European Museum Night, organised since 2005 by the Ministry of Culture and Communication, offers a unique opportunity to explore museums in an original way after dark. Young and old alike have the chance to admire the rich cultural treasures and unexpected facets of museums dedicated to art, history, folk traditions, science and more, all in a festive and friendly atmosphere. This 22nd edition, taking place on 23 May 2026 throughout France and in 30 other European countries, invites the public to visit permanent collections and temporary exhibitions, as well as to experience museums in a different light through a wide range of entertainment and activities: guided tours, workshops, concerts, film screenings, readings, sound or visual installations…
For one night only, Paris’s leading cultural venues open their doors free of charge. The museums are joining in and offering visitors the chance to explore their finest exhibitions and go behind the scenes.
Saturday 23 May 2026 from 8pm to 11pm
This season, the Grand Palais is offering a unique experience for European Museum Night by allowing visitors to wander through the various current exhibitions. Three great and very different artists are highlighted: Hilma af Klint (1862–1944), a pioneer of abstraction and a leading figure in modern art; the star of contemporary photography, Nan Goldin, presented in a cinematic format; and finally, the master Matisse, through the work of his final years.
On the night of Saturday 23 May 2026 to Sunday 24 May 2026, from 6pm to 12.30am. Last admission at 11.30pm
Housed in a former 17th-century mansion in the heart of the Marais, the Musée National Picasso-Paris is home to the largest public collection of the artist’s works. To mark Museum Night, the museum invites visitors to (re)discover the thousands of works and archive pieces in the permanent collection, as well as the current exhibition dedicated to Henry Taylor, a leading figure in contemporary American painting.
Saturday 23 May 2026 from 8pm to midnight
The legendary Grande Galerie de l’Évolution houses 9,500 animal specimens across four levels beneath its immense glass roof.
From the enormous whale to the tiniest coral reef species, from the imposing elephants and giraffes to the tiny mice… The venue offers a fascinating insight into life and an atmosphere that is all the more mysterious at night. On this European Night of Museums, we can only hope the animals don’t wake up like in the film Night at the Museum. A magical outing for young and old alike!
Saturday 23 May – Various time slots
Housed in the Hôtel des Invalides, the Musée des Plans-Reliefs boasts a collection of relief maps of fortified towns that is unique in the world, most of which were produced between the reigns of Louis XIV and Napoleon III. To mark European Museum Night, the museum invites visitors to discover its heritage in an unusual and fun way! What’s on the programme? A team-based puzzle game, a race against the clock and dramatised tours featuring short historical sketches.
The relief map puzzles, by registration.
[Chrono-Défi Games](https://nuitdesmusees.culture.gouv.fr/w/370420/evenement/19484222/ jeu%20-chrono-defi#/events/19484222), free entry from 7.30pm to 10.30pm.
Dramatised tours, free admission, several slots from 7pm to 11pm.
Saturday 23 May 2026 – 7.30 pm
As part of European Museum Night, the Philharmonie de Paris is celebrating the harp in all its forms, from the Celtic harp to the kora (African harp) and the electric harp. This instrument is revealed through a unique soundscape presented amidst the collections of the Musée de la Musique, which will be open to the public for free for the occasion.
Saturday 23 May 2026 from 6.30 pm to 11 pm
Just a stone’s throw from the Palais Royal, the Richelieu site of the Bibliothèque nationale de France is remarkable in many ways. In addition to its stunning listed spaces, such as the Salle Ovale, its museum houses historical treasures: Dagobert’s throne, Charlemagne’s chess set, the gold medals commissioned by Louis XIV, the murals painted by Boucher and Natoire… Marvels to discover free of charge during European Museum Night. This year, the National Institute of Art History is also taking part in the event by opening the doors of the majestic Labrouste Library.
A night at the BnF museum | Richelieu, last admission at 10 pm
To mark European Museum Night 2026, the Palais de Tokyo is opening its doors free of charge for a one-off event to explore the ‘Normes Corps’ exhibition. An ideal opportunity to explore this thought-provoking artistic journey exploring representations of the body, in a unique evening atmosphere.
Normes Corps at the Palais de Tokyo
8 Avenue du Mahatma Gandhi, Paris 16
> Saturday 23 May 2026, from 6pm to 11.30pm
With everything from DJ sets and musical or dance-themed tours to colourful performances, the museums are more vibrant than ever this year for Museum Night.
Saturday 23 May 2026 from 6.30 pm to 11.59 pm
To mark the 22nd edition of European Museum Night, the Rodin Museum is opening the doors to its collections, gardens and studio – but that’s not all! In fact, the mansion has chosen to celebrate the bicentenary of diplomatic relations between France and Mexico by organising a special evening featuring a DJ set in the main courtyard. Partying in such a beautiful museum? An experience not to be missed!
Saturday 23 May 2026
Nestled in the Luxembourg Gardens and attached to the Senate, the Musée du Luxembourg was the first French museum to open to the public in 1750! With no permanent collection, it hosts two themed exhibitions a year. This season, the surrealist artist Leonora Carrington (1917–2011) reveals her extraordinary life story and her time in Mexico. During this exceptional European Night of Museums, the exhibition takes on a whole new dimension with performances combining dance and song by the Franco-Mexican dancers and choreographers Paulina Ruiz Carballido and Stéphanie Janaina.
