MFA Boston: Free Admission on Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2026
Gallery tours, family art‑making, cultural programs & community celebrations fill the MFA as Massachusetts residents enjoy free admission all day
Oct. 16, 2026
Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the MFA is one of Boston’s most meaningful cultural celebrations. Visitors can meet Indigenous artists, explore hands‑on activities like basketmaking, clay pottery, and beading, and experience live performances, storytelling, and poetry throughout the museum. The day highlights Native American and Indigenous traditions, living cultural practices, and community voices, all within one of Boston’s most iconic museums. It’s a rare chance to experience art, heritage, and creativity together, completely free.
Plan Your Visit
🎟 Admission
Free for all Massachusetts residents
Tickets available in person only
First‑come, first‑served
Valid MA zip code required for entry
Art, Culture & Community Come Together
Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the MFA goes beyond a typical museum visit. Throughout the day, visitors can meet Indigenous artists, participate in hands-on art activities and experience performances and conversations exploring Native art, history, and living cultural traditions.
🎨 HANDS-ON ART EXPERIENCES
Try creating a miniature basket, make a clay vessel inspired by Native North American pottery traditions,
or learn flat-beading techniques with Choctaw-Apache artist and designer Sebastian Ebarb.
🧺 LOCAL ARTISTS & MARKET
Visitors can also browse artwork available for purchase from local Indigenous artists
Brittney Peauwe Wunnepog Walley and Sebastian Ebarb.
Don't Miss the Live Performances
One of the day's highlights arrives at 12:15 PM, when the Wampanoag Nation Singers and Dancers take over the Shapiro Family Courtyard.
🥁 WAMPANOAG NATION SINGERS & DANCERS | 12:15 PM
The performance brings together music, traditional dancing, water drum, and handcrafted rattles,
offering visitors an opportunity to experience eastern social songs and traditions shared by
performers from Wampanoag tribal communities.
🎤 HARTMAN DEETZ | POETRY & SONG | 3 PM
Later in the afternoon, Mashpee Wampanoag artist Hartman Deetz presents a performance
combining spoken‑word poetry and traditional songs.
Highlights of the Day
Throughout the day, visitors can explore hands-on activities, cultural demonstrations, artist showcases, and live performances celebrating Indigenous traditions and creativity.
🤝 Meet Community Partners | 10 AM–4 PM
Connect with organizations working with communities across Boston and Massachusetts.
🧺 Miniature Basketmaking | 10 AM–4 PM
Create your own miniature basket while learning about traditional New England basketmaking.
🏺 Clay Pot Art-Making | 10 AM–4 PM
Make a clay vessel inspired by pottery traditions from Native North America.
🎨 Shop Local Indigenous Artists | 11 AM–4 PM
Discover artwork from Brittney Peauwe Wunnepog Walley and Sebastian Ebarb.
📿 Beading with Sebastian Ebarb | 11 AM–2 PM
Learn about Indigenous history and basic techniques behind flat beading.
📖 Story Time | 11:15 AM & 1:15 PM
Join Katherine Santos for children's book readings exploring Indigenous stories and identity.
🥁 Wampanoag Nation Singers & Dancers | 12:15–12:45 PM
Experience traditional dancing and eastern social songs in the Shapiro Family Courtyard.
🎤 Poetry & Song with Hartman Deetz | 3 PM
Experience spoken-word poetry and traditional songs from the Mashpee Wampanoag artist.
🧭 Guided Tours | 11 AM, Noon, 1 PM, 2 PM
60‑minute tours led by MFA guides, exploring artworks across the museum’s collection.
Make Indigenous Peoples’ Day a Boston Art Day
From live performances to hands-on art-making and the chance to explore one of Boston’s most famous museums, the MFA Open House delivers a full day of art and community, all without the usual admission cost.
Celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the MFA
Mark your calendar for Oct. 12 and spend Indigenous Peoples’ Day discovering art, culture and living Indigenous traditions at the MFA.
