Internationaler Museumstag im Osnabrücker Land

Every year on May 18, the ICOM International Museum Day is celebrated worldwide. In Germany, the date falls on the closest Sunday - this year it is May 17. On this day, under the motto "Museums Uniting a Divided World", museums invite visitors to discover their diversity and unifying effect. This year's motto emphasizes the special role of museums in times of social tension. As places of dialog and encounter, they build bridges between cultures, generations and realities of life and promote respectful coexistence. In this way, museums make an important contribution to greater exchange, participation and social cohesion. The theme "Museums Uniting a Divided World" will also characterize the celebrations of ICOM's 80th anniversary in 2026 - eight decades of commitment to museums and museum professionals worldwide. 

We celebrate #IMD2026! 

Museums, galleries and cultural institutions are cordially invited to participate and present their creative offerings. For example, in workshops, collaborative art projects, readings and lectures, outreach programs, guided tours and behind-the-scenes tours, interactive exhibitions, panel discussions and games, partnerships with educational institutions or social media campaigns.

Idea

Museums around the world use International Museum Day to draw attention to their role in society. As an important means of cultural exchange, they not only take responsibility for our cultural heritage, but also promote understanding, tolerance and diversity worldwide. With their innovative educational programs and diverse collections, they are unique places of learning that provide a space for social discourse and open up perspectives for the future.

Actions

Museums across Germany invite visitors to their museums under the motto "Discover Museums". Visitors to International Museum Day can discover a diverse museum landscape with more than 7,100 museums. The museums present themselves as places of social and cultural exchange and provide special insights into our museum world through analog and digital event formats. In addition to traditional offers such as guided tours or free admission, the activities also include creative hands-on activities, acoustic highlights, podcasts, museum festivals and exciting insights behind the scenes.

Support

International Museum Day is proclaimed annually by the International Council of Museums. In Germany, the program on this day of action is largely designed by the museums themselves. Contacts at federal level are the German Museums Association and ICOM Germany, and at state level the museum associations and museum offices in the federal states. The President of the Federal Council, Dr. Andreas Bovenschulte, will be the patron of International Museum Day in 2026.

https://www.museumsbund.de/internationaler-museumstag/