Night of museums and galleries

On Saturday, May 23, the 2026 Night of Museums and Galleries will take place. Don’t miss the guided tours, interactive tours for children, exhibitions, and displays.

Nuit Européenne des Musées (European Night of Museums) is an annual cultural event where museums across Europe open their doors for free during the evening and offer unique programmes and activities.

What can you look forward to?

More than 3,000 museums in almost 30 European countries are taking part, providing an opportunity to experience museums in a new light. Visitors can look forward to special exhibitions, guided tours, workshops, performances and other interactive activities designed to engage audiences of all ages. The event often includes collaborations with artists, educators and cultural organizations to create memorable experiences .

Bratislava will also join the European Night of Museums and Galleries, providing a unique opportunity to explore the city’s rich cultural heritage through extended museum opening hours, special exhibitions and interactive programmes.

🕒 Event schedule

The main programme runs from 15:00 to midnight, with some venues opening earlier. Activities include guided tours, workshops, performances and access to areas that are usually closed to the public.

🏛️ Participating institutions

More than 40 institutions in Bratislava and the Bratislava region are participating, including:

Slovak National Museum: the Natural History Museum, the Historical Museum, the Archaeological Museum, the Music Museum, the Museum of Hungarian Culture in Slovakia, the Museum of Carpathian German Culture, the Museum of Jewish Culture and the Museum of Croatian Culture in Slovakia.

Slovak National Gallery

Museum of the City of Bratislava: Museum of Ancient Gerulata, Devín Castle, Old Town Hall, Apponyi Palace, Johann Nepomuk Hummel Museum, Arthur Fleischmann Museum, Museum of Pharmacy and Museum of Clocks.

Bratislava City Gallery: the Mirbach Palace and the Pálffy Palace.

Other important places: Central European House of Photography, Czech Centre Bratislava, Satelit Design Gallery, Bibiana International House of Art for Children, Museum of Customs and Financial Administration, Museum of Education and Pedagogy, Museum of Commerce, National Education Centre, Nedbalka Gallery, Police Museum, Railway Museum, Slovak Design Centre, Slovak Olympic and Sports Museum, Transport Museum, ÚĽUV Gallery, Umelka Gallery, University Library, Waterworks Museum and Zichy Gallery of the Old Town.

🌟 Special attractions

Museum of Commerce

Live concerts starting at 6pm and a brewery museum exhibit with beer tasting.

Police Museum

Military and Police History Club demonstrations and assistance dog training between 2pm and 4pm.

Museum of Education and Teaching

A new permanent exhibit on the history of education and a special exhibit on the conversion of the Masaryk Public Elementary School building into a museum.

Museum of the City of Bratislava

Night tours during which visitors can explore the museum with a flashlight.

Bratislava Castle

The latest exhibition on one of the most fascinating lives in European history – the dramatic story of Marie Antoinette, who, thanks to her mother Maria Theresa’s marriage policy, became France’s most famous queen.

Červený kameň Castle

You will meet historians who know more about Červený kameň castle than anyone else only during the Night of Museums and Galleries. They will tell you about the most interesting topics of the moment: a series of Empire portraits, photographs of Stephanie of Belgium, the wife of the suicided prince, but also about the huge, newly restored press in the castle press room, where you will also be able to taste local wines this very evening.

The accompanying program is a concert by a string duet from the Stories Quartet in the castle cellars, starting at 8:00 p.m.

The event will be complemented by the accessible areas of the northern bastion, where you can explore the castle’s defense system, and an exhibition called Behind the Portrait. The professional program always starts at 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Bratislava City Gallery

Come and experience the atmosphere of art in the Mirbach and Pálffy palaces. 🌙

🏛️ MIRBACHOV PALACE

Exhibitions

Július Schubert. The last chairman of the Bratislava Art Association.

Permanent exhibitions

Central European Baroque painting and sculpture
Graphic cabinets

Accompanying programme

16.00 – 17.00 Last curatorial accompaniment of the exhibition Július Schubert with Zsófia Kiss-Szemán
15.00 – 22.00 Active guide: In the footsteps of art
15.00 – 22.00 Interactive Space: Sculpture Laboratory
15.00 – 22.00 Take a photo and get to know the story of Gisela Weyde

🏛️ PÁLFFY PALACE

Exhibitions

Sediments of the World
Never Ground

Permanent exhibitions

Gothic panel painting and sculpture
BIATEC. Celtic mint
Matej Krén: Passage

Interventions in Pálffy Palace

Anetta Mona Chiça, Lucia Tkáčová: Totems
František Demeter: Now you are my surroundings

Accompanying programme

15.00 – 18.00 Creative station: Together
15.00 – 22.00 A year in the gallery – GMB public countdown

The varied programme of all participating city institutions can be viewed on the NMAG website.

Location: Slovakia
Date: Saturday, 23.05.2026
Time: 15:00 – 24:00

Admission:

Single ticket: A single ticket for 5 euros allows entry to all participating museums and galleries in Bratislava and the surrounding area.

Free admission: Children under 12 years of age, seniors over 65 years of age and people with disabilities have free admission.

Purchasing tickets: Tickets can be purchased at the first museum or gallery you visit.

Find all the tips for the EVENTS BRATISLAVA.