NEW EXHIBITS
During San Diego Museum Month 2026
Something new is happening behind the museum doors this February. San Diego Museum Month 2026 isn’t just about revisiting favorites—it’s your chance to be among the first to experience brand-new exhibitions, milestone moments, and fresh perspectives debuting across the region. From once-in-a-century anniversaries to bold new installations and interactive discoveries, these exhibitions mark what’s new, what’s now, and what’s next in San Diego’s cultural landscape.

✈️ RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT!®
📍 San Diego Air & Space Museum, Balboa Park

🎉 THE SAN DIEGO MUSEUM OF ART: 100 YEARS
📍 The San Diego Museum of Art, Balboa Park
The San Diego Museum of Art has launched their centennial celebration, marking 100 years (1926–2026) as one of the region’s most significant cultural institutions. The year-long celebration begins with the flagship exhibition SDMA 100 Years (January 24, 2026–February 7, 2027), an immersive look at the museum’s evolution through historic photographs, film, archival materials, and memorabilia. The exhibition traces SDMA’s journey from its roots in the 1915 Panama–California Exposition to its opening in 1926 and its extraordinary role as a U.S. Naval Hospital during World War II.
Additional centennial exhibitions activate the campus throughout 2026, including Local Visions: Reimagining the Façade (January 24–July 26, 2026), which invites local artists to reinterpret the museum’s iconic Spanish Colonial Revival exterior, and Eduardo Chillida: Convergence (through February 8, 2026), a major sculptural presentation honoring the internationally renowned artist’s 100th birthday. The celebration culminates with SDMA’s 100th Birthday Fest on February 28, 2026, making Museum Month the perfect time to experience this milestone moment in San Diego’s arts history.
* The San Diego Museum of Art – Museum Month half-off museum admission is with a Printed Pass only. No Museum Month Digital Passes will be accepted at the door. Offer valid February 1-28, 2026. Discount is limited to 4 Adult tickets.

🏁 NASCAR: DESIGN & INNOVATION
📍 San Diego Automotive Museum, Balboa Park
Rev up for a high-octane Museum Month experience as the San Diego Automotive Museum debuts NASCAR: Design & Innovation, an exciting new exhibition exploring the evolution of America’s most iconic motorsport. From early stock cars to today’s cutting-edge Next Gen machines, the exhibit traces the engineering breakthroughs, speed, and legendary drivers that shaped NASCAR across generations.
A centerpiece of the exhibition is a deep dive into NASCAR’s revolutionary Gen-7 (Next Gen) platform, featuring advances like independent rear suspension, modular chassis systems, enhanced aerodynamics, and 670-horsepower engines—redefining performance, safety, and innovation on the track. Visitors can also enjoy a special meet-and-greet with NASCAR driver Austin Cameron on Sunday, February 15, 2026, from 12–2 p.m., featuring his #16 Winston West car on display. It’s a must-see for racing fans, design enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the future of automotive engineering.
*San Diego Museum Month pass allows up to 4 adults 1/2 price admission from February 1-28, 2026

🎨 NEW EXHIBITS AT BONITA MUSEUM
📍 Bonita Museum & Cultural Center
Just in time for San Diego Museum Month, the Bonita Museum presents two compelling exhibitions celebrating creativity, legacy, and artistic innovation.
The Ric Todd Collection is on view in the History Gallery from February 1–27, 2026, showcasing works from Ric Todd’s personal collection across a range of mediums, including ceramics, printmaking, painting, giclée, lithographs, and digital works. The exhibition features pieces by Ric Todd, Keith Haring, Steve R. Allen, and Jaimee Todd, offering a thoughtful look at the relationships, influences, and artistic voices represented in Todd’s collection. A special focus on Ric Todd’s ceramics highlights his creative practice alongside his role as a collector and advocate for artists.
In the main gallery, Audi Lawson: Bonita Legacy runs from January 14–February 28, 2026, featuring striking photographic works by Audi Lawson (1920–2013). The exhibition explores Lawson’s distinctive photography from the 1980s and 1990s, known for her signature “knife effect” and innovative use of double exposures. Long before the digital age, Lawson manipulated film by hand to create bold, layered images—offering visitors a rare glimpse into the experimental possibilities of analog photography.
Together, these exhibitions make Bonita Museum a standout Museum Month destination for anyone interested in contemporary collections, photographic innovation, and the creative legacies that shape our region.
*Museum admission is donation-based. You can pay as much, or as little, as you choose. Many guests “give forward” admission, because if you choose to make a donation, it helps pay for someone else’s visit in the future.
START PLANNING YOUR MUSEUM MONTH ADVENTURE 🎟️
These first-time and newly featured sites are just a small sampling of what’s waiting this February. With half-price admission all month long, Museum Month is your invitation to explore San Diego’s art, history, culture, and natural beauty—both old favorites and brand-new discoveries.
With your Museum Month printed pass (available at more than 80 public libraries), you can enjoy half-off admission for up to four guests all month long at 70+ local museums, historic sites, gardens, parks, aquariums, and more. Plus, we’ve made it easier with a pass that you can download directly to your phone.
📅 February 1–28, 2026
📍 70+ museums across San Diego County
🎟️ Digital and printed passes available starting February 1
Which new museum will you explore first?













