Just one day to go until International Museum Day 2026!

For over 45 years, International Museum Day has been celebrated on 18 May.
Every year, International Museum Day brings together thousands of museums around the world. The continued growth of International Museum Day reflects its importance as a platform for cultural exchange, community engagement and international collaboration. In 2026, IMD will explore the theme ‘Museums Unite a Divided World’, focusing on how museums can serve as bridges to overcome cultural, social and geopolitical divides, fostering dialogue, understanding, inclusion and peace within and between communities across the globe.

In 2026, this theme will also be at the heart of ICOM’s 80th anniversary celebrations, marking eight decades of commitment to museums and professionals worldwide. This significant milestone provides an opportunity to reflect on ICOM’s longstanding
commitment to a strong and united global museum community, as well as to promoting the essential social role of museums in an ever-changing world.