Your Museum Membership Just Unlocked Free Access to 60+ San Diego Cultural Sites

If you hold a membership at any of San Diego’s participating museums, this is your reminder to make the most of it. The Big Exchange is back for its 10th year, and this time around it’s bigger than ever, with more than 60 museums, historic sites, gardens, and cultural destinations across San Diego County opening their doors to members of any participating institution.

Flash Your Card and Walk Right In

Simple: show your current digital or physical membership card from any participating museum and walk in for free. That’s it. No extra passes, no complicated sign-ups – just your membership doing a lot more work than usual for 18 days straight.

It’s worth noting that the Balboa Park Explorer Pass and Go San Diego Card are not accepted as part of this program, and some venues do require advance reservations. Check the Big Exchange website before heading out so there are no surprises.

Some of the Places You Can Explore

The participating lineup reads like a greatest hits of San Diego culture. A few highlights include:

Fleet Science Center
Birch Aquarium
USS Midway Museum
San Diego Museum of Art
Mingei International Museum
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
San Diego Natural History Museum (The NAT)
New Children’s Museum
Maritime Museum of San Diego
Comic-Con Museum
Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum
California Surf Museum
San Diego Automotive Museum
Living Coast Discovery Center

Download the digital guide for the full list, including any restrictions and reservation requirements for specific venues.

A Decade of Opening Doors

Now in its 10th year, The Big Exchange is presented in partnership with the San Diego Museum Council and the San Diego County Membership Managers Collaborative, with generous support from the Prebys Foundation. If you’re not yet a member of a participating museum, joining one today gets you in the door right away.

See You There!

Eighteen days, 60-plus cultural destinations, and all it takes is a membership card. This is one of the best reasons to get out and explore San Diego.

📆 May 1 – 18, 2026
ℹ️ Download the digital guide

See you there, San Diego!