Night of Museums 2026: Enjoy a free evening at the Barbizon Painters Museum (77)

For culture enthusiasts and bargain hunters alike, the Night of Museums is an event not to be missed. Held across Europe, this annual celebration offers a fresh perspective on our cultural heritage with a lineup of extraordinary late-night openings, free tours, and unique immersive activities at the heart of museums, landmarks, castles, and grand institutions. As you might expect, Paris and its surroundings embrace the occasion wholeheartedly, unveiling a spectacular program for this upcoming edition scheduled for Saturday, May 23, 2026.

Why not take this opportunity to discover the heritage of Seine-et-Marne ? The 77 département is packed with cultural treasures well worth a visit. If you're in the south of Seine-et-Marne, now's the time to stop off at the Musée départemental des peintres de Barbizon. The museum is housed in a former farmhouse, now a grocery store and inn.

The Musée des peintres de Barbizon is the result of the merger of the former Auberge Ganne and the artist Théodore Rousseau's home and studio. Here you'll find some one hundred works by 19th-century painters who frequented the village, including, in addition to Théodore Rousseau, Rosa Bonheur, Jean-François Millet and Narcisse Díaz de la Peña. So, what's in store for the Nuit des Musées?

• To be read
• Night of Museums 2026: The Workshop Museums and Artists’ Houses of Paris and Île-de-France
• This Week's Best Deals in Paris and Île-de-France, March 23-29, 2026
• Night of Museums 2026: Date and Program for the Upcoming Edition in Paris and Île-de-France

Event Lineup for the 2026 Night of Museums at the Barbizon Departmental Museum of Painters (77)

• Aspiring Speakers
  Saturday, May 23, 2026 – 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
  

  Experience a unique after-hours tour of the Barbizon Painters Museum, led by passionate middle school students! Students from 6th and 5th grades, along with those from the ULIS program at Alfred Sisley Middle School in Moret-sur-Loing, step into the role of guides for an evening. They’ll share the fascinating history of the Ganne Inn, tell captivating anecdotes and discoveries, and reveal their favorite artworks—all told in their own words.

  
  
  
• An Unexpected Journey (theatrical Production)
  Saturday, May 23, 2026 — 8:00 PM to 11:59 PM
  

  Immersive theatrical performance featuring six actors, brought to you by the Les Arlequins company

  Prepare for a captivating evening where your senses will be subtly unsettled... Could the flickering candlelight be causing the strange illusions around you? Will you find yourself stepping into the paintings, or will the artists step out into the real world?