On Saturday, 23 May 2026, Paris will host the 22nd edition of the European Museum Night. Organised each year by the French Ministry of Culture, this free event invites everyone to experience culture in the magical setting of the Cityof Light after dark, with more than 80 Parisian museums opening their doors for a special late-night programme. For the occasion, an exceptional lineup has been curated to help visitors rediscover the art and heritage of the capital.
For one evening, the city transforms. Each year, the European Museum Night offers a different way to explore: free admission, extraordinary programming, and artworks seen in a whole new light. The unmissable date for those who love to see Paris through fresh eyes.
A free and festive cultural evening
On Saturday, 23 May 2026, Paris joins the rest of Europe for the European Museum Night. From dusk until midnight, the capital's museums throw open their doors for free, offering a programme specially designed for the occasion. On the agenda:
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Guided tours and interactive trails
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Projections and artistic installations
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Themed itineraries and activities for all ages
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Free late-night openings until midnight
A festive and free invitation to (re)discover everything Paris has to offer at its finest.
The Parisian museums not to be missed
For this new edition, the event brings together some of the capital's most iconic museums, all open free of charge from dusk until midnight:
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The Louvre Museum, majestic and mesmerising after dark
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The Musée d'Orsay, for an immersive journey into Impressionism
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The Musée Carnavalet, dedicated to the history of Paris
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The Musée de la Vie Romantique, recently renovated, open for an exceptional late night until 11 pm
This last venue deserves special attention. Housed in the former home of painter Ary Scheffer in the 9th arrondissement, it reopens after seventeen months of renovation works. On the evening of 23 May, its 300 artworks will be accompanied by the Voco-Cello duo, a soprano and a cellist, performing live in the museum's courtyard.
Explore Paris for a night
Nestled in the 15th arrondissement, Hôtel Moderniste is ideally placed to make the most of Museum Night. Just steps away, the Musée Bourdelle is hosting a brand-new creation, Sculpture de souffle, by Korean duo U_RI, while the Hôtel des Invalides is offering express guided tours of its treasured collections. A few stops on Line 12 brings you to the Musée d'Orsay, where drawing workshops and free access to the permanent collections await. And looking further afield across the capital, the programme reveals a remarkable concentration of museums taking part in the late-night event: the Musée Picasso, the Musée des Arts et Métiers, and the Musée Carnavalet, dedicated to the history of Paris. An entire evening can unfold on foot, from street to street, from collection to collection.
Photo ©Alexus Goh - Unsplash