Museum · Boston
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: free entry days, tickets & hours
Isabella Stewart Gardner's Venetian-style palace around a flowering courtyard, with Titian, Rembrandt and Sargent, and the empty frames of the 1990 theft.
Independent guide, not the official Gardner Museum website. Official links are under Sources.
Gardner Museum is next free on Thursday, 29 October 2026 (tomorrow).
- Free Thursday Nights: free for everyone every Thursday, 5-9pm.
- Also free: children and teens 17 and under; US military and up to four family members; lifetime admission for anyone named Isabella; WonderFund Access Card: free for two adults and up to six children per card; and more below.
- Otherwise: adult admission — $25.
- Free timed tickets are released two days before; popular slots sell out.
Calendar
Free days at Gardner Museum
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
54 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: Free timed tickets are released two days before; popular slots sell out.
- Free for children and teens 17 and under: Timed tickets recommended for everyone.
- Free days for everyone: MLK Day, Juneteenth and Indigenous Peoples' Day: Tickets are released two weeks in advance.
- Free lifetime admission for anyone named Isabella: Call the Box Office at 617 278 5156 at least 24 hours ahead.
- 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.
- Free Thursday Nights are now every Thursday, not just the first one. The free tickets go online two days before and the best times go fast.
- Everyone under 18 is free every day, so families only pay for adults.
- Named Isabella? You get in free for life. Call the box office at least 24 hours before and bring ID.
- EBT, WIC and ConnectorCare cards (Card to Culture) only get $2 off adult tickets here. Children are free anyway.
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 children and teens 17 and under | under-18s | — | Yes |
| Free dayFree days for everyone: MLK Day, Juneteenth and Indigenous Peoples' Day | everyone | — | Yes |
| Free forFree for US military and up to four family members | military members and families | Valid military ID required at the visit. | No |
| Free forFree lifetime admission for anyone named Isabella | anyone named Isabella | Valid ID showing the name required. | Yes |
| Free forWonderFund Access Card: free for two adults and up to six children per card | WonderFund Access cardholders | — | No |
| 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. Gardner ticket code ISGMBFD (per the City's page). | Yes |
Official prices
Gardner Museum ticket prices
| Adult admission — Seniors 65+ $22, students $15, under 18 free. Includes special exhibitions. | $25 |
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: Gardner Museum
Ratings and prices from the booking partners; prices may change.
Practical
Opening hours & how to get there
| Mon | 11:00–17:00 |
|---|---|
| Tue | Closed |
| Wed | 11:00–17:00 |
| Thu | 11:00–21:00 |
| Fri | 11:00–17:00 |
| Sat | 10:00–17:00 |
| Sun | 10:00–17:00 |
Mon, Wed, Fri 11am-5pm; Thu 11am-9pm; Sat-Sun 10am-5pm; closed Tuesday. Closes at 3pm on 24 Dec.
25 Evans Way, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Also free nearby
Make a free afternoon of it
FAQ
Gardner Museum: common questions
Is Gardner Museum free?
Gardner Museum is free for everyone thursday Nights: free for everyone every Thursday, 5-9pm and days for everyone: MLK Day, Juneteenth and Indigenous Peoples' Day. Also free: children and teens 17 and under; US military and up to four family members; lifetime admission for anyone named Isabella; WonderFund Access Card: free for two adults and up to six children per card; and more below. Otherwise the official ticket costs $25.
When is Gardner Museum 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 Gardner Museum 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.
Who gets free entry to Gardner Museum?
Under-18s. Military members and families — valid military ID required at the visit.. Anyone named Isabella — valid ID showing the name required.. WonderFund Access cardholders.
Do I need to book for free entry to Gardner Museum?
Free timed tickets are released two days before; popular slots sell out.
How much is a ticket to Gardner Museum?
Adult admission costs $25 on the official site.
What day is Gardner Museum closed?
Gardner Museum is closed on Tuesdays. Mon, Wed, Fri 11am-5pm; Thu 11am-9pm; Sat-Sun 10am-5pm; closed Tuesday. Closes at 3pm on 24 Dec.
Visitor reviews
What visitors say about Gardner Museum
No reviews yet. Been here? Tell others how it went — especially on a free day.
Write a review
Sources
Where this comes from
- gardnermuseum.org/visit · 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.