Sixteen years in, Kids Free in October just got its biggest upgrade yet. The San Diego Museum Council’s annual program gives kids 12 and under free admission at more than 60 museums, aquariums, gardens, and cultural sites all month long – and for the first time ever, it’s crossing the border into Tijuana. More on that in a second.

One Coupon, Two Free Kids, Sixty-Plus Places to Use It

The mechanics are simple: download a coupon for each venue, show up, hand it over. Up to two kids get in free with each paid adult. The participating list covers basically everything – natural history, art, science, botanic gardens, historic sites.

A few things to know before you go: restrictions vary by museum, and the offer doesn’t stack with Balboa Park Explorer Passes, City Pass, or Go San Diego passes.

The Tijuana Addition is a Big Deal

For the first time in 16 years, Kids Free in October goes international.

New for 2026: IMAC (Instituto Municipal de Arte y Cultura) and the Tijuana Cultural Center/CECUT, which includes the Museum of the Californias, El Cubo (The Cube), Tijuana Aquarium, and the IMAX Dome.

That’s five more destinations and a completely different kind of day trip – one that a lot of San Diego families haven’t done with their kids yet. Now there’s a reason.

LEGOLAND, the Zoo, and SeaWorld Are Also in on It

The museums are the anchor, but October kids-free deals don’t stop there. LEGOLAND California Resort, SEA LIFE Aquarium, the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, SeaWorld, and Belmont Park all have offers running through the San Diego Tourism Authority’s Kids Free San Diego program.

See you there!

Over 120,000 kids showed up last year. Sixty-plus museums, a brand-new border expansion, and a month to work through all of it. Get the coupons downloaded before October gets away from you.

📆 October 1 – 31, 2026
🎟️ Download your coupon here
ℹ️ Find the full participating list here

See you there, San Diego!