2026 Blue Star Museum Program

Blue Star Museums is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, in collaboration with the Department of Defense and Museums Across America, offering free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve. The 2025 Blue Star Museums program begins on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 16, 2026 and ends on Labor Day, Monday, September 7, 2026.
 
Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card for entrance. The military ID holder and up to five family members.
 
The military ID holder can be either active-duty service member or other dependent family member with the appropriate ID card. The active-duty member does not have to be present for family members to use the program. Just bring your DD Form 1173 ID Card, or DD Form 1173-1 ID Card, for active-duty military family members.
View of map of participating museums here.