Visit museums for free in Rio de Janeiro: Free museum day schedule (2026)

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Rio de Janeiro has dozens of museums covering everything from art and history to science and culture. While many charge an admission fee, several offer free entry on specific days of the week, making it easy to visit without stretching your budget.

This guide lists the museums in Rio de Janeiro that have regular free admission days in 2026, along with a few museums that are free every day.

Note: Opening hours and free admission policies can change. This information is accurate as of July 2026, but it's always worth confirming on the museum's official website before you visit.

Photo exhibition with a large beach crowd image, framed black-and-white portraits, and a seated visitor in a polished gallery.

Rio de Janeiro's free museum days

Museum	Regular admission	Free entry
Museum of Art Rio (MAR)	R$20	Every Tuesday
Museum of Tomorrow	R$30	Brazilian public holidays
Museu de Arte Moderna (MAM Rio)	R$30	Every Wednesday
National Museum of Fine Arts (MNBA)	R$10	Every Sunday
Casa Roberto Marinho	R$10	First Wednesday of every month
Museu Histórico do Exército e Forte de Copacabana	R$10	Free Tuesdays, if you follow the museum's Instagram account
Museu da República & Palacio da Catete	Free	Every day
CCBB Rio	Free	Every day
Museu Histórico Nacional	Free	Free during the current reopening phase
Museu Nacional (UFRJ)	Free	Every day (advance online booking required)
Oi Futuro	Free	Every day

Museum of Art Rio (MAR)

Four visitors view colorful abstract paintings in a dark blue gallery, standing quietly and browsing the exhibit.

The Museum of Art Rio is one of the city's best contemporary art museums. Exhibitions change regularly and often focus on Brazilian art, history and culture. MAR and the Museum of Tomorrow are only a short walk apart, making them easy to visit on the same day.

Free admission: Every Tuesday.

Read my complete guide here: Visiting the Museum of Art Rio (MAR)

Museum of Tomorrow

People gather under a futuristic white waterfront structure, with palm trees and a clear blue sky on a sunny day.

The Museum of Tomorrow is one of Rio's most popular museums, due to its unique architecture and theme. Unlike MAR, it does not currently have a weekly free day. Instead, admission is free on Brazilian public holidays. These dates vary each year, so if your trip overlaps a holiday, it's worth checking before buying a ticket.

Museu de Arte Moderna (MAM Rio)

Located in Flamengo Park, MAM Rio hosts rotating modern and contemporary art exhibitions.

The museum offers free admission every Wednesday to its main exhibitions, making it one of the best midweek museum options in Rio.

National Museum of Fine Arts (Museu Nacional de Belas Artes)

Near Cinelândia, the National Museum of Fine Arts houses one of Brazil's largest collections of paintings, sculptures and decorative arts.

Admission is free every Sunday, making it a good addition to a weekend walking itinerary through Rio's historic centre.

Museu Histórico do Exército e Forte de Copacabana

Old black cannon on grass at a stone fort, with two women chatting beside white stairs under a bright blue sky.

The Museu Histórico do Exército e Forte de Copacabana combines one of Rio's most famous viewpoints with a museum covering the history of the Brazilian Army and the fort itself. Your ticket includes access to the museum exhibitions, historic fortifications, coastal viewpoints and cafés within the complex.

Regular admission: R$10

Free admission: Tuesdays, for those who show at the ticket office that they follow the museum's official Instagram account.

Even if you're visiting primarily for the cafe or views over Copacabana Beach, it's worth taking a look inside the fort at the museum exhibits, which provide context on the fort's role in Brazil's military history.

Museu da República

Sunlit tropical park with a reflective pond, lush trees, and a small gazebo; a few people walk along the path.

Located in Catete, the Museu da República occupies the former Palácio do Catete, which served as Brazil's presidential palace from 1897 until the capital moved to Brasília in 1960. Today, you can explore the restored state rooms, period furnishings and exhibitions covering Brazil's republican history.

Regular admission: Free.

The museum grounds also include the Museu de Folclore Edison Carneiro. The folklore museum showcases Brazilian popular culture through exhibitions of traditional costumes, crafts, musical instruments, religious objects and artefacts from communities across the country.

Don't miss the museum's large gardens, which are free to enter daily and provide a peaceful place to relax in the middle of the city.

Casa Roberto Marinho

This smaller museum in Cosme Velho showcases Brazilian modern art inside the former home of media entrepreneur Roberto Marinho.

Admission is free on the first Wednesday of every month.

Museums that are always free

Not every museum requires planning around a free day. Several are free every day of the week.

CCBB Rio

The Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil (CCBB) is one of the most visited cultural centres in Brazil and is free every day. It hosts rotating art exhibitions, films, theatre performances and cultural events throughout the year. Free tickets are still required for many exhibitions and can be booked online.

Museu Histórico Nacional

The National Historical Museum reopened parts of its permanent collection after extensive renovations and currently offers free admission during its reopening period. Check the museum's website before your visit, as additional galleries continue reopening during 2026.

Museu Nacional (UFRJ)

Following the 2018 fire, the National Museum is gradually reopening through temporary exhibitions. Current exhibitions are free to visit, although access is limited compared with the museum before the fire.

Oi Futuro (Musehum)

Located in Flamengo, Oi Futuro is home to the Musehum (Museum of Communications and Humanities), an interactive museum exploring the history of communication, technology and human connection through multimedia exhibits and immersive experiences. Popular interactive experiences may have queues or require a reservation on arrival.

Tips for visiting museums in Rio de Janeiro

Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the best days if you're trying to visit several museums for free.
Many museums close on Mondays, so always check opening days before planning your itinerary.
Some museums require free timed tickets even when admission is free.
Large backpacks often need to be left in a cloakroom.
Most museums close ticket sales and entry around one hour before closing time.

Suggested free museum itinerary

If you're spending a few days in Rio, here's an easy way to make the most of the free admission days:

Tuesday

Museum of Art Rio (MAR)
Walk around Praça Mauá
Museum of Tomorrow

Wednesday

Museu de Arte Moderna (MAM Rio)
Walk through Flamengo Park
Visit Oi Futuro

Sunday

National Museum of Fine Arts
Explore Cinelândia and the historic centre

With a little planning, you can visit several of Rio de Janeiro's best museums for free, as well as their surrounding neighborhoods, while spending little or nothing on admission.