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

Date: Saturday, 23 May 2026. The European Night of Museums brings extended evening openings, guided tours, free workshops and special events across Rome's museum venues, including a broad programme at Sapienza University's museum complex.

Activities start in the afternoon and continue into the night: the Sapienza programme begins at 15:00, while the official evening openings run from 20:00 to 24:00. Specific opening hours for individual museums are listed below.

Programme highlights

• Afternoon start: exhibitions and events from 15:00 at several Sapienza museums.
• Night openings: evening hours from 20:00 to 24:00 with concerts, guided tours and special performances.
• Access: many activities are free and aimed at families, children and students; some events require booking.

Main museums and activities (selection)

• Museum of Etruscan and Italic Antiquities – open 15:00–24:00; evening tours, the exhibition Etruscan Blue, Etruscan Gold, children's workshops and a themed concert.
• Museum of Geography – open 15:30–24:00; exhibition Sound Geographies and workshops for children.
• “Giuseppe Sergi” Museum of Anthropology – open 18:00–23:00; workshop Meet the Ancestor.
• MUST – Museum of Earth Sciences – open 18:00–24:00; hands-on activities on paleontology and geosciences for kids.
• MLAC – Museum-Laboratory of Contemporary Art – open 15:00–24:00; an Italian first retrospective and evening performance, plus workshops for younger audiences.
• Museum of Classical Art – open 15:00–24:00; exhibitions, restoration-themed labs and a free theatre event by reservation.
• Museum of the History of Medicine – open 17:00–24:00; exhibition Algorithms on the Ward. From scalpel to machine learning and related seminars.
• Physics Museum – Marconi building open 15:00–24:00, Fermi building open 17:00–24:00; exhibits and an interactive lab on gravitational waves.
• Zoo Museum – open 15:00–24:00; biodiversity exhibition, labs and environmental seminars.
• Herbarium – open 15:00–24:00; "Botanical Wonders" exhibition and drop-in activities.
• Civic museums and other sites – participating institutions include: Capitoline Museums, Ara Pacis Museum, Villa Torlonia museums (Casina delle Civette, Casino Nobile, Serra Moresca), Gallery of Modern Art, Casal de’ Pazzi Museum, Celio Archaeological Park and more.

Top events and practical tips

• Opening concert: the evening at the Museum of Classical Art features an opening concert by the Ensemble MuSa Blues in the Odeion Hall.
• Temporary exhibitions: highlighted shows include the Etruscan-themed exhibition and the first Italian retrospective of Alì Assaf at MLAC.
• Family friendly: many venues offer drop-in educational workshops; arrive early as spaces may be limited.
• Booking and updates: check official museum channels for final schedules, booking requirements and access rules.

The European Night of Museums is an international initiative that offers a special chance to discover cultural heritage by night. For the latest information on single events, tickets and access conditions, always consult the official website or social channels of the museum you plan to visit.