Nuit des Musées: date, origin, history... All you need to know about this art event in Paris

For art lovers, it's one of the major events of the year, and one not to be missed, marking the start of a long list of cultural festivities. La Nuit européenne des Musées is a cultural event organized every year in France since 2005. Over the course of an evening, museums and art centers open their doors - often free of charge - and offer special events and tours to showcase their collections.

Museum Night is usually organized around May 18, International Museum Day. Depending on the calendar, and to enable the public to enjoy the event freely, the event takes place on the Saturday before or after this date. In 2024, European Museum Night will take place on Saturday, May 18.

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European Museum Night was born of a German initiative: in 1997, Berlin created the "Long Night of the Museums" (Lange Nacht des Museen in Goethe's language), an event encouraging citizens to visit and discover museums close to home. The idea was taken up by France in 1999, with the"Printemps des musées", and expanded considerably in 2001, when the 39 member countries of the Council of Europe signed a European Cultural Convention.

In 2005, the event officially became European Museum Night, with the aim of promoting the cultural heritage of each country, attracting a younger, more nocturnal public to its institutions, often considered too austere, and highlighting European culture, its history and its treasures.

Today, according to the French Ministry of Culture, over 3,000 European museums are taking part in the festival, including some 1,300 in France. Several million visitors are taking advantage of this exceptional night - are you one of them?

Nuit des Musées 2024: dates and full programme for the event in Paris and the Île-de-France region
Nuit des Musées, the must-attend cultural event in Paris, returns on Saturday, May 18, 2024. For one evening, take advantage of the most beautiful museums in France, particularly in Paris and the surrounding region. Now's the time to plan your itinerary and choose from some of the finest programs on offer. [Read more]