Museum · Boston
Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston: free entry days, tickets & hours
Contemporary art museum in a cantilevered glass building over Boston Harbor in the Seaport.
Independent guide, not the official ICA Boston website. Official links are under Sources.
ICA Boston is next free on Thursday, 29 October 2026 (tomorrow).
- Free Thursday Nights: free for everyone every Thursday, 5-9pm.
- Also free: visitors 18 and under, and all Boston Public Schools students; Bank of America Museums on Us: one free ticket per cardholder on the first full weekend of each month; Massachusetts EBT, WIC and ConnectorCare cardholders plus one guest; recipients of federal disability assistance (SSDI, SSI, VA benefits) plus one personal care attendant; and more below.
- Otherwise: adult admission — $20.
- Advance (free) tickets are required.
Calendar
Free days at ICA Boston
For everyone
- THU29OCTThursday, 29 October 2026 · tomorrow · 17:00–21:00
- THU5NOVThursday, 5 November 2026 · in 8 days · 17:00–21:00
- THU12NOVThursday, 12 November 2026 · in 2 weeks · 17:00–21:00
- THU19NOVThursday, 19 November 2026 · in 3 weeks · 17:00–21:00
- THU3DECThursday, 3 December 2026 · in 5 weeks · 17:00–21:00
- THU10DECThursday, 10 December 2026 · in 6 weeks · 17:00–21:00
For Boston-resident students and their guests
- SUN1NOVSunday, 1 November 2026 · in 4 days
- SUN8NOVSunday, 8 November 2026 · in 11 days
- SUN6DECSunday, 6 December 2026 · in 6 weeks
- SUN13DECSunday, 13 December 2026 · in 7 weeks
For Bank of America cardholders (Museums on Us)
- SAT7NOVSaturday, 7 November 2026 · in 10 days
- SUN8NOVSunday, 8 November 2026 · in 11 days
- SAT5DECSaturday, 5 December 2026 · in 5 weeks
- SUN6DECSunday, 6 December 2026 · in 6 weeks
- SAT2JANSaturday, 2 January 2027 · in 2 months
- SUN3JANSunday, 3 January 2027 · in 2 months
52 free days for everyone in the next 12 months. Closures and public holidays are already taken out. Group-only days need proof of eligibility.
Before you go
How to actually get in for free
- Free Thursday Nights: free for everyone every Thursday, 5-9pm: Advance (free) tickets are required.
- Free for Massachusetts EBT, WIC and ConnectorCare cardholders plus one guest: Enter the promo code when booking online.
- Free for recipients of federal disability assistance (SSDI, SSI, VA benefits) plus one personal care attendant: Enter the promo code when booking online.
- Boston Family Days: free for Boston-resident students (K-12, Boston Pre-K) plus two guests, 1st and 2nd Sundays (through Dec 2026): BPS students are enrolled automatically; others register at boston.gov/boston-family-days. Venues suggest pre-registering for tickets.
- Book a free ticket online for Thursday nights. Walk-ups are not guaranteed.
- On Play Dates, up to two adults with kids 12 and under get in free with the code PLAYDATE. Dates are on the ICA calendar.
- Library passes cut the adult price to $10, but they don't make it free.
All free options
Who gets in free, and when
| Free option | Who | Conditions | Book? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free hoursFree Thursday Nights: free for everyone every Thursday, 5-9pm · 17:00–21:00 | everyone | — | Yes |
| Free forFree for visitors 18 and under, and all Boston Public Schools students | children under 19 | — | No |
| Free dayFree for everyone on six holidays: MLK Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Labor Day, Indigenous Peoples' Day | everyone | — | No |
| Free dayBank of America Museums on Us: one free ticket per cardholder on the first full weekend of each month | Bank of America cardholders (Museums on Us) | Present the Bank of America card at check-in. Free tickets are required and subject to availability. | No |
| Free forFree for Massachusetts EBT, WIC and ConnectorCare cardholders plus one guest | EBT cardholders (Museums for All) | Massachusetts EBT (promo code MAEBT), WIC (MAWIC) or ConnectorCare (MACONNECTOR). Card may be checked at the museum. | Yes |
| Free forFree for recipients of federal disability assistance (SSDI, SSI, VA benefits) plus one personal care attendant | visitors with disabilities (+1 companion) | Promo code FEDDA. | Yes |
| Free dayBoston Family Days: free for Boston-resident students (K-12, Boston Pre-K) plus two guests, 1st and 2nd Sundays (through Dec 2026) | Boston-resident students and their guests | Students who live in Boston (grades K-12 or Boston Pre-K) and up to two guests. Show the Boston Family Days Program Pass sent by BPS or the City of Boston. The City says the program runs until December 2026. The ICA is on the City's list of participating institutions. | Yes |
Official prices
ICA Boston ticket prices
| Adult admission — Students $15, seniors $17, 18 and under free. | $20 |
Prices from the official website, checked Oct 2026. Free options are listed above.
