Guangzhou's museums have released their 2026 free admission schedule, offering the public multiple opportunities to visit cultural institutions at no cost throughout the year.
Citywide Free Admission Days (2026)
Museums across Guangzhou will offer free entry on:
May 18 – International Museum Day
May 19 – China Tourism Day
June 13 – Cultural and Natural Heritage Day
In addition, all museums will continue the policy of one free-admission day each month, with the specific date set individually by each institution.
Free Entry for Specific Professional Groups
On the following days, some museums will offer free admission (with valid work ID) to designated groups:
May 12 – International Nurses Day (nurses)
August 19 – Chinese Doctors' Day (doctors)
September 10 – Teachers' Day (teachers)
October 26 – Sanitation Workers' Day (sanitation workers)
Selected Museums' Regular Ticket Prices and Free Admission Day(s)
Guangzhou Museum (广州博物馆): RMB 10 (full), RMB 5 (concession)
Guangdong Folk Art Museum (广东民间工艺博物馆): RMB 10 (full), RMB 5 (concession)
Nanyue King Museum (南越王博物院): RMB 10 (full), RMB 5 (concession)
Guangzhou Maritime Museum (广州海事博物馆): RMB 10 (full), RMB 5 (concession)
Liwan Museum (荔湾博物馆): RMB 5 (full)
Huadu District Museum (花都区博物馆): RMB 8 (full)
Free admission dates in 2026: January 14, February 11, March 18, April 15, May 18, May 19, June 13, July 15, August 12, September 16, October 14, November 18, December 16.
The professional-group free-entry policy also applies on the designated commemorative days listed above.
Major Exhibition Previews (2026)
Guangdong Museum
A Journey of Flower Discovery: An Exhibition of Chinese Flower Culture
March 27 – June 28, 2026
Decorative Arts from the State Hermitage Museum, Russia: Hermitage Selection
April 7 – September 6, 2026
An Unfinished Dialogue: Sculptures by French Masters Auguste Rodin and Aristide Maillol
June 16 – November 15, 2026
Beetles Friends: A Discovering and Sharing Journey
July 17 – October 18, 2026
Nanyue King Museum (Tomb Exhibition Area)
A Gift of the Nile: Ancient Egyptian Artifacts and Digital Art Experience
February 6 – October 11, 2026
Featuring 180 sets of ancient Egyptian artifacts and 26 sets of relics from the Nanyue King's Tomb. Nearly 95% of the Egyptian artifacts will be shown in China for the first time, including three complete mummy coffins, mummies, and fragments of three Book of the Dead manuscripts.
Kitties in the Artist's House — Jin Cheng Solo Exhibition
The solo exhibition Kitties in the Artist's House by Jin Cheng will be held at Kui Yuan Gallery in Guangzhou from January 10 to March 9, 2026. The exhibition centers on Jin Cheng's most significant artistic inspiration in recent years—women and cats—and features more than 60 works in acrylic, watercolor, and ink. All the works are selected from the artist's representative series created since 2020, capturing the delicate yet vivid beauty of women and cats in a variety of moments and moods.
Exhibition Period: January 10–March 9, 2026 (11:00–18:00)
Venue: Kui Yuan Gallery (逵园艺术馆), No. 9 Xuguyuan Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou
Admission: Free, no reservation required
In 2026, Guangzhou invites residents and visitors alike to step into museums, explore exhibitions, and embark on a year-long cultural discovery journey.
Author | Liu Lingzhi
Photo | Guangzhou Daily, Guangdong Museum, Kui Yuan Gallery, Guangzhou Huadu Fabu
Editor | Wei Shen, James Campion, Shen He
