Join us for a fun filled day of activities and a treasure hunt to celebrate International Museum Day on 19 May. Best part, entry to all our pavilions is free for one day only and you can make a souvenir pin at the Vision pavilion for free too.
International Museum Day 2023 theme is “Museum, Sustainability and Well – being.
Immerse yourself in the wonders of technology, innovation, sustainability and culture this International Museum Day celebrated worldwide on 18 May. If you are in UAE, enjoy free entry to all our flagship pavilions on Friday 19 May, with specially curated educational programs and a treasure hunt across seven attractions framed around this year’s theme of ‘Museums, Sustainability and Wellbeing.
Celebrate International Museum Day at Expo City Dubai on Friday, May 19 with free entry to 7 fascinating pavilions between 10:00 and 18:00. From learning about cutting-edge technology and sustainable development to experiencing the evolution of Dubai, this special day is a great opportunity to expand your horizons and discover ways to create a better future for all. Don’t miss out on this unique and enriching experiences.
International Museum Day (IMD) is an international day held annually on or around 18 May, coordinated by the International Council of Museums (ICOM). The event highlights a specific theme which changes every year reflecting a relevant theme or issue facing museums internationally. IMD provides the opportunity for museum professionals to meet the public and alert them as to the challenges that museums face, and raise public awareness on the role museums play in the development of society. It also promotes dialogue between museum professionals.
The first International Museum Day took place in 1977, coordinated by ICOM. IMD was established following the adoption of a resolution by ICOM to create an annual event “with the aim of further unifying the creative aspirations and efforts of museums and drawing the attention of the world public to their activity.”
Each year, museum internationally are invited to participate in IMD to promote the role of museums around in the world. They do so through events and activities related to the annual theme. An annual theme for the event was first adopted in 1992. An international poster from ICOM was first developed in 1997, and in that year was adapted by 28 countries. In 2009, IMD attracted the participation of 20,000 museums hosting events in more than 90 countries. In 2010, 98 countries participated in the celebration, with 100 countries in 2011, and 30,000 museums in 129 countries in 2012. In 2011, the official IMD poster was translated into 37 languages. By 2014, 35,000 museums from 140 countries were taking part in IMD.