Free general admission at more than 200 museums on the first full weekend of every month, no special card required. Here's exactly how to use it.
October 5, 2026
Bank of America Museums on Us gives eligible cardholders one free general admission to a participating museum, science center, or cultural institution during the first full weekend of every month. It's one of the bank's longest-running customer perks, but it's also one of the least understood. It isn't tied to a single premium card, and many people who qualify for it have no idea it exists. Here's how it works, who's eligible, and where you can use it.
Museums on Us isn't a credit card rewards program in the usual sense. It's an ongoing perk for Bank of America, Merrill, and Bank of America Private Bank customers, run as part of the bank's broader Arts & Culture program. That's why it works differently from a points or cash-back benefit: there's nothing to earn or redeem. You either have an eligible card in your wallet, or you don't.
Any active Bank of America, Merrill, or Bank of America Private Bank credit or debit card qualifies. That's a broader net than most people assume. You don't need a premium or annual-fee card, and it isn't limited to credit cards at all. A basic Bank of America debit card tied to a checking account works just as well as any credit card in the bank's lineup.
Museums on Us runs on the first full weekend (Saturday and Sunday) of every month. A handful of participating institutions limit it to one day, with some offering it on Saturdays only and others on Sundays only. A few are seasonal or participate only in certain months. Check the specific museum's listing before you go.
“First full weekend” matters when a month starts on a Sunday. For example, Nov. 1, 2026, falls on a Sunday, so November's Museums on Us weekend is Nov. 7–8, not Oct. 31–Nov. 1.
Unlike many card benefits, which are triggered by a purchase, this one isn't, says Jose M. Sanchez, founder of Norte Wallet Intelligence, a credit card benefits app. Instead, it's rationed by time: two days a month. That means you can plan ahead and organize a weekend around it.
Pro Tip: Because the benefit is only available one weekend a month, planning an entire trip around it can be tricky, points out Julie Young, a travel expert and founder of the Travel and Tinsel blog. “I suggest being a tourist in your own city,” says Young, who has used the perk in her hometown of Kansas City, including during the World Cup.
Bring these two things to the museum's admission desk:
Your active Bank of America, Merrill, or Bank of America Private Bank credit or debit card
A valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, state ID, or passport booklet
Present both, and you'll get one free general admission. The offer is limited to the individual cardholder, isn't transferable, doesn't guarantee admission, and can't be combined with other offers or discounts.
Pro Tip: To stretch the one-admission-per-cardholder limit for a family, Chris Hutchins, host of the All the Hacks podcast and former head of new product strategy at Wealthfront, suggests opening a SafeBalance account for your kids. SafeBalance for Family Banking is a parent-owned account with a debit card for elementary and middle school kids, and Mobile Banking access from age 6. Teens 16 and older can open a SafeBalance Banking account on their own. Keep in mind that each cardholder still needs a valid government-issued photo ID at the door, which many younger kids won't have, so this works best for teens who already have a state ID or passport.
Museums on Us covers one general admission. Anything beyond a standard ticket is typically purchased separately at the museum's regular rate.
Covered | Not covered |
|---|---|
General admission | Special exhibitions |
Ticketed exhibitions | |
Enhanced experiences and other add-on offerings | |
Fundraising events | |
Extras such as parking or guided tours (typically) |
Participating institutions span 41 states and Washington, D.C., and go well beyond fine art. Here's a sample of major-city partners:
City | Participating institutions (sample) |
|---|---|
Los Angeles | LACMA, Autry Museum of the American West, Skirball Cultural Center |
Chicago | Art Institute of Chicago, Adler Planetarium |
Boston | Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; The Institute of Contemporary Art |
New York City | The Met Fifth Avenue, The Met Cloisters, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum |
Washington, D.C. | The Phillips Collection, National Museum of Women in the Arts |
Atlanta | High Museum of Art |
Denver | Denver Art Museum, Denver Museum of Nature & Science |
Seattle | Seattle Art Museum, The Museum of Flight |
Philadelphia | Philadelphia Museum of Art, Museum of the American Revolution |
Jersey City, N.J. | Liberty Science Center |
Houston | Houston Museum of Natural Science, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston |
This is a small sample. The full list runs into the hundreds and includes science centers, botanical gardens, and children's museums alongside fine art.
Bank of America maintains an interactive Museums on Us map and location finder, along with a full partner list organized by state. Both are updated on an ongoing basis, so they're the most reliable way to confirm which institutions near you participate, which days they honor the offer, and whether any location has adjusted its admission procedures.
Do I need a specific Bank of America credit card to use Museums on Us?
No. Any active Bank of America, Merrill, or Bank of America Private Bank credit or debit card qualifies, including basic debit cards.
How many people can I bring for free?
None. The offer covers one free general admission for the cardholder only. It's not transferable and doesn't extend to guests, though each eligible cardholder in your group can use their own card and photo ID.
Does Museums on Us cover special exhibits?
No. It covers general admission only. Special or ticketed exhibitions, enhanced experiences, and other add-ons require a separate purchase.
Do I need to sign up or make a reservation?
There's no enrollment or promo code. However, some museums have adjusted admission procedures, such as timed-entry tickets, so check the museum's listing on Bank of America's map before you go.
How often can I use it?
Every month, during the first full weekend. Each eligible cardholder gets one free general admission under the offer, so check the museum's listing for any day-specific or seasonal limits.
Museums on Us is one of the easiest bank perks to use: no points, no enrollment, and no premium card required. If you have any Bank of America, Merrill, or Bank of America Private Bank credit or debit card, mark the first full weekend of each month on your calendar, check the partner map for day-specific rules, and bring your card and photo ID.
Bank of America: Museums on Us partner list by state, current participating institutions
Bank of America: Arts & Culture program overview and Museums on Us eligibility terms
Jackie Lam is a credit card writer for BestMoney.com and is based in Los Angeles. Her previous writing experience includes work for various publications. Additionally, Jackie is an accredited AFC® financial counselor and educator with a passion for helping artists, freelancers, and gig economy workers manage their finances.
