Milwaukee Museum Days 2026: Free & Discounted Adventures
Cabin fever hitting hard? Milwaukee Museum Days is back, and it's the perfect excuse to bundle up the kids and trade screen time for dinosaurs, hands-on exhibits, and a little Gilded Age glamour.
Museum Days runs Thursday, January 22 through Sunday, February 1, 2026—that's 10 full days of free admission and discounts up to 25% off at 26 participating museums across the Milwaukee area.
Here's everything you need to plan your family's museum adventure.
Visit Milwaukee's annual campaign offers special pricing at museums throughout the region—but here's the key detail that'll save you a headache at the door: each museum handles its discount differently.
Some require online promo codes. Some ask you to mention Museum Days at the front desk. Others simply offer the discounted rate automatically during the event window.
My advice? Pick your top 2–4 stops, then double-check redemption details for each one before you head out.
The Complete Discount Breakdown
25% Off Admission
Milwaukee Art Museum — Redeem in person or use code MUSDAY26 online
Milwaukee Public Museum — Discounted tickets available online (closed Tuesdays)
Pabst Mansion — Use code MUSEUMDAYS26 online or redeem in person
America's Black Holocaust Museum — Mention Museum Days at the front desk
Harley-Davidson Museum
Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts (Cedarburg) — No coupon required; ask for the Museum Days rate
Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum
Bucyrus Museum
20% Off Admission
Betty Brinn Children's Museum — A family favorite for the under-10 crowd
Charles Allis Art Museum
Grohmann Museum
15% Off Admission
Frank Lloyd Wright's Burnham Block — Use code MuseumDays15 (select dates)
National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum — Kids love this quirky spot
The Catacombs of Neto Art Museum
Free Admission
War Memorial Center
Sculpture Milwaukee
Emile H. Mathis Art Gallery at UW–Milwaukee
Family-Friendly Itineraries
Not sure where to start? Here are four ready-made game plans based on what kind of adventure you're after.
The "Kids Will Sleep Great Tonight" Combo
Betty Brinn Children's Museum (20% off) + Milwaukee Public Museum (25% off)
This is the classic family power move. Start at Betty Brinn for high-energy, hands-on play, then head to MPM for dinosaurs, the Streets of Old Milwaukee, and the butterfly exhibit. Pro tip: grab lunch downtown between stops.
The Art & Architecture Date Day
Milwaukee Art Museum (25% off) + coffee nearby
Leave the kids with grandma and make this one a mini winter getaway. The Calatrava building alone is worth the trip, and the galleries feel especially cozy when it's 15 degrees outside. Use code MUSDAY26 online to skip the ticket line.
The Milwaukee History Deep Dive
America's Black Holocaust Museum (25% off) + Pabst Mansion (25% off)
Powerful, essential stories paired with a tangible piece of Milwaukee's Gilded Age wealth. This combo works well for older kids and teens—plan for about 2–3 hours total.
The "Free & Easy" Quick Win
War Memorial Center (free) + Sculpture Milwaukee (free)
Perfect when you want to get out of the house without committing to a full-blown outing. Low-key, no tickets required, and you can make it as short or long as you'd like.
Pro Tips for Museum Days Success
Check hours before you go. Winter schedules vary, and some museums have specific redemption windows or limited days. The Milwaukee Public Museum, for example, is closed Tuesdays.
Buy online when you can. If a museum offers a promo code (Milwaukee Art Museum, Pabst Mansion, Frank Lloyd Wright's Burnham Block), purchasing ahead saves time at the door—especially helpful with antsy kids in tow.
Aim for weekday visits. Weekends get crowded, especially at kid-focused spots like Betty Brinn. If your schedule allows, Tuesday–Thursday mornings are your sweet spot.
Turn it into a tradition. Let kids "collect" museums like badges: two this year, three next year. Before you know it, they'll have visited every museum in the city—and you'll have built a winter tradition that actually gets everyone out of the house.
The Details
When: Thursday, January 22 – Sunday, February 1, 2026
Where: 26 participating museums across the Milwaukee area
Cost: Free admission to select museums; discounts of 15–25% at participating locations
More Info: Visit Milwaukee's Museum Days page
What's your family's Museum Days game plan? Tag us on social media and let us know which museums you're hitting this year!
