European Night of Museums 2026 in Rome: programme and practical information

On Saturday 23 May 2026, the European Night of Museums lights up Rome with extended openings, guided tours, performances and family workshops. The Sapienza Museum Hub offers a programme of events running from the afternoon until midnight.

General hours: many activities begin in the afternoon from 15:00, while the special evening opening runs from 20:00 to 24:00. Some venues have specific schedules; always check the official channels of each institution for updates or required reservations.

Main museums and activities (selection)

• Museum of Etruscan and Italic Antiquities – open 15:00–24:00; evening tours, inauguration of the exhibition Etruscan Blue, Etruscan Gold, children's workshops and a themed concert.
• Museum of Geography – open 15:30–24:00; the Geografie Sonore exhibition and activities for children.
• Giuseppe Sergi Anthropology Museum – open 18:00–23:00; educational workshop Meet the Ancestor.
• MUST – Museum of Earth Sciences – open 18:00–24:00; hands-on paleontology and geoscience activities for children.
• MLAC – Museum-Laboratory of Contemporary Art – open 15:00–24:00; retrospective exhibition, evening performances and youth workshops.
• Museum of Classical Art – open 15:00–24:00; guided visits, restoration workshops and a free theatrical event with prior booking.
• Museum of the History of Medicine – open 17:00–24:00; exhibition Algorithms in the Ward. From Scalpel to Machine Learning and thematic seminars.
• Physics Museum – Marconi site (15:00–24:00) and Fermi site (17:00–24:00); exhibitions and a lab on gravitational waves and multimessenger astronomy.
• Zoology Museum – open 15:00–24:00; biodiversity exhibits, workshops and environmental seminars.
• Herbarium – open 15:00–24:00; Botanical Wonders exhibition and an open-access workshop.

Other participating venues

Several civic museums and institutions across the city join the initiative with dedicated programmes: Capitoline Museums, Ara Pacis Museum, Villa Torlonia sites (Casina delle Civette, Casino Nobile, Serra Moresca), Gallery of Modern Art, Casal de’ Pazzi Museum, Celio Archaeological Park and more.

Practical tips

• Plan ahead: many events are free but have limited capacity; arrive early or reserve when requested.
• Hours: afternoon activities generally start from 15:00; the special evening opening runs 20:00–24:00.
• Family friendly: numerous workshops do not require booking, though early arrival helps secure places.
• Check updates: consult museums' official websites and social channels for final schedules, entry rules and booking info.

Location: Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome RM, Italy (events take place across Sapienza sites and other city museums).

The European Night of Museums is an opportunity to experience cultural heritage in the evening: take advantage of guided tours, temporary exhibitions and activities designed for all ages.