free days?

No advance reservation required; special exhibitions may carry an additional fee

Can visitors use New Orleans Museum of Art's free days?

The free days are for Louisiana residents (Wednesdays); youth 19 and under free daily; SNAP/LaCAP cardholders free (2 adults) any day — typically with ID or proof of residency. Visitors pay regular admission ($23 adult ($18 Louisiana residents)).

What does a free day at New Orleans Museum of Art include?

General museum admission

How much is New Orleans Museum of Art normally?

$23 adult ($18 Louisiana residents). That's what a well-timed visit saves you.

How much does a family save on a NOMA free day?

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.

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