Barcelona and its metropolitan area will celebrate the Nit dels Museus (Night of the Museums) on Saturday, 16 May, with 94 museums and cultural spaces opening their doors free of charge. The event runs from 7pm to 1am, featuring concerts, dramatised visits, shows, immersive experiences, and family activities.
This initiative, organised for International Museum Day, extends beyond Barcelona to include municipalities such as Badalona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, and Esplugues de Llobregat. It has become one of the most important cultural events in the metropolitan area.
Among the participating institutions are the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC), MACBA, CCCB, Fundació Joan Miró, Museu de la Música, and Reial Monestir de Pedralbes. These venues will offer both free access to their exhibitions and special programmes for the occasion. Montjuïc mountain will again be a central point, with 11 spaces open throughout the night, showcasing permanent collections, temporary exhibitions, musical performances, and live shows.
Special Activities and New Discoveries
Many museums have prepared specific activities for this year's edition. MACBA, for example, will organise guided visits, tours with panoramic city views, and participatory sessions open to the public. Its bar will also stay open until midnight, offering a special gastronomic selection.
The programme includes concerts, light installations, theatre, and archaeological routes. Notable proposals include shows like 'El fil vermell' (The Red Thread) at the La Model memorial space and musical recitals in various heritage sites across the city.
This year's edition also introduces new spaces, such as the Gran Hotel Barcino, which will allow visitors to discover Roman remains hidden within its structure. Recently renovated cultural facilities are also part of the expanded offering. The full programme, including schedules, activities, and museums requiring prior booking, is available on the official website set up by the City Council and ICUB.
Beyond permanent exhibitions, many spaces will use the day to inaugurate temporary displays or open areas usually restricted to the public. Some venues will also provide interactive experiences, children's workshops, and activities designed specifically for young and family audiences.
A Growing Cultural Event
The Nit dels Museus has become one of Barcelona's most popular cultural events in recent years. It attracts both residents and visitors keen to rediscover the city's heritage from a more festive, nocturnal perspective. The celebration coincides with a period of growth in Catalonia's museum sector.
According to the latest data from the Departament de Cultura, museums and collections across Catalonia welcomed nearly 20 million visitors in 2025. This record figure shows the increasing interest in the region's cultural offerings. This year's international theme, 'Museums uniting a divided world', aims to highlight the role of these spaces as meeting points for reflection and social cohesion, beyond their exhibition function.
City Council and cultural institutions advise checking the schedules and capacity limits for each venue in advance. Some activities require prior registration, and high attendance is expected throughout the night.