Saturday 23 May 2026 from 6 pm to 9 pm
The Petit Château de Sceaux, now converted into the preview pavilion for the Musée du Grand Siècle, offers an unusual exploration of its treasures to mark European Museum Night. Through a musical and dance-filled tour of the museum’s treasures, visitors will step back in time to uncover the secrets of 17th-century lifestyle.
Saturday 23 May 2026 from 7.15 pm to 10 pm
Opposite the Eiffel Tower and surrounded by a charming garden, the Maison de Balzac is a small, vibrant museum. For European Museum Night, the venue has decided to bring the salons of yesteryear back to life with the help of Samantha Caretti, a reader, and Florence Hennequi, a cellist. Invited in turn to the homes of Madame de Récamier, Charles Nodier, Victor Hugo and Delphine de Girardin, visitors will be immersed in the stimulating Paris of the arts and letters.
Unusual, little-visited, mysterious places… European Museum Night is the perfect opportunity to discover the hidden treasures of our heritage. Thanks to extraordinary displays, they offer a unique and memorable experience!
Saturday 23 May 2026 from 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm and from 6 pm to 7 pm
Unusual and secretive, the Police Headquarters Museum has put together a surprising programme for European Museum Night: a (nearly) real-life investigation for children into the disappearance of a young woman. Learn techniques for identifying victims and criminals, and explore the history and development of forensic science… An effective presentation that makes learning fun!
Saturday 23 May 2026 from 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm
Housed in a former 1930s villa, the Villa Brunet, the Musée des Avelines celebrates the history and heritage of the town of Saint-Cloud from the 17th century to the present day.
Paintings, sculptures, drawings, engravings, photographs, postcards and Saint-Cloud soft porcelain… The collection is truly remarkable. Come and discover these treasures during a storytelling tour by torchlight during European Museum Night. The talented storyteller Laure Urgin will guide you between dream and reality.
Saturday 23 May
Standing 24 metres tall, the Tour aux Figures stands proudly in the heart of the Parc de l’Île Saint-Germain, on the outskirts of Paris. This work by Jean Dubuffet, created as part of his ‘L’Hourloupe’ cycle, offers different perspectives: exterior, interior and the discovery space in the main hall of the Parc de l’Île Saint-Germain. During European Museum Night, the venue offers an interactive tour by torchlight.
In the discovery area, a sound installation featuring voices, testimonies, breaths and vibrations completes the experience.
The Hidden Figures of the Tower, from 5.30 pm to 8.30 pm
[The Tower of Figures – Sound Discovery](https://nuitdesmusees.culture.gouv.fr/w/370420/evenement/19535233/ the-%20tower-of-figures-sound-discovery#/events/19535233), from 5.30 pm to 8 pm
Saturday 23 May 2026 from 6 pm to 10 pm
To mark European Museum Night, Citéco – the City of Economics invites you to a unique immersive experience at the heart of the Hôtel Gaillard. The programme gives pride of place to young people and the passing on of knowledge: students from the École du Louvre will guide you through flash tours exploring architecture and numismatics, whilst the Sorbonne School of Economics will host dramatised debates on the leading figures of economic thought. To kick things off, an urban walk around Parc Monceau offers an insight into the neighbourhood’s financial and architectural history.
With their highly specialised programmes, artists’ homes and foundations offer insights into specific themes from an expert perspective. During European Museum Night, they freely reveal their unique perspectives and approaches.
Saturday 23 May, from 7pm to 11pm
Nestled in the Bois de Boulogne, the Louis Vuitton Foundation, with its architecture designed by Frank Gehry, exudes a special atmosphere, all the more so once the sun has set…
For European Museum Night, the foundation is opening the doors to its current exhibition ‘Calder. Dreaming in Balance’ free of charge at dusk. The exhibition looks back over half a century of work by this extraordinary artist and presents over 300 works (mobiles, sculptures, stabiles, wire portraits, paintings, drawings…) whose shadows loom in the night.
Saturday 23 May 2026 from 9pm to 11pm
Designed in the 1920s by Auguste Perret for the sculptor Chana Orloff, the Villa Seurat was the artist’s home until her death. In this house-studio-museum, over 200 works by this Montparnasse icon are on display. Special lighting has been created for European Museum Night: to enhance the perception of contrasts, of solids and voids, and to create plays of light and shadow on the walls… The shadows, like ghosts, lend a new dimension to the works.
Saturday 23 May 2026 from 4pm to 11pm
The Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé Foundation works to preserve and make Pathé’s historical heritage available to the public in order to promote the history of cinema.
For European Museum Night, it is offering free admission to its spring exhibition event “The Invisible Set. Behind the scenes of Jean-Jacques Annaud’s films.” La Victoire en chantant, L’Ours, La Guerre du feu, Au Nom de la rose, Sept ans au Tibet, Deux frères…
The exhibition reveals the secrets of production, the sets and the meticulousness of this key figure in the world of cinema.
The Paris City Pass is the official pass for Paris. It is entirely digital and has its own dedicated app. Available in three options, the Paris City Pass gives you access to a wide range of activities: museums, Parisian monuments, cruises, guided tours...
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