INAH Fees to Double in 2026: Up to 209 Pesos

MEXICO — Beginning January 1, 2026, visiting sites such as the National Museum of Anthropology, Teotihuacán, Palenque, or Chichén Itzá could cost 209 pesos per person, more than double the current price. The adjustment is contained within the 2026 Economic Package, part of an initiative signed by President Claudia Sheinbaum that reforms the Federal Law of Fees.

The proposal includes increases of up to 223 percent compared to the fees that were updated just this past January. In Category I, which includes the most visited sites, the entrance fee would rise from 100 to 209 pesos. In Category II, it would increase from 80 to 156 pesos, while in Category III it would go from 75 to 143 pesos. After-hours visits would be the most expensive at 731 pesos, up from the current 355 pesos.

The plan also contemplates discounts for nationals and resident foreigners: 50 percent in Category I and 45 percent in Categories II and III. However, visits outside of normal hours will not receive any discount.

The Initiative Arrives Amid Cuts to the Cultural Sector

According to the 2026 Economic Package, the government proposes a reorganization of income that includes modifications to fees, contributions, and duties across various sectors. The official narrative is that this is a "humanist" budget that maintains Social Welfare Programs and increases resources for health, education, and housing without raising taxes like VAT or Income Tax.

In this context, museums and archaeological zones become an additional source of income. The justification appearing in the document states that the collected resources will be used to "promote and disseminate the cultural heritage of Mexico," as well as to finance maintenance and research.

It is worth mentioning that among the changes, a novelty appears: archaeological sites located along the route of the Maya Train, such as Chichén Itzá, Uxmal, and Dzibilchaltún, would have a fixed fee of 104 pesos, with no possibility of a discount. The argument is that this category seeks to "promote knowledge of ancestral cultures" and guarantee massive visits to the new tourist infrastructure.

A Luxury Visit? What Critics Say

The adjustment has generated concern among specialists and media outlets. According to a report by Animal Político, the hike will "hit visitors' pockets directly" and could turn entry to sites that have been accessible until now into a "luxury."

The analysis notes that in 2024 the National Museum of Anthropology received more than 3.7 million visits, of which 89 percent were from Mexicans. It also highlights that sites like Chichén Itzá and Teotihuacán concentrate millions of tourists each year.

The risk, they point out, is that the increase could curb domestic visits, just as the Ministry of Tourism reported 6.8 million visitors to museums from January to July 2025. For many, the measure contradicts the logic of democratizing access to culture and may reinforce inequality in the enjoyment of cultural heritage.

Comparing 2025 with 2026: The Jump is Enormous

The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) reported in January 2025 that its fees were 100 pesos for Category I, 80 for Category II, and 75 for Category III. With the new proposal, each ticket would practically double or even triple in some cases. The highest increase, in Category III, would be 223 percent, jumping from 60 to 143 pesos at certain smaller sites.

At that time, INAH itself recalled that there were payment exemptions for children, students, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and free entry for Mexicans on Sundays. The question now is whether these exemptions will be maintained or if the pressure to increase revenue will open the door to modifications.