$5 First Sundays | Oakland Museum of California
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OMCA (Oakland Museum of California) | 1000 Oak Street Oakland, CA 94607
Event Details
Submitted by the Event Organizer
Oakland Museum of California’s Free First Sundays (OMCA)
The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) brings together collections of art, history, and natural science under one roof to tell the extraordinary stories of California and its people.
First Sundays at OMCA
Every first Sunday of the month, General Admission to OMCA’s Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences is free (with a suggested donation of $5), and tickets to Special Exhibitions in our Great Hall are offered at a discounted price of $6. Learn more about First Sundays at OMCA.
- Sunday Hours – 11am to 5pm – Please check website as hours may change seasonally
- FREE: Every first Sunday of the month
- Visitors are encouraged to reserve tickets online in advance to secure your preferred entry time and reduce your wait.
- Tickets are available at the admissions desk on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Please note that dates might change for the “first Sunday” promotion if it falls on a major holiday when the museum is closed.
Additional Discounts:
Museums for All
OMCA offers individuals and families (up to four individuals) admission, including access to special exhibitions, to the Museum for $1 for guests who hold an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. No need to show your EBT card for admission — just say you’d like the “Museums for All” rate.
North American Reciprocal Museum Association
Present your current membership card, marked with the gold North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Program sticker, to enjoy admission for up to two people per membership at OMCA. (This benefit is for named cardholders only, cards listed as “guest of” not accepted.) Questions? Please contact our Membership office at 510-318-8520.
People with Disabilities
OMCA offers $9 dollar general admission for people with disabilities. Drivers and care assistants supporting visitors with disabilities will be given free access to the Museum. Anyone who self identifies as having a disability is eligible for this discount; no verification required.
Museums on Us
Museums on Us is a nationwide program through which Bank of America and Merrill Lynch cardholders get free admission to select museums on the first full weekend of every month (Saturday and Sunday). Simply present your active Bank of America® or Merrill Lynch® credit or debit card along with a photo ID to gain one free general admission to any participating institution. Cardholders only; guests are not eligible for free admission. Excludes special exhibitions, ticketed shows, and fundraising events.
Blue Star Museum
OMCA is a participating Blue Star Museum. Blue Star Museums offer free entrance for all active duty, National Guard, and Reserve military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day each year.
Jurors
OMCA offers $3 general admission for Alameda County Courthouse active jurors. Please present proof to show you are an active juror.
As the only museum to focus entirely on the art and history of California, the diverse collections on display in the 300,000-square-foot building present the art and tell the history of California from many angles. The museum invites visitors to experience the history of California through interacting with art, becoming art, and rewriting history.
OMCA Special Exhibitions 2026
Good Fire: Tending Native Lands
Great Hall | Nov 7, 2025 – May 31, 2026
Explores how Native communities use controlled “good fire” to care for the land and sustain traditions.
Black Spaces: Reclaim & Remain
Great Hall | Jul 18, 2025 – Mar 1, 2026
Highlights the resilience and creativity of Black communities in Oakland and the East Bay, reclaiming space and history.
Students on Strike
Gallery of California History | Apr 9, 2025 – May 31, 2026
Examines the legacy of student activism at San Francisco State University, from the 1968–1969 strike to recent campus protests.
Ancestral Visions: Chelsea Ryoko Wong
Gallery of California Art | Feb 7, 2025 – Feb 1, 2026
Paintings inspired by 20th-century Chinese American women’s dresses, exploring identity, history, and fashion.
Collecting a Moment
Gallery of California Art | Sep 20, 2025 – ongoing
Showcases recent acquisitions highlighting contemporary art, activism, and California’s cultural moment.
Fairyland @ 75: A Legacy of Magic
Gallery of California Art | Opens Apr 4, 2025 – ongoing
Celebrates 75 years of Oakland’s Fairyland with artifacts, miniatures, photos, and a climbable Jolly Trolly car.
OMCA Kids: Nature Playspace
Gallery of California Natural Sciences | Ongoing
A playful, hands-on space for kids ages 2–5 to explore nature, build, and learn with their families.
Please note the museum is closed on certain holidays:
- New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1, 2026
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, January 19, 2026
- Presidents’ Day: Monday, February 16, 2026
- Memorial Day: Monday, May 25, 2026
- Labor Day: Monday, September 7, 2026
- Veterans Day: Wednesday, November 11, 2026
- Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, November 26, 2026
- Christmas Day: Friday, December 25, 2026
Updated 1/8/26 – Event info last checked via Oakland Museum of California
Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.
Cost: FREE
Categories: *Top Pick*, Art & Museums, East Bay, Free Museum Day
