Free Chicago Museum Days for Summer

Summertime Chicago supplies so many non-stop activities and adventures that it’s easy to overlook excursions that are available all year round. But Chicago’s world-class museums are popular at any time, so it’s helpful to consider Chicago museum free days during the summer months. Check out these free days through September 2026.

Photo courtesy of the Art Institute

• Adler Planetarium, 1300 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Free for Illinois residents on July 15, Aug. 26 and Sept. 8-10 and 14-15; adlerplanetarium.org.
• Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave. Free for Illinois residents on Thursdays (July 9, 16, 23, 30 and Aug. 6, 13, 20, 27) from 5 to 8 p.m.; artic.edu.
• Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St. Free for Illinois residents on July 15, Aug. 13 and 27 and Sept. 7 and 24; chicagohistory.org.
• DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, 740 E. 56th Place. Free for Illinois residents every Wednesday (July 8, 15, 22, 29 and Aug. 5, 12, 19, 26); dusablemuseum.org.
• Field Museum, 1400 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Free for Illinois residents every Wednesday (July 8, 15, 22, 29 and Aug. 5, 12, 19, 26); fieldmuseum.org.
• Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Free for Illinois residents on Aug 24-27 and 31 and Sept. 1-2, 8-10, 15-16, 20-23, and 27-30; griffinmsi.org.
• Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave. Free for Illinois residents on Tuesdays (July 14, 21, 28 and Aug. 4, 11, 18 and 25) from 5 to 9 p.m.; mcachicago.org. Every Tuesday through Aug. 25, the MCA puts on a free contemporary jazz concert.
• Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive. Free for Illinois residents on July 20-22, Aug. 24-26, and Sept. 8-11, 14-18, 21-25 and 28-30; naturemuseum.org.
• Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Free for Illinois residents from 5 to 9 p.m. on July 14 and 28 and Aug. 4, 11, 18 and 26; sheddaquarium.org.

Chicago Museum Summer Free Days

Through September 2026

Free

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