Air & Space Museum: 5 New Galleries Opening 2026

Air & Space Museum: 5 New Galleries Opening 2026

If your kids have ever looked up at an airplane and lost their minds with excitement, this is the visit you've been waiting for. The National Air and Space Museum just opened five new galleries, and honestly, the whole place feels different now. We've been to this museum a bunch of times over the years, but the redesigned layout and new exhibits make it worth a fresh trip. The Wright Brothers gallery is the standout for us. My 7-year-old stood in front of the original 1903 Flyer replica for a solid ten minutes, which is basically an eternity in kid time. There are interactive panels where they can learn about the engineering behind the first flight, and the displays are set at a height where kids can actually see everything without being picked up.

The "One World Connected" gallery is the other big draw, and it's probably the one where your kids will spend the most time touching things. There are hands-on stations that show how aviation and telecommunications changed the way people around the world connect with each other. My daughter liked the section about undersea cables (random, I know, but she was really into it). The gallery does a good job of making big ideas feel simple enough for a second grader to follow along. If your kids are on the younger side, closer to 4 or 5, they can still enjoy the museum, but most of the reading and interactive stuff is geared toward school-age kids. Younger ones will be happy looking at the planes and spacecraft hanging from the ceiling, though. That never gets old.

A few things to know before you go. Timed entry passes are free, but you do need to reserve them ahead of time on the Smithsonian website. Popular slots on weekends fill up days in advance, so plan early or try for a weekday morning if your schedule allows it. We got there right when the doors opened at 10 a.m. on a Wednesday and had plenty of room to move around. By noon it was noticeably more crowded. I'd suggest starting on the first floor where all five new galleries are located, since that's where the kids will have the most energy and excitement. Save the upper floors and the gift shop for the end. Speaking of the gift shop, fair warning: it's stocked with really cool STEM toys and model kits. Budget a few extra minutes and maybe a few extra dollars if your kids are anything like mine.

Parent Tips 💡

• ✓Reserve timed entry passes online ahead of time. They're free but required, and popular time slots fill up fast.
• ✓Best for ages 5 and up. Younger kids can still enjoy it, but most of the new interactive displays are aimed at school-age children.
• ✓Plan at least 2 to 3 hours. Five new galleries is a lot of ground to cover, especially with kids who want to try everything.
• ✓Start on the first floor where the new galleries are. Kids have the most energy at the beginning, so hit the new stuff first.
• ✓The gift shop has great STEM toys. Budget a few minutes at the end if your kids like space and aviation stuff.
• ✓Go on a weekday if possible. Weekends and holidays get packed, especially in summer.