The Elms on Bellevue Avenue opens its doors to the public again on November 16, 2026, but it's coming back in a new form. The house now runs as The Elms Experience, which requires a timed ticket rather than general admission. Because Newport's free resident benefit is built around general admission, The Elms no longer falls under it.

The timing matters. The holiday season at the mansions kicks off five days after the reopening and runs into January. If you're a Newport resident who relies on your free access to entertain visiting family, fill a rainy afternoon, or catch the poinsettia tree at The Breakers, you'll have fewer free choices this year and a tighter calendar to plan around.

How The Elms Moved Into a New Ticket Category

According to the Newport Mansions guest FAQ, Breakers +1, Breakers +2, and One Property tickets were honored at The Elms only through August 9, 2026. From then on, visitors need a timed ticket for The Elms Experience. The house closed August 10 so the installation could be put in place.

The Newport Mansions tickets page now lists these general admission properties: The Breakers, Marble House, Rosecliff, Chateau-sur-Mer, Kingscote, Isaac Bell House, and Green Animals Topiary Garden. The Elms isn't among them.

Here's how the various passes line up:

  • Newport resident policy: Free general admission for City of Newport residents whenever properties are open for tours. You'll need proof of residency and must check in when you arrive. Special events and specialty tours aren't included.
  • $75 Access Pass: Doesn't cover The Elms Experience.
  • Preservation Society members: Normally enjoy unlimited general admission but pay $20 for The Elms Experience.
  • Public pricing: $35 for adults, $20 for youths ages 2 to 12, and free for children under 2.

The published price list doesn't show a resident rate for The Elms, and the resident policy doesn't mention The Elms Experience by name. If you're unsure, ask when you check in or call the Preservation Society at 401-847-1000.

What Residents Can Visit Free During the Holidays

Holidays at the Newport Mansions runs from November 21, 2026, through January 3, 2027. Rosecliff wrapped its 2026 season on November 1, so it won't be open during the holidays. Here's the lineup:

  • The Breakers: Thursday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (last entry 2 p.m.), and Monday through Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry 4 p.m.). General admission with no timed reservation required.
  • Marble House: Every day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry 4 p.m.). General admission.
  • Chateau-sur-Mer: Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission.
  • The Elms Experience: Timed entry every 10 minutes from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Not general admission; adult tickets are $35.
  • Sparkling Lights at The Breakers: Select evenings with entry from 4 to 6 p.m. Considered a special event, so it's excluded from the resident benefit.

The Breakers, Marble House, and Chateau-sur-Mer are the three houses dressed for the season, with close to 30 Christmas trees between them. Among the highlights is Mr. Vanderbilt's tree at The Breakers, trimmed with trains and top hats, and the 15-foot poinsettia tree in the Great Hall, built from 150 plants. Since all three decorated houses are general admission, Newport residents with proof of residency can take in the main holiday displays for free. The Elms Experience is the one paid exception.

Plan Around The Breakers' Early Closings

Starting November 21, daytime self-guided tours at The Breakers end at 3 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, with last admission at 2 p.m., so staff can get ready for Sparkling Lights. Monday through Wednesday, the house stays open until 5 p.m. During Christmas week, December 21, 22, and 23 also close at 3 p.m. because they're Sparkling Lights evenings.

2026 Sparkling Lights Dates

  • November: 21, 22, 27, 28, 29
  • Early December: 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13
  • Late December: 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27

Entry for Sparkling Lights is every half hour from 4 to 6 p.m., and the grounds close at 8 p.m. Tickets are $45 for nonmember adults, $30 for member adults, and $18 for youths ages 6 to 12, with children under 6 free. Every ticket includes access to The Breakers' interior during the same visit.

If you want the most time for a free visit to The Breakers, aim for a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday afternoon outside Christmas week. Marble House stays open until 5 p.m. every day of the season. Keep in mind that all of the houses close on Thanksgiving (November 26) and Christmas Day, and on December 24 they close at 2 p.m. with last entry at 1 p.m.

Free Admission for Newport County Just Before the Reopening

Newport County Days falls on Saturday and Sunday, November 14 and 15, right before The Elms reopens. Residents of Newport, Jamestown, Middletown, Portsmouth, Tiverton, and Little Compton can visit The Breakers and Marble House for free from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with proof of residence. The offer also extends to Naval Station Newport personnel and their immediate families and to Salve Regina University students with ID. Specialty tours aren't included.

Since Newport residents already have free access to these two houses, the event is a bigger deal for neighboring towns. Preservation Society members, meanwhile, can preview The Elms Experience early on November 12 through 14.

What You Get With an Elms Ticket

The Elms Experience is a multimillion-dollar installation, nearly three years in the making, developed with Emmy-winning creative studio Digital Kitchen. It layers video projection, sound design, recorded dialogue, physical displays, and custom scents into the Berwind family's 1901 summer home.

As you move through the house, you'll encounter "story activations," snippets of overheard conversation and scenes that evoke a bustling household around 1900. A mobile companion, reached by scanning QR codes throughout the house, adds research and background. BankNewport is the founding partner.

Preservation Society CEO Trudy Coxe described the opening as a watershed moment, noting that the Society continues to grow even as many cultural and historical institutions see attendance slip. Digital Kitchen creative director Andrew Julien said the goal was technology that blends in rather than gets in the way.

Tips for Your Visit

  1. Get there early. Tickets are timed and capacity is limited. Plan to arrive 10 minutes ahead of your slot, since latecomers may not be accommodated.
  2. The Servant Life tour is separate. It returns in mid-November with departures at 10 a.m. and noon. Tickets are $25 for nonmembers and $20 for members and don't include general admission to The Elms. Expect about 120 stairs.
  3. Grab a bite. The Carriage House café is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last seating at 4 p.m., for members and house tour ticket holders.
  4. Consider a membership. Members pay $20 per person for The Elms Experience instead of $35, and a ticket purchase can be credited toward membership within seven days of first use.
  5. Double-check hours. Schedules can change, so confirm before you go.

Free Holiday Fun Beyond the Mansions

  • Newport Illuminated Boat Parade: Friday, November 27, at 6 p.m., with decorated boats circling Newport Harbor. Organizers said more details were on the way.
  • Bowen's Wharf tree lighting: Saturday, December 5. Festivities start around 12:30 p.m., the tree lights up at 6 p.m., and admission is free.

Both happen on Sparkling Lights nights, so you could easily pair them with an evening at The Breakers.

Living in Newport means having traditions like these right outside your door. If you're thinking about buying or selling here, reach out. I'd be glad to help you make your next move.