Worth timing your visit?
What a free day saves
Based on the official price (adult admission). Free days are busier — if your dates don't line up, a timed ticket is the trade-off.
Tickets & tours
Best-rated tickets and tours: ICA Boston
Ratings and prices from the booking partners; prices may change.
Practical
Opening hours & how to get there
| Mon | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tue | 10:00–17:00 |
| Wed | 10:00–17:00 |
| Thu | 10:00–21:00 |
| Fri | 10:00–21:00 |
| Sat | 10:00–17:00 |
| Sun | 10:00–17:00 |
Tue-Wed and Sat-Sun 10am-5pm; Thu-Fri 10am-9pm; closed Monday. Closes at 5pm on the first Friday of each month (ticketed 21+ First Fridays).
25 Harbor Shore Drive, Boston, MA 02210, USA
Also free nearby
Make a free afternoon of it
Worth paying for nearby
Paid highlights within walking distance
FAQ
ICA Boston: common questions
Is ICA Boston free?
ICA Boston is free for everyone thursday Nights: free for everyone every Thursday, 5-9pm and on six holidays: MLK Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Labor Day, Indigenous Peoples' Day. Also free: visitors 18 and under, and all Boston Public Schools students; Bank of America Museums on Us: one free ticket per cardholder on the first full weekend of each month; Massachusetts EBT, WIC and ConnectorCare cardholders plus one guest; recipients of federal disability assistance (SSDI, SSI, VA benefits) plus one personal care attendant; and more below. Otherwise the official ticket costs $20.
When is ICA Boston free?
Free Thursday Nights: free for everyone every Thursday, 5-9pm. The next free date is Thursday, 29 October 2026.
When are the free days at ICA Boston for Boston-resident students and their guests?
Upcoming free dates for Boston-resident students and their guests: Sun 1 Nov, Sun 8 Nov, Sun 6 Dec and Sun 13 Dec. Bring proof of eligibility; booking rules are listed above.
When are the free days at ICA Boston for Bank of America cardholders (Museums on Us)?
Upcoming free dates for Bank of America cardholders (Museums on Us): Sat 7 Nov, Sun 8 Nov, Sat 5 Dec and Sun 6 Dec. Bring proof of eligibility; booking rules are listed above.
Who gets free entry to ICA Boston?
Children under 19. EBT cardholders (Museums for All) — massachusetts EBT (promo code MAEBT), WIC (MAWIC) or ConnectorCare (MACONNECTOR). Card may be checked at the museum.. Visitors with disabilities (+1 companion) — promo code FEDDA..
Do I need to book for free entry to ICA Boston?
Advance (free) tickets are required.
How much is a ticket to ICA Boston?
Adult admission costs $20 on the official site.
What day is ICA Boston closed?
ICA Boston is closed on Mondays. Tue-Wed and Sat-Sun 10am-5pm; Thu-Fri 10am-9pm; closed Monday. Closes at 5pm on the first Friday of each month (ticketed 21+ First Fridays).
Visitor reviews
What visitors say about ICA Boston
No reviews yet. Been here? Tell others how it went — especially on a free day.
Write a review
Sources
Where this comes from
- icaboston.org/visit/ · checked Wednesday, 28 October 2026
- icaboston.org/special-discounts-to-the-ica/ · checked Wednesday, 28 October 2026
- boston.gov/departments/arts-and-culture/boston-family-days · checked Wednesday, 28 October 2026
Every free rule is checked against the official source and re-checked on a schedule. Spotted a change? Tell us.