The High Museum of Art is marking its 100th year with free admission days on November 18, December 13 and December 16, 2026, plus a free Sensory-Friendly Evening on November 18. Paid holiday programming fills the gaps, and the centennial exhibition schedule continues into 2027.
Key Takeaways
- Access for All offers free admission and drop-in programs for adults on Wednesday, November 18, and Wednesday, December 16, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- A free Sensory-Friendly Evening for adults who identify as disabled or neurodivergent runs November 18 from 6 to 9 p.m., with preregistration required.
- Second Sunday opens the High Museum of Art free to all visitors on December 13 from noon to 5 p.m.
- Regular admission is $23.50 for nonmembers, and the Holiday Market on November 20 and 21 has been an admission-based event.
- Atlanta Public Schools K-12 field trips are free throughout the 2026-27 school year.
The High Museum of Art Turns 100 With Free Entry Points Through December
The High Museum of Art traces its start to October 1926, when Harriet “Hattie” High donated her Peachtree Street home to the Atlanta Art Association. A century later, the museum describes its centennial as a year of special exhibitions, collection favorites returning to the galleries, free community celebrations and family programs.
For Atlantans who have not yet visited during the 100th year, the High Museum of Art’s own calendar shows several free ways in before the end of 2026. Each one has a different audience and a different set of rules.
November 18 Brings Two Free Ways Into the Museum
Access for All returns on Wednesday, November 18, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with free admission and drop-in programming for adults of all ages. This month’s edition focuses on Martin Puryear: Nexus, the survey of the American sculptor’s work on view through January 17, 2027. Programs are first come, first served, and the museum cannot accommodate group visits on Access for All days, including school groups and docent-led tours.
That evening, the High Museum of Art hosts a Sensory-Friendly Evening from 6 to 9 p.m. for adults who identify as disabled or neurodivergent, along with their friends and family. The after-hours program includes drop-in art-making workshops, wellness programs and guides for exploring the galleries. Admission is free, but capacity is limited and preregistration is required.
Visitors planning a museum-heavy week can pair the free day with the Atlanta History Center’s new exhibition on the Cherokee and Muscogee Trails of Tears, opening November 19.
Holiday Market and Art & Holidays Add Seasonal Programming
The Holiday Market at the High runs Friday, November 20, from 6 to 10 p.m. alongside Friday Jazz, and Saturday, November 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. At last year’s edition, market access was included with museum admission, free for members and $23.50 for nonmembers, so visitors should confirm 2026 ticketing on high.org.
Art & Holidays follows on Friday, December 11, from 6 to 9 p.m., with a gingerbread house competition, cookie decorating and ornament making. The gingerbread houses stay on view in the Taylor Lobby windows through the end of December.
Second Sunday on December 13 Opens the Museum to Families
On Sunday, December 13, from noon to 5 p.m., the High Museum of Art offers free admission to all visitors, with art-making activities, performances and family programming. The day covers the museum’s collection and its special exhibitions, including I SPY! Walter Wick’s Hidden Wonders, which closes January 3, 2027.
Families building a Peachtree Street holiday weekend can add family appointments with Santa at Rhodes Hall, the 1904 “Castle on Peachtree”. Visitors should check high.org for any advance registration before heading out.
Access for All Returns December 16
The year’s final Access for All day falls on Wednesday, December 16, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The High Museum of Art lists free tickets with a registration option, and drop-in programs run first come, first served. The Art Bridges Foundation supports the program.
Atlanta Public Schools Field Trips Are Free All School Year
Beyond public free days, the High Museum of Art is providing free admission for all Atlanta Public Schools K-12 field trips throughout the 2026-27 school year. The museum says it welcomes an average of 4,000 Atlanta Public Schools students a year.
The Centennial Extends Beyond Peachtree Street
The High Museum of Art is also staging centennial activations on the Beltline, at the airport, on MARTA and around Midtown, including centennial-branded MARTA buses. The museum says details will be announced as each project launches. The museum sits across the street from MARTA’s Arts Center Station, and visitors can round out a Midtown trip with the new restaurant concepts at Spring Quarter and Midtown Union.
The Centennial Exhibition Schedule Continues Into 2027
The free days arrive as two current shows near their close. I SPY! Walter Wick’s Hidden Wonders ends January 3, 2027, and Martin Puryear: Nexus ends January 17, 2027. The next major centennial exhibition, Basquiat, the Blue Ribbon Paintings, and the Art of Reproduction, opens February 19, 2027, and runs through May 16, 2027, with more than fifty works on the artist’s engagement with printmaking.
FAQs
When is the next free day at the High Museum of Art?
The next free day is Access for All on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Second Sunday follows on December 13, and Access for All returns December 16.
How much is admission to the High Museum of Art?
General admission is $23.50 for nonmembers. Members get in free, and the museum’s free days are open to everyone.
Is the High Museum of Art Holiday Market free?
Last year’s Holiday Market was included with museum admission rather than free. The 2026 market runs November 20 and 21, and visitors should confirm ticketing on high.org.
Do I need to register for the Sensory-Friendly Evening?
Yes. The Sensory-Friendly Evening is free, but capacity is limited and preregistration is required.
