Canada to make national museums free for people under 25

Canadians under the age of 25 will be able to visit national museums in Ottawa and across Canada for free, as part of an expansion of the Canada Strong Pass.

Free museum admission

Starting next year, admission to Canada’s national museums will be made permanently free for Canadians under 25 all year. The budget does not say exactly when free admission to museums will become permanent, with the final decision to be made by Canadian Heritage.

The following museums will offer free admission to children, youth and young adults under the age of 25:

• Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
• Canada Aviation and Space Museum
• Canadian Museum of Nature
• Canada Science and Technology Museum
• Canadian War Museum
• National Gallery of Canada
• Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau

Free admission will also be available at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in Halifax, the Plains of Abraham Museum in Quebec City and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg.

Costs and other funding

The renewal of the Canada Strong Pass for another summer will cost $76 million for the 2027-28 budget year. Free admission to national museums year-round for children and youth under 25 will cost $46.3 million over five years.

Budget 2026 outlines $783.1 million over five years to help repair and renew aging facilities, protect national collections and "sustain the exhibitions, performances, and services that connect Canadians to our history and culture." The National Gallery of Canada will receive $60 million over four years to expand "opportunities for Canadians to access and engage with Canada’s arts, culture and heritage, both in person and online."

Why it matters

The government says attendance grew by an average of 15 per cent to national museums during the Canada Strong Pass. The pass was introduced for the summer of 2025 and returned last summer, running from June 19 to Sept. 7.

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Sources

• bnnbloomberg.ca: Canada Strong Pass: Canadians under 25 to get free admission to national museums
• cp24.com: Canada Strong Pass: Canadians under 25 to get free admission to national museums

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.