Bank of America's Museums on Us® program gives qualifying free general admission to 5 different museums in Chicago, on the first full weekend of every month. Thus, the next ones are on August 1-2 (since passed) and Sep 5-6; these are your free-access days if you're a Bank of America, Merrill, or Bank of America Private Bank credit or debit card.

The program covers a genuinely impressive range of institutions in the city of Chicago, from world-class art museums to natural history collections to hands-on science centers. Whether you're a Chicago local looking to spend a weekend afternoon without paying admission, or a visitor trying to stretch your travel budget, the lineup here is worth knowing before you go.

Here's a look at the Chicago museums participating in Museums on Us® in August/September 2026, what each one offers, and a few practical notes to help you plan your visit.

TL;DR

• Bank of America Museums on Us® gives cardholders free general admission to 5 cultural institutions in Chicago on September 5 and 6

• You can save $20 to $30+ per museum visit at spots like the Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (MCA), and Adler Planetarium.

• Present your Bank of America card and photo ID at the admissions desk. Reminder: this benefit covers the main cardholder only.

• Special exhibitions, fundraising events, and add-on experiences are typically not covered with the program.

• nextcard Notifs sends you reminders for Museums on Us® every month, so you don't miss this monthly benefit.

Museums you can visit for free in Chicago with Bank of America Museums on Us (Sep 2026)

The Bank of America Museums on Us program gives eligible cardholders free general admission to a solid lineup of Chicago institutions on the first full weekend of each month. In September 2026, that falls on Sep 5 and 6, which falls on a holiday weekend.

Here's a look at the participating Chicago museums and what you can expect at each one.

The Art Institute of Chicago

A major U.S. art museum, the Art Institute holds a permanent collection spanning more than 5,000 years of art from around the world. The Impressionist and Post-Impressionist galleries are a consistent draw, with works by Seurat, Monet, and Picasso. General admission for adults runs around $32 (as of June 2026). Check the Art Institute's website for current rates for seniors and Chicago residents.

Griffin Museum of Science and Industry

A major hands-on science museum on Chicago’s South Side, the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry fills the former Palace of Fine Arts from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. Long-running draws include the U-505 Submarine, Science Storms, the Great Train Story, the Henry Crown Space Center, and the Coal Mine tour. General admission for adults starts around $26 (as of June 2026), with Chicago residents receiving a discount. Check the museum’s website for current rates, since special exhibitions, the Giant Dome Theater, and tours usually cost extra.

Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

One of the city’s key stops for contemporary art, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago focuses on work from the 20th century to today, with a collection of more than 2,500 artworks and rotating exhibitions rather than a fixed greatest-hits layout. Expect postwar and contemporary painting, sculpture, photography, video, installation, and performance, with artists and shows changing frequently. Check the MCA’s website for current rates for students, seniors, and free-admission windows.

Adler Planetarium

Perched on the lakefront with sweeping views of the Chicago skyline, the Adler covers space science across multiple galleries. General admission gets you into the main exhibit floors; fulldome theater shows are separate. It's a good pick if you're combining it with other Museum Campus stops since the Field and Shedd are walking distance away.

Illinois Holocaust Museum presents Experience360

A downtown River North experience from the Illinois Holocaust Museum, Experience360 uses immersive storytelling, survivor testimony, holography, and virtual reality to connect visitors with the history of the Holocaust and other genocides. Key draws include interactive survivor holograms, a 360-degree VR theater, and exhibits pairing historical context with personal artifacts, photographs, and memories. Check the museum’s website for current pricing and reservation details for VR and holography experiences.

How to Use Your Bank of America Museums on Us® Benefit

The process is straightforward. Present your eligible Bank of America credit or debit card along with a photo ID at the museum's admissions desk on Sep 5 or Sep 6. No pre-registration or special coupon is needed. Admission is for the cardholder only, so companions would pay standard rates unless they also carry an eligible card.

Prices above reflect standard walk-up adult rates and may vary. Special exhibitions, IMAX screenings, and add-on experiences are not included under Museums on Us and require separate tickets.

Best Bank of America Cards for Free Museum Access

If you're looking for a no-annual-fee Bank of America option to keep in your wallet for this benefit, the Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card is worth a look. New cardholders can earn a (limited time) $250 online cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

That makes it a simple everyday card that also gets you into participating museums on the first full weekend of each month.

Keep Your Bank of America Benefits Organized with nextcard

Some Bank of America perks are easy to remember. Museums on Us, for example, happens every month, so you may already have a sense of whether you used it recently. But other benefits are easier to overlook and forget. For example, if you carry the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card, you get up to $100 in Airline Incidental Statement Credits annually (which, can be a bit tricky to keep track of)

This is where nextcard credit tracking can help. nextcard gives you one place to track your Bank of America benefits, credits, and reset dates. Instead of checking terms, statements, spreadsheets and calendar reminders separately, you can see what card-specific benefits you still have available and when they expires. The free tier supports unlimited manual credit tracking, while nextcard Pro adds automated Plaid tracking that can sync eligible transactions for you.

Use nextcard Notifs to Remember Museums on Us®

Museums on Us® returns on the first full weekend of each month, but that timing can still be easy to forget, especially when you are planning around travel, weekend schedules, or participating museums in another city.

nextcard Notifs gives you a simple reminder before each Museums on Us weekend, so the benefit is on your radar before the dates arrive. You can choose text or email reminders, making it easier to plan a museum visit whether you are staying local or adding a stop to an upcoming trip.

FAQs

Does Museums on Us work every weekend in September 2026?

The benefit is available the first full weekend of each month, which for September 2026 falls on Saturday, Sep 5, and Sunday, Sep 6. That's it for the month, so plan accordingly.

How many people does one Bank of America card cover?

The free admission covers the primary cardholder only. Each person in your group needs their own eligible Bank of America or Merrill card to get in free.

Is a debit card enough, or does it need to be a credit card?

Both Bank of America debit cards and credit cards qualify, as do Merrill cards. Just bring the physical card and a matching photo ID.

What do I need to bring to use Bank of America Museums on Us?

Bring your eligible Bank of America, Merrill, or U.S. Trust credit or debit card along with a valid photo ID. Present both at the admissions desk. The benefit covers the cardholder only; companions pay standard rates unless they're the primary cardholder of an eligible card.