For Museums Night, the Musée de la Grande Guerre in Meaux is offering a full slate of family-friendly activities.

The Musée de la Grande Guerre de Meaux invites the public to a nocturnal opening this Saturday, May 23, 2026, on the occasion of the 22nd Night of Museums. On the agenda: guided tours and a range of activities for this exceptional evening.

If you’ve never set foot in the Musée de la Grande Guerre, know where to be this Saturday, May 23, 2026: as part of the Nuit des Musées, the WWI museum opens its doors for free. A perfect chance for visitors of all ages to discover a museum steeped in history, as engaging as it is educational.

Opened in 2005, this museum bets on presenting the First World War in a didactic, kid-friendly way, notably through an impressive visual reconstruction of a camp and trenches.

This museum came to life thanks to the thousands of objects gathered by Jean-Pierre Verney, a history enthusiast. For more than 30 years, he amassed everyday items, weapons, and soldiers’ uniforms he found at flea markets or garage sales, but also assault tanks and the Taxis of the Marne bought back from collectors. When his wife grew tired of this imposing collection that was overflowing the house, he decided to sell. The Agglomeration of the Pays de Meaux bought it and built this museum for the benefit of all visitors.

Since then, the museum has continually expanded its collection through purchases, bequests, and donations. Documentary archives, clothing and accessories, paintings, sculptures, and period objects... Nearly 70,000 objects and documents tracing the everyday life and military history of World War I (1914-1918) are preserved in this museum.

What’s on for Museum Night 2026 at the Musée de la Grande Guerre (77)

Destiny in your hands: the story where you’re the hero
With a booklet in hand, during your museum visit, step into the shoes of a poilu or a woman on the home front and decide your own destiny. A one-of-a-kind experience where you become the hero of your own visit.
Participation requirements: Free - no prior reservation required - Free | No reservation
Schedule: Saturday, May 23, 2026 — 6:30 PM–11:00 PM
Exhibition "Behind the Masks. Photographs from the Two Wars"
This exhibition, in partnership with ECPAD (Defence Establishment for Audiovisual Communication and Production), offers a photographic immersion into the evolution of gas masks—from their first use in 1915 to the ARS masks deployed from November 1917, up to the end of World War II.
Participation requirements: Free and open to everyone - Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Saturday, May 23, 2026 — 6:30 PM – 11:00 PM
Exhibition "Colors of War"
The Colors of War exhibition, awarded the Ministry of Culture’s “Exhibition of National Interest” label, examines how color has shaped conflict—from uniforms and patriotic symbols to cutting-edge technology.
Participation conditions: Free - no reservation required - Free | No reservation
Hours: Saturday, May 23, 2026 — 6:30 PM to 11:00 PM

Le programme est mis à jour en fonction des annonces officielles.

An exciting evening ahead!