Good news first. The Birmingham Museum of Art is free, and so is the parking lot out back. You’ll only pay if you want to see Roll Call: Two Hundred Years of Black American Art, the new ticketed show opening September 26, 2026 ($19.71 for adults).
The catch is the schedule. It’s closed Mondays, and on Tuesdays the doors don’t open until 1pm. Thursday is late night, open until 8pm.
First, Make Sure It’s the Right Birmingham
We’re talking about the museum in Birmingham, Alabama, downtown at 2000 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd. Google loves to blend it with Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery in England. Seeing prices in pounds or something about Ozzy Osbourne? Wrong country.
Is the Birmingham Museum of Art Free?
Yep. General admission is free every day it’s open, and that hasn’t changed in 2026. You can see the permanent collection, the sculpture garden, the kids’ area and most exhibits without a ticket. Only the big special shows cost money, and members get those at half price.
Birmingham Museum of Art Hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 1pm to 5pm |
| Wednesday | 10am to 5pm |
| Thursday | 10am to 8pm |
| Friday | 10am to 5pm |
| Saturday | 10am to 5pm |
| Sunday | 12pm to 5pm |
Some odd dates coming up. September 24 ends early at 4pm, and October 8 closes at 5pm even though it’s a Thursday. It’s shut for Veterans Day (Nov. 11), Thanksgiving (Nov. 26) and December 24 and 25.
Our pick? Thursday after 5. Fewer people, no rush. If you’re going near a holiday, a quick call to (205) 254-2565 saves a wasted trip.
Birmingham Museum of Art Parking
Pull into the museum’s own lot behind the building, off Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. It costs nothing. If it’s packed, the Boutwell Auditorium deck and street meters nearby will do, though you’ll pay and the museum won’t validate.
One tip for GPS: older maps still list the street as 8th Avenue North. The building is right next to the BJCC.
No car? The Magic City Connector bus stops out front about every 15 minutes, weekdays 10am to 6pm. It’s roughly 10 minutes from the airport by car.
What’s On Right Now
Roll Call (September 26, 2026 to January 17, 2027)
Close to 100 works by Black American artists, all from the museum’s own holdings, covering two centuries. A Henry Ossawa Tanner painting anchors it; it was the first piece by an African American artist the museum ever received. There are also Alabama photographs by Carrie Mae Weems and Dawoud Bey.
| Ticket | Regular | Members |
|---|---|---|
| Adults | $19.71 | $9.85 |
| Seniors, veterans | $15 | $7.50 |
| Students | $15 | $7.50 |
| 17 and under | Free | Free |
| Sundays | Pay what you wish | Pay what you wish |
Short on cash? Sunday is your day. Bringing 10 or more people knocks 20% off adult tickets. City of Birmingham employees can get a free membership through HR.
Free Shows
Wall to Wall: Christopher Myers fills the main lobby until July 11, 2027. Disruption!, about artists who break rules on purpose, is up until May 2027. The Asian galleries have Gilding the Lilies and Other Flowers in the Arts of Asia through October. Marks of Intention stays until April 16, 2027.
What Not to Miss in the Collection
Short on time, go straight to two spots: the Asian galleries (the Vietnamese ceramics are rare stuff) and the Wedgwood rooms, which hold the biggest Wedgwood collection outside England.
Got a whole afternoon? Add the Kress rooms for Renaissance and Baroque paintings, the Ancient American gallery with Maya and Inca pieces, and the African and Native American art upstairs. Then sit in the sculpture garden for a bit. Snacks are allowed out there.
Most adults spend two or three hours here. There are over 24,000 objects, so nobody sees it all. Comparing it to the big names? Here’s our rundown of the best museums in New York.
Is It Good for Kids?
Surprisingly good. ArtVenture is a hands-on room just for kids (one adult per four children, please), and scavenger hunt sheets sit at both entrances. Anyone 17 or younger gets into Roll Call free.
Security at the parking lot door lends out strollers. Changing tables are in the first-floor restrooms. Kids on shoulders or back carriers aren’t allowed in the galleries, though front carriers are fine.
An hour is plenty with little kids. Doing a family trip across Alabama? Decatur’s Cook Museum of Natural Science is about 90 minutes north.
Food, Bags and Photos
Café BMA only does lunch, Wednesday to Friday from 11 to 2. Any other day, bring something. Eat it in the lobby or garden, not the galleries.
Big bags go in the coin-return lockers by each door. Small backpacks are okay if you wear them on your front.
Take photos, just no flash, tripods or selfie sticks. Pens are banned (ink stains), so grab a free pencil at the entrance.
Accessibility
The parking lot entrance is step-free, with accessible spaces right beside it, and elevators reach every floor. Leave an ID at the Information Desk and you can borrow a sensory bag (headphones, fidget tools) or a weighted lap pad.
Blind and low-vision visitors can explore tactile replicas in the smartlab, and the online smartguide (artsbma.org/guide) has audio descriptions. Color-blind visitors can book EnChroma glasses, and there are sensory tours too. Email access@artsbma.org to book. Service animals are welcome.
Before You Head Out
Stop by the museum shop on the way out; the money goes back to the museum. More on that idea in our guide to the best ways to support local businesses. And if you’re road-tripping Alabama this fall, the National Peanut Festival runs in Dothan from November 6 to 14.
FAQs
How much does the Birmingham Museum of Art cost?
Zero for general admission. Roll Call runs $19.71 for adults and $15 for seniors, veterans and students. Kids 17 and under go free.
Is the Birmingham Museum of Art still free?
Yes, still free in 2026.
What day is the Birmingham Museum of Art closed?
Mondays. Also Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Is parking free?
In the museum’s lot, yes. Nearby decks and meters aren’t.
What’s the current exhibition?
Roll Call: Two Hundred Years of Black American Art, from September 26, 2026 through January 17, 2027.
Can I see Roll Call for free?
Sundays are pay what you wish. Under 18s never pay.
How long does a visit take?
Two to three hours for adults. About an hour with small kids.
Is there a café?
Café BMA, lunch only, Wednesday to Friday, 11am to 2pm.
Can you take pictures?
Yes. No flash, tripods or selfie sticks.
Is this the same as Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery?
No. That’s in England. This one’s in Alabama.
Disclaimer: Information in this guide, including opening hours, ticket prices, exhibitions, parking, and visitor policies, was checked against available information as of September 23, 2026. Details may change without notice. Please check the Birmingham Museum of Art’s official website before visiting for the latest information.
