Active-duty military and veterans get in free at three New Orleans attractions on three days this month: Saturday November 7, Sunday November 8, and Veterans Day itself, Wednesday November 11. The offer covers Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium and Audubon Insectarium, all three run by the Audubon Nature Institute.
There is no registration step and no code to print. Go to the ticket booth at whichever of the three you are visiting and ask.
Who the offer covers
Active-duty service members and military veterans. Audubon has framed it as a thank-you rather than a promotion, and noted that the institute employs veterans itself.
“We are honored to recognize and show our appreciation for the brave men and women who have served our country,” said Michael J. Sawaya, Audubon Nature Institute chief executive and L. Ronald Forman Chair in Conservation Leadership. “By providing this free admission, we hope to give active-duty military members and veterans the opportunity to spend meaningful time with their families, creating lasting memories, and enjoying special experiences at the Zoo and Aquarium.”
Three days, three sites
The zoo is uptown in Audubon Park; the aquarium and insectarium share a building on the Mississippi riverfront downtown. Three days is enough to do more than one of them, and a veteran bringing family can reasonably treat the weekend and Veterans Day as separate outings rather than one long march.
Free-admission days for service members and first responders have become a standing habit across the accredited field, and they are worth saying out loud each time, because the people they are aimed at tend to find out the week after. In September we covered Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium opening its gate to first responders on September 11, which ran on the same principle.
If you are in New Orleans and you qualify, the first of the three days is this Saturday.
Source: Audubon Nature Institute, “Military Appreciation at Audubon Nature Institute,” November 4, 2026.
Quick answers
- Which days is admission free for veterans at Audubon?
Saturday November 7, Sunday November 8 and Veterans Day, Wednesday November 11, 2026.
- Which Audubon attractions are included?
Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium and Audubon Insectarium, all operated by the Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans.
- Who qualifies?
Active-duty military members and military veterans.
- Do I need to register in advance?
No. Go to the ticket booth at Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium or Audubon Insectarium to receive complimentary admission.
- Does the offer cover family members?
The free admission is for active-duty military and veterans. Audubon has not stated a companion rate, so family members should expect to buy tickets.
