Night of Museums 2026: Small-scale concerts at the Museum of Canals and Navigable Waterways (78)

Mark your calendars! The Night of Museums, the free and must-attend evening that celebrates art and culture within museum walls once the sun sets, is making a return on Saturday, May 23, 2026, across Paris and Île-de-France. This is a unique opportunity to explore permanent collections and temporary exhibitions from a new perspective, often in a different and captivating atmosphere.

The program for this exceptional evening includes special activities, artistic performances, screenings, lectures and guided tours. The Nuit des Musées is a truly immersive experience, bringing together enthusiasts and the curious to experience art in an original and entertaining way.

• To be read
• This Week's Best Deals in Paris and Île-de-France, March 16–22, 2026
• Night of Museums 2026: Date and Program for the Upcoming Edition in Paris and Île-de-France

The Night of Museums 2026 shines a spotlight on Paris’s most prestigious cultural institutions, but also uncovers hidden gems just a few train stops outside the city. Among these is the Musée de la batellerie et des voies navigables in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine (78), perched on the banks of the Seine. It stands as a cornerstone of France’s river history. Entirely dedicated to the world of boatmen, this museum celebrates the men who, for centuries, has transported goods along the country’s rivers and canals.

With models, tools, photographs and period documents, the museum takes you back in time to the days when barges and scows reigned supreme on the waterways. It also invites you to discover the trades, traditions and skills that have shaped the history of river navigation in France.

Don't know it yet? Take advantage of theevening event to take a look around and join in the free entertainment!

Schedule for the 2026 Night of Museums at the Museum of Shipping and Navigable Channels:

• Mini-Concerts Small-scale musical events are making a big comeback, bringing live music to local neighborhoods and intimate venues. These “mini-concerts” offer a unique opportunity for audiences to enjoy performances in a cozy, informal setting, fostering a stronger connection between artists and fans. As culture enthusiasts seek more authentic experiences, these brief but lively shows are proving to be a popular choice for both performers and audiences alike.
  Saturday, May 23, 2026 - 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM
  

  Four short "mini-concerts" at the museum

  Presented in collaboration with the Conservatory of Music of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine

  7 PM, 8 PM, 9 PM, and 10 PM — each lasting thirty minutes

  
  
  
• Exceptional opening of the temporary exhibition and the grand cellier
  Saturday, May 23, 2026 - 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM
  

  Special evening opening of the temporary exhibition and the grand cellar from 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM

  Temporary exhibit in the Orangery: "The Canadian Canoe / The Origins of River Tourism"

  The historic medieval cellar of the former Priory: the museum’s storage for leisure boats (pleasure craft and sports vessels)

  
  
  
• Temporary Exhibition « A Major Inventor of the Late 19th Century, Paul-Emile Jacquel (1826-1898) »
  Saturday, May 23, 2026 — from 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM
  

  Temporary Exhibition: “A Prominent Inventor of the Late 19th Century, Paul-Emile Jacquel (1826-1898)”

  Models for study, a promotional miniature, archives, photographs, plans, drawings, and engravings... An exceptional collection preserved by the family for over 150 years offers a rare glimpse into the life of the inventor of the “propeller boat system.” The patent filed in 1878 describes a pushing convoy (a tug and its barge) designed for canal navigation. The “Jacquel system” was extensively tested and eventually put into operation, with several units running in the early 1880s.