Mexican Government Seeks Free Admission to 53 Museums and Archaeological Sites Next Year

This article by Dora Villanueva originally appeared in the September 10, 2026 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.

Mexico City. The federal government is seeking to make admission to 53 sites —among them museums, monuments, and archaeological sites— free, given that the administrative and operating costs of charging for access to them are “disproportionate relative to the revenue” obtained. As part of the changes proposed to the Federal Rights Law for next year, Bonampak, in Chiapas; La Venta, in Tabasco; and Tamtoc, in San Luis Potosí, are among the sites that, under the administration of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), will offer free admission.

“This measure will make it possible to simplify administrative operations at those sites where the charging scheme is inefficient and, at the same time, favor the public’s access to these cultural assets and promote Mexico’s cultural heritage,” the Presidency explained in next year’s Federal Rights Law initiative.

The free admission proposed by the Presidency would apply to the Chapel of Tepozcolula and the Casa del Deán; to the former convents of San Francisco Tecamachalco, Santa María Magdalena Cuitzeo, Oxtotipac, San Andrés Epazoyucan, and San Francisco Huaquechula; as well as to the historic monument Chapel of Tlalmanalco. Also to the Guillermo Spratling, Huastec Culture, Estampa, and Valle de Tehuacán museums, and the Tuxteco museum; to the archaeological museums of Ciudad Guzmán, Camino Real Hecelchakán, and Soconusco; to the historical museum of eastern Morelos, the Baluarte de Santiago, and the Regional Museum of La Laguna; as well as to the Juan Gamboa Guzmán Pinacoteca, located in Mérida, Yucatán.

In addition to Bonampak and Tamtoc, the free archaeological sites would be Boca de Potrerillos, Cuyuxquihui, Izapa, Pomoná, Tehuacalco, La Ferrería, and Lagartero, according to the Federal Rights Law initiative.

And, among the archaeological zones, in addition to La Venta and its museum, free admission is proposed for Calixtlahuaca, Chalchihuites, Coatetelco (with museum), Chacmultún, Cuajilote, Dainzú, Hochob, Ihuatzio, Malpasito, Toluquilla, Tres Zapotes (with museum), El Chanal, Huandacareo La Nopalera, La Campana, Lambityeco, Las Labradas, Las Pilas, Los Melones, San Felipe Los Alzati, Santa Cecilia Acatitlán (with museum), Tizatlán (with museum), Tres Cerritos, Vega de La Peña, and Santa Rosa Xtampak.

Although these 53 sites under INAH’s management will be free, payment to access another 122 remains in the proposal the Presidency sent to Congress.